Renee Montgomery didn’t just play the game. She changed it. Born Dec. 2, 1986, the former WNBA star built a career that most players only dream of.

She helped UConn win an NCAA Championship in 2009, was the 4th overall pick in the WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx, and won two WNBA titles (2015, 2017).

Montgomery was not done, however. In 2021, she left broadcasting and stepped into history, becoming the first former WNBA player to own and serve as an executive in a franchise. Her story goes beyond basketball, as she is a two-time All-American, WNBA All-Star, and Sixth Woman of the Year.

Renee Montgomery's Championship Basketball Career

Renee Montgomery became known as one of the best threats from the perimeter during her 11-year career in the WNBA. Being a vital part of the UConn Huskies and their unbroken string of victories during the 2009 NCAA tournament, she entered the league that same year as the 4th overall pick.

Montgomery has 2 WNBA Championships due to her time with the Minnesota Lynx in 2015 and 2017, and was named an All-Star in 2011, as well as received the award for Sixth Woman of the Year in 2012. Playing for the Lynx, Sun, Storm, and Atlanta Dream, she scored 3,534 points and retired as one of the best and most reliable three-point shooters in the league.

Renee Montgomery's Social Justice Activism

In June 2020, Montgomery stepped away from the WNBA to focus on advocating for social justice after George Floyd was murdered, and Montgomery's decision had even more impact because her owner publicly criticized the Black Lives Matter movement while it was going on.

To combat voter suppression, Montgomery started the voter turnout campaign, "Remember the 3rd," and joined LeBron James's "More Than a Vote" initiative, which works against voter suppression.

Through her Renee Montgomery Foundation, she covers the costs for sports equity, youth development, and digital education, making her one of the most significant activist athletes of her generation.

Renee Montgomery's Executive Leadership and Media Career

Montgomery's transition from player to ownership makes her one of the most important figures in WNBA history. After retiring in 2021, she became part of the ownership group for the Atlanta Dream as the first former player to be both a co-owner and executive of the league.

This was just part of her ownership trailblazing, as she became the first female owner of the FCF Beasts in Fan Controlled Football.

Aside from her trailblazing ownership, she also became a visible media personality, founding her own production company and working as an analyst for the NBA and WNBA, and becoming a leading sports media and business personality by launching her podcast "Montgomery and Co."

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta