EVENTS
 Sportsman of the Year
 Heisman Trophy
 Swimsuit 2001

CNNSI.com GROUP
 Sports Illustrated
 Life of Reilly
 Television
 SI Women
 SI for Kids
 Press Room
 TBS/TNT Sports
 CNN Languages

COMMERCE
 SI Customer Service
 SI Media Kits
 Get into College
 Sports Memorabilia
 TeamStore

WNBA Spotlight

Tangela Smith, Sacramento Monarchs

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Wednesday July 12, 2000 04:02 PM

By Kristen Leigh Porter, CNNSI.com

Monarchs' forward Tangela Smith (center) hopes to stand tall in another pursuit -- modeling. Chuck Burton/AP

If you saw Tangela Smith, a tall, attractive, fit female walking down the street, you would probably assume she was either a model or an athlete. The Sacramento Monarchs forward thinks there's no reason she can't be both. And at 6' 4", 160 pounds, Smith is every fashion designer's dream and every WNBA coach's nightmare. "I've always wanted to model," the 1998 Big Ten Player of the Year, out of Iowa admits.

Athletes using their good looks and sex appeal to transcend the games they play is nothing new. In June 1996, hoopster Lisa Leslie signed a modeling contract with the Wilhelmina agency and has since seen her face appear in publications ranging from Vogue and Shape to TV Guide. Smith hopes to follow suit. "I saw that [Leslie] was doing it so it made me want to do it too," Smith, 23, says of her modeling aspirations. "I may try to look into that after this season."

Although being tall definitely has its advantages on the court and on the runway, it can sometimes be a burden to stand out in a crowd. "Everybody stares at me when I'm walking with my mother," says Smith, of her mom, Stephanie, who is 5' 7". "She likes that, but I don't."

Q & A Q. Who is the best looking player in the NBA? A. Allen Iverson, for sure. He's 6', 0". I don't usually like guys shorter than me, but he is so sexy. Q.What was it like moving from Chicago to Iowa City to play college basketball? A My first year I was really homesick, but once I got to know people it was fun to be there. Q. What was your most embarrassing moment on the court? A. I was a freshman in high school playing varsity in the city championship. There was a whole bunch of people at the game and I was so nervous. I shot an airball at the free throw line.

Whether she'll strut along European runways in haute couture remains to be seen, but Smith's future in hoops is secure. She's averaging 12.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.79 blocks in her first year as a starter for the Monarchs. Smith was selected by Sacramento in the second round of the 1998 draft following a stellar career at Iowa, where as a senior she led the team in scoring, rebounds, blocked shots and free-throw percentage. As a member of the Monarchs, she wears No. 50 in homage to her favorite NBA player, David Robinson. "When I was in high school, I used to watch him play," says Smith. "He blocked a lot of shots. I love blocking shots and I just wanted to play like him."

Outside of the WNBA's three-month summer schedule, many players also spend time in European pro leagues the rest of the year. Smith spent eight months in Sicily during the 1998-99 season, playing for the Isab Energy Priolo squad. This past year she went to Israel to play for Ramat Hasheron and she's thinking of heading back overseas for one last stand. Although the self-described "mama's girl" would rather stay at home in the U.S. than criss-cross the globe, she has gotten used to the travel.

If her post-basketball modeling plans work out, Smith may have many jet-setting days ahead. The Chicago native has another plan in mind, though, just in case cover shoots aren't in the cards for her. Smith would like to put her business administration minor to work and open a chain of soul food restaurants back in Iowa. It certainly wouldn't be as competitive as the fashion industry. "There aren't too many soul food restaurants out there," Smith says of the Hawkeye state.

Smith may want to keep in mind that an evening gown looks better than a greasy apron any day.

 

Related information
Multimedia
Visit Multimedia Central for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.

Copyright © 2001 CNN/Sports Illustrated An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.