Greater Columbus Basketball Legend Association
HELEN DARLING
PLAYER
2014 GCBLA INDUCTEE
COLUMBUS, OHIO
Category: PLAYER
Recognition
Helen Darling attended Brookhaven High School where she was an All-City and All-State basketball player and named a High School All-American by the WBCA. She played in the WBCA High School All-America Game in 1995. During her college career at Penn State, Darling averaged 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.49 steals in 126 games and is the only player in PSU history to amass 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 600 assists for her career. Darling is also the only player in Penn State history to earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors. A four-year starting point guard, she helped lead the Lady Lions to their first and only Final Four appearance in 2000. Darling earned her degree in education from Penn State in December 2001. She received the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association as the best senior player under 5’8” in 2000. Darling played on the team presenting the USA at the 1999 World University Games held in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The team earned the silver medal. On April 25, 2000, Darling was drafted by the Cleveland Rockers in the second round (No.17 overall) of the 2000 WNBA Draft. In her rookie season, Darling played in all 32 regular season games and in six Rockers playoff games. Over her WNBA career, Helen played for: Cleveland Rockers (2000-2003), Minnesota Lynx (2004), Charlotte Sting (2005-2006), and San Antonio Silver Stars (2007-2010). In her WNBA career, Darling has more than 1,000 career points, 650 assists and 250 career steals and has appeared in 19 career WNBA playoff games. She is also the mother of triplets’ - two boys Ja-Juan, Jalen and a girl Nevaeh.
Career Highlights
- Brookhaven High School where she was an All-City and All-State basketball player and named a High School All-American by the WBCA.
- WBCA High School All-America Game in 1995.
- College career at Penn State, Darling averaged 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.49 steals in 126 games and is the only player in PSU history to amass 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 600 assists for her career.
- Darling is also the only player in Penn State history to earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors.
- A four-year starting point guard, she helped lead the Lady Lions to their first and only Final Four appearance in 2000.
- Darling earned her degree in education from Penn State in December 2001.
- She received the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association as the best senior player under 5’8” in 2000.
- Darling played on the team presenting the USA at the 1999 World University Games held in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The team earned the silver medal.
- On April 25, 2000, Darling was drafted by the Cleveland Rockers in the second round (No.17 overall) of the 2000 WNBA Draft. In her rookie season, Darling played in all 32 regular season games and in six Rockers playoff games.
- Helen played for: Cleveland Rockers (2000-2003), Minnesota Lynx (2004), Charlotte Sting (2005-2006), and San Antonio Silver Stars (2007-2010).
- WNBA career, Darling has more than 1,000 career points, 650 assists and 250 career steals and has appeared in 19 career WNBA playoff games.
2014 GCBLA inductee
HELEN DARLING