In the past 20 years, it is unlikely any female basketball player has enjoyed more success than Seimone Augustus, and the success story began at Capitol High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, when Augustus dominated as a high school freshman in 1998-99. As a freshman at Capitol, Augustus averaged 27.4 points per game and helped her team to a runner-up finish in the state tournament. She drew national attention when Sports Illustrated for Women featured her on the cover with the headline, “Is She the Next Michael Jordan?”

During her four years at Capitol High, Augustus scored 3,600 points and pulled down 1,728 rebounds and was selected Miss Basketball in Louisiana in both her junior and senior seasons. She led her teams to a 138-7 record, including 52 consecutive wins and two state championships to close her career.

As the nation’s No. 1 ranked player leading into her senior season, high school gyms were sold out on road trips and some games were moved to larger venues. In leading her team to the state title in her final two years, the LHSAA experienced record attendance that has not been touched since. Augustus was named to the McDonald’s All-American team and scored 16 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in the game. She also was named to the Parade All-American team for a second time and Gatorade Player of the Year, and she was the MVP in the WBCA All-American game.

Within one week of signing to stay at home and play for Louisiana State University, the Tigers sold more than 2,000 new season tickets. Augustus’ dominance continued at LSU, where she was two-time National Player of the Year and led the Tigers to the NCAA Women’s Final Four three times. In Augustus’ four years at LSU, the Tigers posted a 114-17 record. Following her senior season, Augustus received the State Farm Wade Trophy, the Naismith Award and the John R. Wooden Award as the best player in women’s college basketball.

In 2006, the Minnesota Lynx made Augustus the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft. She was Rookie of the Year in 2006, is a seven-time WNBA all-star and has helped the Lynx to four WNBA championships. She was the WNBA Finals MVP when the Lynx won its first title in 2011. She was named to the WNBA’s Top 20 all-time team and is the Lynx’s career leader in points scored and games played.

In addition to her two high school state titles, three Final Four trips in college and four WNBA titles, Augustus has been a part of three gold medal-winning USA basketball teams at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics in Beijing, London and Rio de Janeiro, respectively. She also was a member of three other gold-medal teams – the 2014 FIBA World Championships, the 2007 FIBA Americas Championships and the 2005 World University Games. #TitleIXat50