Jacinta Kennedy

Jacinta Kennedy
Personal information
Born (1982-05-03) 3 May 1982 (age 42)
Melbourne, Victoria
NationalityAustralian
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Career information
Playing career1998–2017
PositionForward / Centre
Number9
Career history
1998–1999Dandenong Rangers
1999–2001Australian Institute of Sport
2001–2002Canberra Capitals
2003–2006Dandenong Rangers
2015–2017Dandenong Rangers
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Representing  Australia
Basketball
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 2006 Melbourne Team Competition

Jacinta Anne Kennedy (née Hamilton; born 3 May 1982) is an Australian women's basketball player, who represented the country at both junior and senior levels.[1] She most recently played for the Dandenong Rangers in the WNBL.

Personal life

Kennedy picked up the nickname "Little Awesome" from Melbourne's basketball writers in 1998 and is the younger sister of Lucille Hamilton.[2] Kennedy is married to Socceroo player Josh Kennedy.[3][4]

Career

Kennedy commenced playing in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) in 1999. Since then, Kennedy has played for the AIS (1999/00 to 2000/01), Canberra Capitals (2001/02) and Dandenong Rangers (2003/04 to 2005/06), totalling 125 games.[5][6]

Kennedy was also selected to the WNBL All-Star Five on two occasions; 2003/04 and 2005/06.[7] In season 2004/05, Kennedy was awarded the Grand Final Most Valuable Player.[2] After nine years away from the game, she returned to the game in the Rangers uniform, now playing under her marital name, Jacinta Kennedy. After the 2016/17 season, Kennedy retired from her prolonged and impressive career.[8]

At official FIBA events, Kennedy played for Australia at the 2001 World Championship for Junior Women.[9] At the 2006 Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne, Kennedy won a Gold medal.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ FIBA Archive. 2001 World Championship for Junior Women. Jancinta Hamilton. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
  2. ^ a b Howell, Stephen (5 December 2005). Little awesome Jacinta. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
  3. ^ Hall, Matthew (30 April 2010). Down Under Striker Is Way Up There. The New York Times. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
  4. ^ Smithies, Tom (19 June 2013). Was Josh Kennedy the Socceroos' saving grace? The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
  5. ^ Women's National Basketball League. All Time Playing Roster Archived 15 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-01-31
  6. ^ Women's National Basketball League. Players with 100 or more career games Archived 17 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
  7. ^ Women's National Basketball League. All Star Five Archived 15 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
  8. ^ Women's National Basketball League. Jacinta Kennedy to Retire Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  9. ^ FIBA Archive. 2001 World Championship for Junior Women. Australia. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
  10. ^ Jacinta Hamilton. Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Corporation. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
  11. ^ Howell, Stephen (24 March 2006). Opals ride tough defence to victory. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2015-01-31.