Former UNC standout Jessica Breland announced this past Sunday that she is opting to sit out the upcoming 2020 WNBA season, which is supposed to begin later this month at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

Breland was ruled medically exempt by the WNBA based on her status as a cancer survivor. While at UNC, she overcame Hodgkin’s lymphoma–which could leave her at higher risk for COVID-19.

In 2011, Breland was the recipient of the Honda Inspiration Award. That honor goes annually to a female college athlete who overcomes adversity to excel in her sport. After missing the 2009-10 season to fight cancer, she returned in 2010-11 and was an honorable mention for the All-ACC team.

She was then picked 13th overall in the WNBA Draft and eventually went on to become an All-Star in the league during the 2014 season as a member of the Chicago Sky.

Last year in the WNBA, she started all 33 games she played in and averaged 7.5 points and 7.3 rebounds while with the Atlanta Dream. This past February, Breland was traded from Atlanta to the Phoenix Mercury.

 

Photo via WNBA

 

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
Former Tar Heel Camille Little Retires From WNBA
After 13 seasons in the league, former UNC standout Camille Little retired from the WNBA following her Phoenix Mercury’s playoff loss to the Chicago Sky this past Wednesday–a loss that eliminated the Mercury from title contention. Little announced back in June that she would retire following the season. A second-round pick in the 2007 WNBA […]
Stroman on Sports: Hoops... in September???
Deborah Stroman joins 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Friday, September 29, to talk some basketball headlines.
Women's Basketball: UNC Adds Sam Miller and Sean Sullivan to Coaching Staff
UNC head women’s basketball coach Courtney Banghart announced Monday that the Tar Heels have added both Sam Miller and Sean Sullivan to the team staff. Miller will serve as Director of Scouting and Video Operations and Sullivan will serve as Director of Player Personnel Development and Recruiting Operations. Most recently, Miller was an assistant coach and […]
Itoro Coleman Hired as UNC Women's Basketball Assistant Coach
The UNC women’s basketball program announced Monday Itoro Coleman has joined the staff as an assistant coach, after spending last season in a similar role at Marquette. Coleman was a three-time All-ACC selection as a player at Clemson, where she would go on to also serve as both an assistant coach and as head coach. […]
UNC Women's Basketball Adding William & Mary Transfer Eva Hodgson
William & Mary guard Eva Hodgson revealed Monday on Twitter that she is transferring to UNC for her final two years of collegiate eligibility. Hodgson sat out the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 concerns, but started all 60 games she played in during the two years prior. She was named the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie […]
Janelle Bailey Selected as WBCA All-American Honorable Mention
UNC senior forward Janelle Bailey was named an All-American honorable mention on Monday by the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association. Bailey has been a four-year starter for the Tar Heels and led the team in both scoring and rebounding this past season, averaging 13.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. A four-time All-ACC selection and the […]
Petra Holešínská to Compete in College Three-Point Championship
UNC graduate transfer Petra Holešínská was selected Monday to compete in the upcoming State Farm College Slam Dunk and 3-Point Championships at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Holešínská is one of eight players who will compete for the women’s three-point crown on Thursday, after finishing the season as UNC’s top threat from long distance–making 56 total […]
Wake Forest Hands UNC Women's Basketball Early Exit From ACC Tournament
Despite a career-high 23 points from freshman guard Alyssa Ustby, the UNC women’s basketball team fell to Wake Forest 82-71 on Thursday in Greensboro as part of the ACC Tournament Second Round. The Demon Deacons (12-11, 8-10 ACC) were red-hot from three-point range, shooting 10-for-17 from deep on the way to the victory. In addition […]
UNC's Janelle Bailey, Deja Kelly Earn All-ACC Women's Basketball Honors
A pair of Tar Heel women’s basketball standouts earned All-ACC honors on Tuesday, as Janelle Bailey was named an All-ACC honorable mention and Deja Kelly received a spot on the All-Freshman team. Bailey–a senior from Charlotte–has now received All-ACC recognition in each of her four years at UNC. She was the ACC Freshman of the […]
Deja Kelly Earns Second Consecutive ACC Women's Basketball Freshman of the Week Honor
UNC point guard Deja Kelly was named the ACC Women’s Basketball Freshman of the Week on Monday for the second consecutive week. Kelly scored exactly 22 points in both of the Tar Heels’ wins over Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, shooting 51 percent from the floor and going 5-for-9 from three-point range across those two […]
›