Marissa Coleman

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Professional Basketball Player

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NCAA champion and Final Four star who became a WNBA All-Star.

Essentials

Full name
Marissa Coleman
Years active
2009–2020
Position
Small forward - shooting guard
Nationality
American
Hometown
Cheltenham, Maryland; born in Portland, OR
College
Maryland (2005–2009)
Agent
{{agent name}}

marissa's story

Marissa Coleman's story begins with a pair of free throws. In overtime of the 2006 NCAA championship game, with Maryland trying to complete one of the most improbable title runs in women's basketball history, the freshman stepped to the line and calmly knocked down the shots that helped secure the program's first national championship. She was 19 years old. The moment became a preview of the player she would be for the next decade: poised when the stakes were highest, versatile enough to impact every part of the game, and comfortable carrying responsibility long before most athletes are asked to. Raised in Cheltenham, Maryland, after being born in Portland, Oregon, Coleman arrived at Maryland as one of the most sought-after recruits in the country and immediately became a cornerstone of a program on the rise.

What made Coleman different was that she never fit neatly into a single position. At 6-foot-1, she could score on the perimeter, battle on the glass, defend multiple positions, and facilitate offense when needed. Over four years at Maryland, she became one of only a handful of players in program history to surpass both 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, a reflection of a game built on completeness rather than specialization. She was a four-time All-ACC selection, helped lead the Terrapins through one of the most successful stretches in school history, and capped her collegiate career by earning ACC Tournament MVP honors before becoming the No. 2 overall pick in the WNBA Draft. Her game was never about flash. It was about showing up in every column of the box score and every critical moment of a season'

The through-line of Marissa Coleman's career is consistency. Whether representing Team USA internationally, helping build a championship culture at Maryland, or carving out an 11-year professional career, she earned trust everywhere she played. Retirement did not change that. In the years since, she has built a second act in business, investing her energy in entrepreneurship, leadership, and helping create more opportunities for women athletes. It's a continuation of the role she has always played: showing up early, doing the work, and leaving every space stronger than she found it. The basketball résumé is impressive. The life she's building after basketball may be just as revealing.

Timeline

9 milestones

2005

Wins gold medal with Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Championship

2006

Helps lead Maryland to its first NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship, hitting the game-clinching free throws in the title game

2006

Wins ACC Rookie of the Year honors

2007

Wins gold medal with Team USA at the Pan American Games

2009

Wins ACC Tournament MVP and leads Maryland to the Sweet 16

2009

Is selected No. 2 overall by the Washington Mystics in the WNBA Draft

2009

Is named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team

2015

Is selected to the WNBA All-Star Game

2026

Is inducted into the University of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame

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Awards/Honors

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

2004FIBA Americas U18 Championship Gold Medalist
2005FIBA U19 World Championship Gold Medalist
2005McDonald's All-American
2006ACC Rookie of the Year
2006NCAA National Champion
2007Pan American Games Gold Medalist
2009ACC Tournament MVP
2009First-Team All-ACC
2009WBCA All-American
2009WNBA All-Rookie Team
2012WNBA Champion (Indiana Fever)
2015WNBA All-Star

Media

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Media

WNBA player image gallery

Getty’s Marissa Coleman photo collection is the strongest broad public image source for her pro career.

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Image credits by appearance:Getty Images