As the 9th season veteran in the pros, Courtney Williams is a raging storm in the W. Known for her dominance and leadership prowess across the league, Williams ignites the hardwood with her elite playmaking and flawless offences. With an average of 12.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6 assists with the Minnesota Lynx so far, Williams is a formidable force that devours every opponent that tries to cross paths with the guard. While we are aware of her exceptional performance in the WNBA, let us understand Courtney Williams’ early life and the factors that shaped her into the athlete that we see today.

Where is Courtney Williams from, and what is her nationality?

Courtney Monae Williams was born on May 11, 1994, in a quaint town of Folkston, in southeastern Georgia, located just 5 miles east of Okefenokee Swamp. Williams was born to American parents and former athletes, Michelle Williams and Donald Williams, thereby establishing her identity as a natural citizen of the United States. Thanks to growing up in a tight-knit family with multi-generational basketball roots, Williams instinctively developed a deep fascination for the sport at an early age.

She would play in Michelle’s recreational league, which was coached by her uncle. Interestingly, the league involved a majority of boys who young Courtney got a chance to play alongside. At just 7 years of age, she was already outscoring boys. This ignited a passion in Williams, and it was exactly when her father noticed her potential.

But unlike normal parents, Donald wanted to ensure she was ready for the sport before stepping out into the world. So the doting dad took over coaching duties and began training young Courtney. “I needed to put in her head that she’s the baddest, she’s the best. Can’t nobody beat her at nothing. Whatever it was, track or basketball, she always had it locked in her head that can’t nobody mess with her or beat her.”

Moreover, she followed her mother’s footsteps when she joined the Charlton County High School in Georgia. Her mother, Michelle Williams, not only played basketball for the Charlton girls’ team, she also set a 40-point single-game record. And who better to rewrite it? Well, young Courtney broke her mother’s high school record by scoring 42 points in a single game during her time at the Charlton. Williams used the high school opportunities as a foundation for her professional career.

So, it was only natural for the Lynx star to join the University of South Florida. The five-feet-eight player worked her way from the bench to the starting lineup with a persistent shooting prowess and resilience. Known across the league as “mid-range assassin“, Courtney perfected the shooting style as an amateur, thanks to her father. “My daddy told me to get a little middy so I wouldn’t get hurt. It kind of became my identity,” Williams said.

This technique worked wonders for the shooting guard. With more than 20 points per game at a stretch of 10 college games, Williams was established as a standout player for the program. And soon enough, Williams found her name inducted into the South Florida University’s hall of fame and had her jersey retired.  No wonder she marked her debut in the pros as the 8th overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft.

What is Courtney Williams’s ethnicity?

Courtney Williams belongs to an African-American ethnicity. While both her parents share the same ethnic roots, Michelle Williams and Donald Williams are American nationals. However, they represent generations of Black American heritage and a strong, close-knit community.

Is Courtney Williams Christian? 

Yes, Courtney Williams is Christian. According to a sports biography, Williams is an ardent follower of the religion. Besides, she is also found openly embracing the religion on social media through her posts and captions. Furthermore, her tattoo, “Faith over Fear,” symbolises the importance of faith in the player’s life.