Renee Montgomery, who opted out to focus on social justice reform, retires from WNBA
Atlanta Dream guard's 11-year career included pair of championships
Atlanta Dream guard Renee Montgomery is retiring following an 11-year career with four teams that included two WNBA championships.
Montgomery is in her first season as a studio analyst on Atlanta Hawks broadcasts for Fox Sports Southeast. She opted out of the 2020 WNBA season to focus on social justice reforms.
The 34-year-old Montgomery won titles with the Minnesota Lynx in 2015 and 2017. She was an all-star with the Connecticut Sun in 2011, when she set a career high with her average of 14.6 points per game. She was the WNBA's Sixth Woman of the Year in 2012.
Montgomery played her final two seasons with Atlanta. She helped lead the 2018 team to a franchise-record 23 regular-season wins.
Today <a href="https://twitter.com/ReneeMontgomery?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ReneeMontgomery</a> announced her retirement from the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBA</a> <br><br>No. 4⃣ pick in 2009 👏<br>2X WNBA Champion 🏆<br>An activist for change ✨<br><br>Thank you for 11 amazing years! <a href="https://t.co/0YfLSVoD1Z">pic.twitter.com/0YfLSVoD1Z</a>
—@WNBA"I bought a home in Georgia nine years ago and I retired as a member of the Atlanta Dream," Montgomery said in a statement released by the Dream. "I've always known I wanted to be here and now I feel intertwined in the Atlanta fabric and culture. Blessed to call this home. True to Atlanta."
Coach Nicki Collen said Montgomery's "energy, enthusiasm and leadership helped transform the Dream, along with her 3-point shot. She prepared the right way and never cheated the game."
Montgomery, who went to UConn, was the No. 4 overall pick by Minnesota in the 2009 WNBA draft. Her 532 career 3-pointers rank 12th all-time in the WNBA. She also played for the Seattle Storm.
