ASU in the Pros Series: Indiana Fever G Briann January

Arguably one of the most successful women’s basketball players in Arizona State history, Briann January has proven among the best guards in the WNBA over the course of her career. The former first-round pick is playing her ninth year in the league, distinguishing herself as one of the most recognizable names in women’s basketball.

January’s flight to success took off in Tempe, where she set a handful of Sun Devil records. She finished her career as ASU’s all-time leader in assists (538) and free-throw percentage (83 percent), and also finished second in steals (265) and free throws made (401), as well as seventh in scoring (1,317 points).

Time at ASU

2005-06: Named to Pac-10’s All-Freshman Team. Her team-high 86 assists were the second-highest total ever for a freshman in program history.

2006-07: Garnered All-Pac-10 Honorable Mention and Pac-10 Academic Honorable Mention. Started 34 games.

2007-08: AP All-American Honorable Mention. 2008 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, All-Pac-10 Second Team, Pac-10 All-Academic Honorable Mention.

2008-09: AP All-American Honorable Mention. 2009 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year. All-Pac-10 First Team, All-Pac-10 Defensive Team. Set ASU single-season record for 3-pointers with 65. Finished regular season second in nation in 3-point FG percentage (46.9). Tied program single-game record with seven 3-pointers in win over UC Davis.

Time in the WNBA

2009: Selected sixth overall by Indiana Fever in 2009 WNBA Draft. Reached WNBA Finals, where Indiana lost to the Phoenix Mercury, 3-2.

2010: Appeared in 30 games (seven starts).

2011: Became Indiana’s starting point guard. Suffered torn ACL, sidelining her after 10 starts.

2012: Averaged career-high 10.3 points per game. Named to WNBA All-Defensive First Team. Reached WNBA Finals, defeating Minnesota Lynx, 3-1.

2013: Started 32 games, averaging career-high 29.6 minutes per game.

2014: Named WNBA All-Star for first time in career. Named to WNBA All-Defensive First Team.

2015: Shot career-high from the field and 3-point range. Named to WNBA All-Defensive Second Team. Reached WNBA Finals, lost to Lynx, 3-2.

2016: Named to WNBA All-Defensive First Team.

January has spent her entire WNBA with Indiana, averaging 8.9 points per game, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game over 233 career appearances (174 starts). A defensive stalwart, January has been selected to an All-Defensive Team in four of the past five seasons. She’s reached the WNBA Finals three times in her career, winning in 2012.

In addition to January’s WNBA career, she has played overseas during the offseason. From 2009-10 she played for Tarsus Belediyes (Turkey); 2010-11 she played with Raanana Hertzeliya (Israel); 2012-13 she played for Elektra Ramat Hasharon (Israel); 2013-14 she played for Maranhao Basquete (Brazil); and in 2014-15 played for Adana ASKI SK (Turkey).

January was hired by ASU to join Charli Turner Thorne’s staff as an assistant coach on April 19. Previously, January served as a volunteer assistant coach at Adelphi University, helping the program reach the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed.