Temeka Johnson
A fearless, undersized point guard who won a WNBA title, an Olympic gold medal, and now shapes the next generation as a coach.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American basketball player·Birthday: September 6·Millennials
Biography
At just 5'3", Temeka Johnson spent her entire basketball life proving that heart and speed trump height. A floor general with blistering quickness and vision, she led LSU to three consecutive Final Fours, setting the stage for a professional career defined by winning. Drafted into the WNBA, she immediately made an impact, earning Rookie of the Year honors and, two years later, orchestrating the Phoenix Mercury's run to a championship. Her game was pure point guard: tenacious defense, pinpoint passing, and a clutch shooting touch. That same leadership made her a valued member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team that claimed gold in Beijing. After retiring, she returned to her home state of Louisiana, bringing her fierce competitive intelligence to the sidelines as an associate head coach, determined to pass on the lessons of resilience she embodied on the court.
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.
Temeka was born in 1982, 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 Temeka Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Temeka's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named the 2005 WNBA Rookie of the Year after being drafted 6th overall by the Washington Mystics.
- Won a WNBA championship as the starting point guard for the Phoenix Mercury in 2009.
- Earned an Olympic gold medal with the United States women's basketball team at the 2008 Beijing Games.
- Led LSU to three consecutive NCAA Women's Final Four appearances from 2004 to 2006.
Did You Know?
She is the shortest player to ever be named WNBA Rookie of the Year.
She played for seven different teams over her 11-year WNBA career.
She recorded over 1,500 career assists in the WNBA.
She was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
“They said I was too small, so I played ten times bigger.”
