Jasmine Thomas (basketball)
A defensive stalwart and respected leader, she anchored WNBA backcourts for over a decade with tenacity and intelligence.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American basketball player·Birthday: September 30·Millennials
Biography
Jasmine Thomas built a formidable 12-year WNBA career not on flashy scoring, but on a foundation of relentless defense and gritty leadership. Drafted out of Duke in 2011, she initially found her footing with the Washington Mystics and Seattle Storm before truly blossoming with the Connecticut Sun. In Connecticut, she became the team's defensive heartbeat, often tasked with shutting down the league's most dynamic guards. Her offensive game was smart and steady, capable of timely three-pointers and managing the offense. Voted to an All-Defensive team and serving as a vice president of the WNBA Players Association, Thomas was widely respected for her court IQ and voice in the league. Her final season with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2023 was a testament to her enduring value as a mentor and competitor, capping a career defined by consistency, resilience, and professional excellence.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jasmine was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jasmine Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Jasmine's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2017 for her lockdown perimeter defense.
- Served as a key starting guard for the Connecticut Sun team that reached the WNBA Finals in 2019.
- Elected as a vice president of the WNBA Players Association, advocating for player rights.
- Played in over 350 WNBA games across 12 seasons for four different franchises.
Did You Know?
She was a standout at Duke University, where she was a two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
She married fellow professional basketball player DeWanna Bonner in 2023.
She was drafted 12th overall in the 2011 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm.
“My role is to be a defensive stopper and set the tone.”
