Vanessa Hayden (basketball)

Infobox WNBA Player
name = Vanessa Hayden-Johnson

|thumb|220px
number = 55
team = Minnesota Lynx
position = Center
height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4
weight_lbs = 240
nationality = USA
birth_date = birth date and age|1982|6|5
birth_place = Orlando, Florida
college = Florida
draft = 7^th overall
draft_year = 2004
draft_team = Minnesota Lynx
career_start = 2004
career_end =
former_teams =
awards =

Vanessa L'asonya Hayden-Johnson (born June 5, 1982 in Orlando, Florida) is an American professional women's basketball player in the WNBA, currently playing for the Minnesota Lynx.

Hayden-Johnson attended the University of Florida and graduated in 2004. Following her collegiate career, she was selected 7th overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft.

As a rookie in 2004, Hayden-Johnson averaged 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. In 2005, she improved, averaging 7.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

The 2006 season was a struggle for the third year center. After reporting to the pre-season training camp 20 pounds overweight, Hayden-Johnson lost her starting job early on and remained prone to foul trouble. With her minutes cut, she averaged 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Hayden-Johnson missed the entire 2007 WNBA season to give birth to her first child. She returned to action in 2008 and is currently a reserve for the Lynx.

Trivia

Hayden-Johnson, who hates flying, brings a teddy bear with her on every flight. The Florida native has a collection of over 200 teddy bears.

She enjoys writing short stories in her free time.

External links

* [http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/vanessa_hayden/index.html?nav=page WNBA Player Profile]
* [http://www.wnba.com/lynx/news/vanessa_hayden_news.html November 21, 2006 letter to the fans on her pregnancy]
* [http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/baseball/archive/2008/06/vanessa_hayden.shtml Vanessa Hayden Seeks a New Beginning (Minnesota Public Radio)]