BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Ameshya Williams-Holliday described her beginning at Jackson State as a member of the Women’s Basketball program in 2019 as a “new opportunity” and it ended up being one that she would take full advantage of while setting the stage for a spectacular career.

To conclude her final year at Jackson State, she was the 25th overall selection (1st pick in the 3rd round) in WNBA Draft by Indiana Fever. She was the first HBCU player to be selected in the WNBA since 2002 and was the second SWAC student-athlete and sixth student-athlete from an HBCU selected in the history of the league. In recognition of her efforts, she was named the 2021-22 SWAC Woman of the Year.

“Looking back on my collegiate career, I have experienced many ups and downs but overall, the experience I had as a student-athlete is something that I would not trade it for anything,” said Williams-Holliday. “Those experiences made me into the woman and the mother I am today. The experience has shown me how to be strong, and that I am built to make it through any and everything that comes my way.”

Williams-Holliday anchored Jackson State women’s basketball program to 60 wins in three seasons, including a record of 48-3 in SWAC games, 21 consecutive wins entering the 2022 NCAA Tournament, and a recent 29-game home court winning streak (second-longest in the country). JSU also won three straight conference regular season titles, and two straight conference tournament titles, and earned two consecutive NCAA appearances.

Williams-Holliday was a three-time First Team All-SWAC selection, three-time SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, and won Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same season (2021-22).

She was also a two-time BOXTOTOW HBCU National Player of the Year (2021, 2022), averaging 16.1 points per game and 11.2 rebounds per game, and 2.9 blocks per game while scoring in double-figures 71 times (including final 39 consecutive games).

“I’m thankful for the support of my family, the JSU staff, and especially Coach Tomekia Reed,” said Williams-Holliday. “Without her, I would not be where I am today in my professional and personal life. With her support, I’ve been able to accomplish many goals and earn awards I would have never thought were possible.”
 
“COVID-19 really impacted me in many ways, I saw family members pass away and I didn’t know if I would ever play basketball again but one thing I can say that COVID-19 taught me was to never take life for granted and to continue to be the best version of yourself possible.”
 
Williams-Holliday made the Dean’s List twice during her academic career. Despite the journey, she graduated in the Spring of 2021 and quickly began her graduate studies in sports science with an emphasis on sports management. She completed the year with a 3.5 GPA.
 
Shortly after, Williams-Holliday was drafted by the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. She shared that it’s still an unbelievable feeling that a young lady from Gulfport, Miss., and an HBCU basketball student-athlete was drafted.
 
“Me being drafted is proof that you can make it from a small town a small school and from a Historic Black College and University,” said Williams-Holliday. “My son, Jace, who is my everything really pushed and motivated me to want more and greater out of life. Everything that I do is simply for him.”

About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball.
 
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.