About
Basketball Career
Adrian Strong attended the University of Southern California, where she played four seasons with the Trojans and graduated with a degree in Psychology. She finished her USC career ranking ninth all-time in rebounding (694), ninth in blocks (97), and 10th in free throws made (258). She was one of only 19 players to reach the 1,000 point plateau (1,185 career points).
Adrian was the Phoenix Mercury's first pick in the second round (21st overall) of the 2000 WNBA Draft. She pulled down a Mercury franchise record of 184 defensive rebounds during one season, and ranked sixth in the league in steals and ninth in rebounding. In 2003, she was named to the WNBA All-Star Team where she recorded nine points, six rebounds and two steals in 19 minutes of action. After requesting to be traded, Williams-Strong was acquired by the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2004, signed by the Minnesota Lynx in 2006, and later acquired by the Sacramento Monarchs in 2007, where she played until her retirement in 2009.
Additionally, in 2003, Strong was named to the WNBA Select Team that earned the Silver Medal in the 2003 FIBA World Cup. She was also named Female Athlete of the Year by Athletes International in 2003. Strong played overseas in France in 2000, Italy in 2001-2002, South Korea in 2004-2005 and in Spain during the 2006-2007 offseason being named to the All-Star teams in all countries played.
Post Basketball- Current
Adrian is the STRONG wife to the very talented, Arthur "Buddy" Strong, of The Dave Matthews band. She is the blessed mother of two super smart, talented, and anointed children: nine year old son, Arthur Trese, and six- year old, daughter, Aria Favor. A lover of the Word of God, Adrian received her Masters of Divinity in Biblical Studies from Liberty Theological Seminary in 2015, and has been an Adjunct Professor at Grand Canyon University in the School of Theology for almost five years.
Sensing a need, and feeling a call to help her community heal from trauma and past emotional wounds, Adrian Williams-Strong will purse her Master's in Clinical Psychology from Argent University, beginning in the fall of 2020.
Ever busy, Williams-Strong serves on the Grand Canyon School of Theology Advisory board, The Board of Directors for the National Basketball Retired Players Association, Phoenix Chapter, and is Co-Chaplain for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury team.
Adrian's interests outside of her much-desired family time include: planning events for Sisters Speak, LLC- a women's group dedicated to empowering women to embrace good emotional health & freedom from abuse. She also enjoys reading, writing in her journal, learning, singing, and dancing!!!
Strong Life
A. Strong Life
Stronger Than is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and inspiring women to produce STRONG women for a STRONG life.