rachel.
banham.
The ability to score in big moments. She's got that kind of cold blood in her.
Rebecca Lobo
WNBA Hall of Famer
"SHE CAN DO IT ALL."
KOBE BRYANT
Late NBA Hall of Famer
As a college coach, you know that you're not going to have another Rachel Banham in your coaching career. She's just a really special young lady.
MARLENE STOLLINGS
Texas Tech Women's Coach
where it all started
The daughter of Don and Mel Banham - Rachel along with an older brother, Cole, a younger brother, Blake, and a younger sister, Paige- was BORN and RAISED in Lakeville, MINNESOTA. Rachel comes from a background of respect and integrity. Her grandfather, Donald, was the first black police officer at the University of Minnesota. Her father served as captain on the Minneapolis police force and her mother as a lead detective for the force. Rachel found an early passion in basketball and grew up playing hoops with North Tartan AAU Club & Lakeville North High School. A true Minnesotan through and through.
2011 Parade All-American
2010-11 Minnesota Miss Basketball
2011 Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year
Associated Press 2011 Player of the Year
St. Paul Pioneer Press Metro Player of the Year in 2010 & 2011
Minneapolis Star-Tribune 2011 Player of the Year
Minneapolis Star-Tribune 2010 Co-Player of the Year
Minnesota Basketball News 2010 Player of the Year
Associated Press all-state selection in 2010 & 2011
Led Lakeville North to a perfect 32-0 record and the Class AAAA State Championship in 2010
maroon mamba
A legacy like no other.
Rachel Banham - played college basketball for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. She currently holds several records in B1G Ten and Minnesota Basketball history. In 2017 the Gophers retired Banhams' Jersey and raised it into the rafters as her name was etched in the history books forever.
A Career for the Record Books
Big Ten’s career scoring leader with 3,093 points
Sixth-best career scoring total in NCAA history
NCAA Single-Game Scoring: 60 (tied NCAA record)
Minnesota Career Records
Season Points: 914 points
Season Average: 28.6 points per game
Minnesota Career Leader in:
- Scoring Average: 21.5 points per game
- Career 3-Pointers: 354
- Season 3-Pointers: 119
- Single-Game 3-Pointers: 10
- Career Free Throws: 577
- Career Free Throw Percentage: .857
- Free Throw Percentage: .895 (2012-13)
- Games Scoring in Double Figures: 134
- Career Field Goals: 1,081
- Season Field Goals: 315
- WNIT Single-Game Scoring: 48
Big Ten Conference-Play Season Scoring: 549 points (30.5 per game)
Big Ten Conference-Play Season 3-Pointers: 75
- Williams Arena Single-Game Scoring Record: 48 (best of any men's or women's college player)
AP All-American First Team
espnW All-American First Team
2016 Big Ten Player of the Year
Big Ten Freshman of the Year
3x First Team All-Big Ten selection
2x AP All-American honorable mention
2x WBCA All-American honorable mention
the John R. Wooden Award Finalist
Naismith Trophy Semifinalist
Broker her own Minnesota single-season scoring record with 914 point as a senior
Big Ten All-Freshman Team
Full Court Freshman All-America First Team
#mambablood
LEAGUE ME, PLEASE.
Rachel was Drafted 4th overall in the 2016 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun.
Rachel was a key contributor in the back-court for the Sun since being drafted in 2016.
Rachel and the Sun made their first-ever WNBA Finals appearance in 2019.
On February 25th, Minnesota Lynx Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve today announced the team acquired guard Rachel Banham from the Connecticut Sun in a sign-and-trade deal. Bringing the Minnesota basketball legend back home.
"I couldn’t be happier to be coming home and be a member of this historic franchise. Growing up a Lynx fan, I’ve always admired the way Cheryl and her staff have made the Lynx into a model franchise in the WNBA."
-Rachel Banham
