Matee Ajavon helped lead the Rutgers women's basketball team to the 2007 National Championship game before enjoying a successful professional career in the WNBA and overseas.
During her career "On the Banks," she received Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention accolades (2007, 2008) while also being named a candidate for the Naismith National Player of the Year Award (2006, 2008), Wade Trophy (2006, 2007, 2008) and Nancy Liberman Award (2008).
In addition, Ajavon earned 2005 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, averaging 12.4 points per game along with 121 assists that season. She was also named to the First Team All-BIG EAST in both 2006 and 2008.
Ajavon was the fifth overall pick by the Houston Comets in the 2008 WNBA Draft. During her first season, she averaged 8.0 points and 1.7 assists per game to earn a spot on the 2008 All-Rookie Team. After the Comets folded, Ajavon was chosen second overall in the 2009 WNBA Dispersal Draft by the Washington Mystics, where she played five seasons before spending her last four campaigns in the “W” with the Atlanta Dream. She helped guide the two franchises to five combined playoff appearances.
The 5-foot-8 point guard also enjoyed international success as she earned gold with Team USA in the 2007 Pan American games. She also played professionally overseas in Turkey, Poland and Israel.
Ajavon’s name can still be found throughout the Scarlet Knights’ record book as she ranks 10th on the Rutgers all-time scoring list with 1,622 points, fourth on the Rutgers all-time assist list with 556 assists and fifth on the Rutgers all-time steals list with 275 steals. She also played in 132 games, ranking her seventh on the Rutgers most games played list.
