- She is an American professional basketball player
- She currently plays for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA
- She was the first-ever undrafted player to win the WNBA All-Star Game MVP award
Erica Wheeler is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Indiana Fever and is the best-paid player in 2023. Erica plays as a guard and she previously played for teams like Los Angeles Sparks, Besiktas JK and Perfumerias Avenida.
She grew up in Liberty City, a tough inner-city neighbourhood in Miami known for its high crime rates. The environment exposed her to violence at an early age even losing two of her close friends. Despite the hardships, the environment also shaped her strength, determination and community spirit. So, she engaged herself with basketball skills and was a standout player at Parkway Academy.
Her talent earned her a scholarship to Rutgers University where she continued to excel on the court. However, she went undrafted by the WNBA in 2014 despite her impressive performance. This did not deter her from proving herself in professional leagues overseas before making a comeback to the WNBA.
Wheeler started her professional career overseas playing for teams in Spain and Turkey, where she adapted to different playing styles. She then signed with the Indiana Fever finally getting a chance in the WNBA. After five seasons of playing with the team, she played for the Los Angeles Sparks and a year later, she returned to the Indiana Fever where she continues to be a valuable asset to the team.
Erica Wheeler Educational Background
The player attended Parkway Academy in Liberty City, Miami where she excelled in both basketball and academics, leading her team to multiple state championship appearances. She then enrolled at Rutgers University where she majored in exercise science and sports management, also named to the Big Ten All-Academic Team for her academic performance.
Erica Wheeler. Photo/Los Angeles Times
The player also led the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in scoring during her senior season. Both athletic and academic success marked her educational background. She balanced both ultimately graduating with a degree from the university.
Erica Wheeler Personal Life
Erica Wheeler was born on May 2 1991 in Miami, Florida, U.S. She grew up in a challenging environment where she faced hardships and lost two of her close friends to tragic death. The environment exposed her to violence at an early age even losing two of her close friends. Despite the hardships, the environment also shaped her strength, determination and community spirit. So, she engaged herself with basketball skills and was a standout player at Parkway Academy.
Her talent earned her a scholarship to Rutgers University where she continued to excel on the court. However, she went undrafted by the WNBA in 2014 despite her impressive performance. This did not deter her from proving herself in professional leagues overseas before making a comeback to the WNBA.
Wheeler started her professional career overseas playing for teams in Spain and Turkey, where she adapted to different playing styles. She then signed with the Indiana Fever finally getting a chance in the WNBA. After five seasons of playing with the team, she played for the Los Angeles Sparks and a year later, she returned to the Indiana Fever where she continues to be a valuable asset to the team.
WNBA’s Erica tops the 2023 pay charts
After going undrafted in the 2014 WNBA draft, Erica found her way through to the WNBA to play for the Indiana Fever, the Los Angeles Sparks and then a comeback to the Indiana Fever where she currently plays. Her breakout season in 2023, earning the WNBA All-Star MVP award led her team to the playoffs.
Erica Wheeler. Photo/Swish Appeal
Her base salary for the 2023 season was $242,154 including a part of a unique time-off bonus she received for playing overseas during the WNBA offseason. Her salary is a sign of the growing popularity of the WNBA and the increasing value of its players.
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