environment | January 08, 2026

Rhonda Blades’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

IntroProfessional basketball player
A.K.A.Rhonda Renae Blades Brown
IsAthlete 
Basketball player 
Sports coach 
Basketball coach 
FromUnited States of America 
TypeSports 
Genderfemale
Birth29 October 1972, Springfield, USA
Age:47 years
Star signScorpio
Stats
Height:170 cm
Weight:63 kg
Education
Vanderbilt University
Sports Teams
Vanderbilt Commodores
New York Liberty
Detroit Shock

Rhonda Blades Brown (born October 29, 1972) is a former professional basketball player. She was the first pick in the 1998 WNBA expansion draft. Blades was a 4-year starting point guard and captain at Vanderbilt University. She was a first round draft pick for the New York Liberty, starting her six-year career in the WNBA and abroad.

College

Rhonda Blades played basketball for Vanderbilt. During her four seasons (1992–95), she totaled 1,017 points and was named Honorable Mention All-American during her senior year. Blades completed a master’s degree in Nursing (MSN) and RN from VUSN in 1996.

WNBA

Rhonda Blades played for the New York Liberty, Detroit Shock, and Washington Mystics. Drafted in the early days of the league, Brown became the first WNBA player to score a 3-point shot. Brown continued playing professionally in Israel and Turkey, winning the Israeli cup in 2000-2001.

WNBA per game stats

YearTmGGSMPFGFGAFG%3P3PA3P%2P2PA2P%FTFTAFT%ORBDRBTRBASTSTLBLKTOVPFPTS
1997NYL28010.40.92.5.3570.61.9.3150.30.6.5000.50.7.6500.20.50.81.10.50.01.42.02.9
1998DET29211.70.72.7.2560.41.7.2400.31.0.2860.51.0.4830.20.91.11.40.40.01.41.62.3

Life after Professional Basketball

After basketball, Blades became the head varsity girls’ basketball coach at Brentwood Academy, in Brentwood, Tennessee. She has coached a winning program for 17 seasons (361-162 record), including 5 state championships and 4 more state championship appearances. She also teaches Anatomy and Health at Brentwood Academy, for which additional sessions were added to meet demand. Brown is married to Parke Brown (22 years), with two children, Blades (son, age 10) and Millie (daughter, age 14).