WNBA veteran Epiphanny Prince has decided to hang up her sneakers after an illustrious 14-year career in professional basketball. The 36-year-old Russian-American guard, known for her scoring prowess and strategic playmaking, announced her retirement in an Instagram post Thursday, marking the end of a journey that took her across four WNBA teams and numerous overseas leagues.
“I have been fortunate to have a long career filled with unforgettable memories,” Prince said in an Instagram post announcing her retirement. “A lot of winning, ups and downs, traveling the world, and meeting so many amazing people … To my fans, and anyone who helped this kid on her journey — thank you!”
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Prince, who debuted in the WNBA with the Chicago Sky in 2010, leaves the game with a career average of 10.7 points, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game over 315 appearances, per the Associated Press. Her professional tenure included significant stints with the New York Liberty, Seattle Storm, and Las Vegas Aces, showcasing her skills at both ends of the court and earning her two All-Star selections.
Her career highlights include helping the Seattle Storm clinch the WNBA title in 2020.
Epiphanny Prince broke New York state scoring record in high school
Before stepping into the professional arena, Prince was a standout player at Rutgers University, leading the Scarlet Knights to the national championship game in her freshman year. However, she was already a national sensation in high school, famously scoring 113 points in a single game for Murry Bergtraum High School in New York, a feat that clinched the New York state record and catapulted her into the national spotlight.
Selected by the Chicago Sky as the fourth overall pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft, Prince's best season came in 2012 when she averaged a career-high 18.1 points, via Austin Nivison of CBS Sports. That performance garnered MVP consideration and established her as a key player in the league.
Her tenure with the Sky lasted five seasons before she was traded to the New York Liberty, where she played a crucial role in leading the team to the Eastern Conference finals in 2015 and earned second-team All-WNBA honors. She then went to Seattle, where she played for three seasons before returning to the Liberty for her final WNBA season in 2023. She was cut by New York in August to make room on their active roster for Stefanie Dolson.
In addition to her WNBA career, Prince also played overseas, notably in Russia, where she competed for the Russian national team in efforts to qualify for the world championships and Olympics in 2013 and 2015.
Prince was also one of the pioneers in women's basketball, choosing to leave college early to play professionally in Europe—a move that predated her entry into the WNBA and set a precedent for future players considering similar paths.
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