Former star wants number retired
One year after her departure, Bradford wants her No. 23 in the rafters
Central Michigan’s first and only player to be drafted into the WNBA wants her number retired.
Crystal Bradford, who was picked seventh overall to the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2015 WNBA draft, sat courtside Saturday with former teammates to watch the CMU women’s basketball team down Akron 81-60.
Eighteen former women’s basketball players attended the game to be honored during halftime at midcourt.
“It’s crazy (to be back in McGuirk Arena). It’s a really good feeling,” Bradford said. “It’s good to see Coach (Guevara), the coaching staff, the girls and some of the old fans who are still here, loyal and supporting.”
Bradford added one more comment.
“I really hope my jersey gets retired. I think it should.”
Bradford certainly has a case to have her No. 23 hang in the McGuirk Arena rafters.
The Detroit native holds four of CMU women’s basketball all-time records. Her 2,006 points, 1,140 rebounds, 805 made field goals and 177 blocked shots are the most in school history.
She also ranks third all-time in steals with 278 and fourth in assists with 383.
Bradford’s junior season was one of the finest in Mid-American Conference history, being named MAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year — CMU’s first and only player to receive those honors.
Averaging 20.3 points per game, 12.2 rebounds per game and 4.6 assists per game, Bradford is the first MAC player to record two career triple-doubles, which she did in a single season.
When Head Coach Sue Guevara was told one of her players wanted her number retired, Guevara knew who.
“I can’t imagine which one that would be,” she said jokingly.
Former Chippewa teammate Jas’Mine Bracey, who also played with Bradford since they were 10 and throughout high school at Detroit Community High School and Inkster High School, agreed No. 23 should be retired.
“It should be,” Bracey said simply after Saturday’s game.
Bradford only appeared in 15 of 34 games in her rookie season with the Sparks. She averaged 2.7 points per game in just 9.5 minutes per game.
"(Playing in the WNBA) it's been good. I'm getting the hang of things,” Bradford said. “It's much different being a professional. You have to practice all the time. On and off the court, you're always an LA Spark."
The only other number of a former women’s basketball player hanging in McGuirk Arena is Sue Nissen’s No. 22.
Nissen was a freshman All-American in 1987-88 and led the Chippewas in scoring from 1987 to 1990, averaging 17.02 points per game over those three seasons. She ended her career with 1, 938 points — 68 less than Bradford.
Nissen attended Dearborn Divine Child High School which is less than five miles away from Bradford’s Inkster High School.
