Ruthy Hebard

Ruth Cecilia Hebard (born April 28, 1998 is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).[1] She played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks. While at West Valley High School in Fairbanks, Alaska, Hebard was a three-time Gatorade State Player of the Year from 2013 to 2015,[2][3] and two-time USA Today Alaska Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016.[4][5]

Ruthy Hebard

No. 24 – Chicago Sky
Position	Power forward
League	WNBA
Personal information
Born	April 28, 1998 Chicago, Illinois
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Career information
High school	West Valley (Fairbanks, Alaska)
College	Oregon (2016–2020)
WNBA draft	2020 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8th overall
Selected by the Chicago Sky
Playing career	2020–present
Career history
2020–present	Chicago Sky
Career highlights and awards
2× Katrina McClain Award (2018, 2020) First-team All-American – AP, USBWA (2020) 3× Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year (2013–2015)
Medals Pan American Games 2019 Lima National 3x3 team USA Basketball 3x3 National Championship 2019 USA Basketball Women's 3x3 Oregon Ducks 2018 USA Basketball Women's 3x3 Oregon Ducks

College career

2016–2017 season

As a member of a highly touted freshman class that also included future two-time national player of the year Sabrina Ionescu, Hebard averaged a team-best 14.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. On January 15, 2017 against no. 17 UCLA, Hebard recorded a season high 29 points on 11-of-15 shooting. She was named both All-Pac-12 Conference and Pac-12 all freshman in the same year; the 18th player in Pac-12 history to achieve the feat.[6]

2017–2018 season

Hebard started 37 of Oregon's 38 games and helped the Ducks advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament for the second year in a row. She averaged 17.6 points and a team high 9.0 rebounds per game. On February 9, 2018, Hebard scored a career high 30 points on 13-of-15 shooting and 14 rebounds in a game against Washington.[6] In the same month, she set the NCAA men's and women's record for most consecutive made field goal attempts at 33.[7] She was once again named All-Pac-12.

2018–2019 season

Hebard averaged 16.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game for the season and helped the Ducks to their first ever Final Four in the NCAA tournament. She shot 67% from the floor for the second best shooting efficiency in NCAA, and was perfect in two games where she went 9-of-9 in a win against Air Force and 10-of-10 in a win against Colorado. She was named to the All-Pac-12 team for the third year in a row.[6]

2019–2020 season

In a 104–46 rout of Colorado on January 3, 2020, Hebard scored 21 points and became the 12th player in Pac-12 history to surpass the 2,000 career points milestone. She joined Ionescu as the only two active Pac-12 players in the 2,000 club.[8]

Professional career

In the 2020 WNBA draft, the Chicago Sky selected Hebard with the 8th overall pick.[9]

Personal life

Hebard, who is African American, was born in Chicago.[9] She was adopted by two white parents and grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska. She is the second of three children adopted by John and Dorothy Hebard.[10] She is a Christian and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.[11]

Career statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game	RPG	Rebounds per game
APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game	BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game
TO	Turnovers per game	FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
Bold	Career high	°	League leader

College

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG
2016–17	Oregon	37	35	27.3	.588	.000	.701	8.5	0.8	1.3	0.5	2.2	14.9
2017–18	Oregon	37	37	30.3	.660	.000	.684	9.0	0.6	1.2	1.6	1.6	17.6
2018–19	Oregon	37	36	28.7	.670	.000	.678	9.1	1.0	0.9	0.8	1.3	16.1
2019–20*	Oregon	33	33	28.7	.685	.000	.695	9.6	1.5	1.0	1.1	1.5	17.3
Career		144	141	28.7	.651	.000	.689	9.0	0.9	1.2	1.0	1.7	16.4

* 2020 NCAA tournament canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic

References

1. "Ruth Cecilia HEBARD at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2017". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
2. [email protected], Jaryd Cline. "West Valley's Ruthy Hebard wins third straight Gatorade Player of the Year award". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
3. "Gatorade State High School Players of the Year". playeroftheyear.gatorade.com. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
4. "Alaska Girls Basketball POY: Ruthy Hebard". USA TODAY High School Sports. 2015-03-12. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
5. "Alaska Girls Basketball POY: Ruthy Hebard". USA TODAY High School Sports. 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
6. "Ruthy Hebard - Women's Basketball". University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
7. "Oregon's Hebard hits NCAA-best 33 FGs in row". ESPN.com. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
8. "Ruthy Hebard passes 2,000 point milestone as Oregon routs previously undefeated Colorado". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
9. "Chicago Sky Select Ruthy Hebard With No. 8 Overall Pick of 2020 WNBA Draft". Chicago Sky. 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
10. "Family more than skin-deep for Hebard". The Register-Guard. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
11. Pease, Joshua (5 April 2019). "Oregon forward Ruthy Hebard's focus, faith have guided her from Fairbanks to the Final Four". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved 26 January 2020.