Former LSU Tigers women’s basketball player Semona Augustus receives a statue at the program’s arena on Sunday in Baton Rouge, La. Pete Maravich The unveiling outside the convention center.
Augustus made three trips to the Women’s Final Four with the Tigers. Selected first overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2006 WNBA Draft, she played 14 years and won four league titles. Augustus concluded her WNBA career with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2020. She also won three Olympic gold medals with the U.S. women’s team.
Augustus, 38, is the first LSU female athlete to have a statue on campus. LSU coach Kim Mulkey said honoring Augustus and other program legends will be one of her top priorities when she arrives at the campus in 2021.
“A lot of people were involved in this journey,” Augustus said. “I’m so thankful that it’s happening. Coach Malki has done a fantastic job of getting it done. It’s amazing to think about what this moment means.
“I didn’t do it alone. A lot of female athletes of my era were an inspiration. We all had our own game, our own journey, and I stand here proudly as a representative of all these women. So many greats of female athletes, all from LSU, made a statement in their respective sports. I won’t be the last to be recognized.”
Augustus, a native of Baton Rouge, was recruited profusely as a reserve player, including by Mulkey when she was a technical assistant to the Louisiana Tech ladies. Mulkey then took over as head coach of the Baylor Bears in 2000. Mulkey said she thought Augustus was too tied to her hometown for her to attend college anywhere else.
“Honestly, I never thought we’d be involved,” Marchey said of signing Augustus. “In the back of my mind, I can’t imagine that she’ll never play for LSU.”
As a sophomore in 2004, Augustus led the program to five straight Women’s Final Four appearances. The Tigers never made it to the NCAA Finals, though, losing in the national semifinals every year. In 2005, they lost in the semifinals to Mulkey’s Baylor team, which would go on to capture the national championship.
Augustus, the recognized 2005 and 2006 women’s basketball player of the year, finished her LSU career averaging 19.3 points and 5.2 rebounds. In her 15 WNBA seasons, she averaged 15.4 points and 3.1 rebounds and was an eight-time All-Star. She was also the 2006 WNBA Rookie of the Year and the 2011 WNBA Finals MVP.
Her No. 33 jersey was retired by LSU in 2010 and by Lynx in 2022. Augustus said she hopes LSU will also honor her former Tigers and Lynx teammate Sylvia Fowles, who retires after the 2022 WNBA season.
Current LSU standout Angel Reese recently posted a photo on social media of her posing with Augustus after a 2011 WNBA game in Washington, D.C. Reese was 9 years old at the time, growing up in suburban Baltimore for the Washington Mystics. Watch players play from around the league. Augustus is one of her favorites.
“Now I’m at LSU, following in her footsteps,” said Reese, who transferred to LSU from Maryland. “I’ve always had a lot of respect for Seimone and Maya Moore, those types of players. To be able to go to their games and talk to the players at such a young age is a big deal to me. My mom always said that one day I’m going to be like that. people”
Augustus said she was proud of Reese and the Tigers, one of three remaining undefeated teams in Division I women’s basketball. Augustus said she hopes things like her statue will continue to inspire future generations.
“As coaches always say, you never know who’s watching,” Augustus said. “That photo symbolizes that. I’ve always wanted to make sure I get autographs and photos for young people. Didn’t know the day would come but glad it did because Miss Reese is a tiger now.”
