CAREER
Renee Danielle Montgomery was born December 2, 1986, to Ron and Bertlela Montgomery, in West Virginia. After leading her South Charleston High School to three State Championships, she headed to the University of Connecticut, majored in Communications, and won a National Championship.
Renee was drafted into the WNBA, has won two WNBA Championships, and has been an All-Star.
Renee announced that she would sit out the 2020 season to work on social justice causes. Her decision came on the night of the initial George Floyd protests, when she felt compelled to act. “I just feel the need to say something and do something,” she told Deadspin. The two-time WNBA champion had already established the Renee Montgomery Foundation in 2019 with a focus on serving the community in Atlanta, where she plays point guard for the Dream, whose co-owner has been less than supportive of the Movement for Black Lives. To counter voter suppression in Georgia, Montgomery launched the Remember the 3rd campaign, which is designed to educate voters about their rights at the polls come Election Day on Nov. 3. She also teamed up with LeBron James for More Than a Vote, his campaign to combat voter suppression.
Renee launched her own podcast, Remotely Renee, in 2020 She is also breaking down barriers for women in sports as a co-host for two sports programs, TMZ Sports on Fox Sports 1 and NBA TV’s WNBA Weekly.
In February 2021, Renee stepped off of the court and into the board room. Renee retired from the WNBA and became part of the ownership group that purchased the Atlanta Dream, her former team.
Renee has become the first former WNBA player to become an owner and executive of a WNBA franchise.
HIGH SCHOOL CAREER
Renee was a captain each year of her high school career. She averaged 22.5 points, six assists, five rebounds and five steals while leading South Charleston High School to the West Virginia Class AAA Final as a senior. She led South Charleston High School to the West Virginia state Championships 3 times. She also played on the varsity soccer team.
High School Accolades
- 2005 McDonald’s All-America.
- 2005 Gatorade West Virginia High School Player of the Year.
- 2005 Street & Smith Third Team All-America.
- 2005 Associated Press West Virginia Player of the Year.
- 2005 WBCA Honorable Mention All-America.
- 2004 Street & Smith Third Team All-America.
- 2003 Street & Smith Honorable Mention All-America
UCONN CAREER
Renee attended the University of Connecticut where she majored in Communications. Renee left Connecticut with a 138-11 record, four Big East regular season titles, three Big East Tournament championships, and a National Championship. She was the only player in program history to rank in the top-10 in points (1,977), assists (626), steals (266) and three-pointers (251).
UConn Accolades
- 2009 National Championship
- 2009 Nancy Lieberman Award – Top Point Guard
- 2009 Honda Sports Award, basketball
- 2009 Finalist for Honda-Broderick Cup
- 2009 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
- 2009 Gazette Sportsperson of the Year
- 2008 All-Big East First Team
- 2007 All-Big East First Team
- 2006 Big Est Conference Freshman of the Year
WNBA CAREER
Renee was selected fourth overall in the 2009 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx.
In 2010, Montgomery was traded to the Connecticut Sun, as part of a trade involving Minnesota native Lindsay Whalen, and the first pick in the 2010 draft, with which the Sun selected Tina Charles, Montgomery’s former college teammate.
During the 2011 WNBA season, Renee had the best season of her career once she became the starting point guard for the Sun. She averaged 14.6 ppg and was voted as an all-star for the first time in her career.
In 2012, Renee came off the bench for the Sun, but was still effective, averaging 11.6 ppg and won WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year. The Sun made it to the playoffs that year and were one win away from advancing to the Finals, but were eliminated by the eventual champions Indiana Fever in game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
On January 28, 2015, the Connecticut Sun traded Renee along with their third and fifteen overall picks in the 2015 WNBA draft to the Seattle Storm in exchange for Camille Little and Shekinna Stricklen.
On July 20, 2015, Renee was reacquired by the Minnesota Lynx in a trade for Monica Wright. Renee ended up winning her first WNBA championship with the Lynx after they defeated the Indiana Fever in the Finals.
In 2016 Renee averaged 7.5 ppg off the bench and the Lynx were in the hunt to win back-to-back championships, but lost to the Los Angeles Sparks in the Finals.
In 2017, Renee averaged 8.0 ppg and achieved a new career-high in field goal shooting percentage. The Lynx continued to be a championship contender in the league after making it to the Finals for the sixth time in seven seasons, setting up a rematch with the Sparks. This time the Lynx would win in 5 games, winning their fourth championship in seven seasons, tying the now-defunct Houston Comets for most championship titles.
On February 1, 2018, Montgomery signed a multi-year contract with the Atlanta Dream. She would be the starting point guard for the team. On August 12, 2018, Montgomery scored a season-high 30 points along with a career-high 8 three-pointers in an 86-77 victory over the New York Liberty, tying the regular season record for most three-pointers in a game. She also hit 7 of her 8 three-pointers in the second half, breaking the WNBA record for most three-pointers in a half.[12] By the end of the season, Montgomery set the franchise record for most three-pointers made in a season. The Dream would finish 23-11 with the number 2 seed in the league, receiving a double-bye to the semi-finals.
WNBA Accolades
- 2× WNBA champion (2015, 2017)
- WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year (2012)
- WNBA All-Star (2011)
OVERSEAS CAREER
Renee has had the opportunity to play pro basketball all over the world.
- 2009-10: TEO Vilnius, Lithuania
- 2010-11: Maccabi Ashdod, Israel
- 2011-12: Uni Seat Györ, Hungary
- 2012-13: Nadezhda Orenburg, Russia
- 2013-14: Tarsus, Turkey and Vologda-Chevakata, Russia
- 2014-15: Vologda-Chevakata, Russia
- 2015-16: Canberra, Australia
- 2016-17: Basket 90 Gdynia, Poland
- 2017-18: Maccabi Ramat Hen, Israel