One of the best all-around players in Nebraska history, Anna DeForge earned honorable-mention All-America accolades from The Associated Press in both 1996-97 and 1997-98, while claiming first-team All-Big 12 Conference honors in both seasons. She also earned a spot on the Big 12 All-Tournament team as a junior in 1996-97.
Along with her accomplishments on the court, DeForge was a strong performer in the classroom, earning honorable-mention academic All-Big 12 recognition in 1996-97 and 1997-98. DeForge's success earned her one of five spots on Nebraska's All-Century Team announced in February of 2000.
DeForge ranks eighth in total points (1,859), seventh in total rebounds (804), eighth in assists (392) and seventh in steals (222).
DeForge's 15.9 points per game rank as the ninth-highest career average and her 6.9 rebounds per game rank 12th all time at Nebraska.
DeForge scored a career-high 33 points in an 84-76 loss at Colorado on Jan. 7, 1998, and set a career best with 15 rebounds in a 78-53 win over the Buffaloes in Lincoln on Feb. 22, 1998.
The Niagara, Wis., native produced 611 points and 260 rebounds as a senior to rank 11th on Nebraska's single-season scoring chart, while helping the Huskers to their second NCAA Tournament victory in history.
In a 76-59 drubbing of New Mexico at Norfolk, Va., on March 13, 1998, DeForge scored 13 points to go along with a career-high tying 15 rebounds and six assists. She added 17 points and nine rebounds in the final game of her Husker career in a 75-60 loss at No. 2 Old Dominion in the tournament's second round.
DeForge went on to become a second-round draft pick of the San Jose Lasers in the 1999 American Basketball League Draft. She was also the first Nebraska player to earn a spot on a WNBA regular-season roster after starting the 2000 season with the Detroit Shock. In 2004, DeForge earned her first appearance in the WNBA All-Star Game, ranking 10th in the league with 14.4 points per game. In 2003, she led the Phoenix Mercury with 11.9 points per game. She averaged 13.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game in 2005.
DeForge earned her second trip to the WNBA All-Star Game in 2007. She averaged 8.7 points per game on the year, but erupted for 16.8 points per game during Indiana's playoff run, including 25 points per game in the first round against Connecticut. She tied a career high with 31 points in the opening game against the Sun. DeForge spent the 2008 WNBA season with the Minnesota Lynx before returning to the Shock in 2009.
After a knee injury sidelined her in 2010, she continued her pro career in Spain in 2011, and played for USK Praha in the Czech Republic in 2012-13. She competed with the Montenegro National Team in 2011 and 2012. At age 38, DeForge spent the 2014-15 season with TTT Riga in Latvia. She now lives in Wisconsin.
DeForge's Career Statistics
|
Year |
G-GS |
FG-FGA |
Pct. |
3P-3PA |
Pct. |
FT-FTA |
Pct. |
TRB-Avg. |
Pts-Avg. |
| 1994-95 |
27-24 |
128-311 |
.411 |
46-138 |
.333 |
37-55 |
.672 |
185-6.9 |
339-12.6 |
| 1995-96 |
29-29 |
159-370 |
.429 |
29-94 |
.308 |
73-89 |
.820 |
197-6.8 |
420-13.5 |
| 1996-97 |
28-28 |
185-402 |
.460 |
30-78 |
.384 |
89-114 |
.780 |
162-5.8 |
489-17.5 |
| 1997-98 | 33-33 | 222-543 | .408 | 50-154 | .324 | 117-151 | .774 | 260-7.9 | 611-18.5 |
|
Career |
117-114 |
694-1, 626 |
.426 |
155-464 |
.334 |
316-409 |
.772 |
804-6.9 |
1, 859-15.9 |