ANDERSoN
Jolene
Jolene Anderson joined the University of Wisconsin women’s basketball team in 2004 on the heels of a record-breaking career at South Shore High School in northern Wisconsin. She left four years later with more records in her name, including the biggest of them all for the Badgers: all-time leading scorer with 2,312 points. It was an impressive run for a self-described “small-town girl trying to get an education and play basketball.”
Steve Apps, State Journal archives
TROPHY CASE
First-team
All-Big Ten
2007, 2008
Big Ten Freshman of the Year
2005
Lisa Stone, who coached the Badgers during Anderson’s career, said there was never a question about how Anderson would adjust to college basketball but there were concerns about adjusting to Madison.
Anderson was one of five players ever to be named Wisconsin’s MVP three times — in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The 5-foot-8 guard was quiet off the court but made a lot of noise with her play. She was a major element in Wisconsin’s run to the 2007 Women’s National Invitation Tournament championship game, scoring 30 points in two victories. But the Badgers never reached the NCAA Tournament during her career.
Michelle Stocker, Cap Times archives
Anderson led the Badgers in scoring in all four of her seasons, joining only Theresa Huff (1979-83) in that club. She set the Wisconsin record for points, 716, in her junior season because of the extended WNIT run. Her senior year included four games where she scored at least 30 points, and she finished two points shy of becoming the second Wisconsin women’s basketball player to average 20 points per game for a season.
Michelle Stocker, Cap Times archives
TROPHY
CASE
ANDERSON
BIO
AFTER
UW
Anderson BIO
AFTER UW
TOP 5 MOMENTS
WITH THE BADGERS
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WNIT RUN
March 2007
Anderson set a Women’s National Invitation Tournament record with 129 points, including 30 against Arkansas State in the second round and 30 against Virginia in the semifinals. Wisconsin fell on the road against Wyoming in the championship game.
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VS. CLEVELAND STATE
Nov. 9, 2007
Anderson opened her senior season with a bang, scoring 37 points in a victory at Cleveland State. It ranked fourth in Badgers history and marked her 30th straight game in double figures.
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vs. MICHIGAN
Jan. 17, 2008
Wisconsin presented Anderson with a commemorative ball before the game at the Kohl Center to recognize the team’s new scoring leader, but the Badgers couldn’t come away with a win despite another 30-point effort from Anderson.
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Jan. 13, 2008
It was a bittersweet day for Anderson and the Badgers. She scored 42 points to break Barb Franke’s all-time Wisconsin scoring record and went past 2,000 career points, but the Badgers lost 78-74 in overtime.
AT IOWA
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WISCONSIN HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
Sept. 7, 2018
Anderson was inducted into the University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility.
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Janese Banks Constantine arrived at Wisconsin along with Anderson in 2004, and they became a duo. Banks Constantine said they brought different pieces to the game but Anderson’s ability to score was legendary.
THE LEGENDS
WOMEN’s basketball, 2004 to 2008
Born: July 22, 1986, in Superior
Hometown: Port Wing
High school: South Shore High School
Family: Parents Jim and Julie; sisters Jennifer and Janice
• WNBA: The WNBA's Connecticut Sun picked Anderson in the second round of the 2008 WNBA draft, 23rd overall. She played 24 games as a rookie but was waived.
• Europe: Anderson continued her pro career in Europe in 2009, playing in France, Italy, Turkey, Poland and Spain over the next decade-plus. She said she earned more there than she would have in the WNBA, but she took more unsuccessful tries at the American league in 2011 and 2018.
• Australia: Anderson took her professional career to Sydney, Australia, in 2023.
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SOCCER STORY
Big Ten Player of the Year
2008
4,306
Minutes Anderson played for the Badgers, 410 better than the next closest player in Wisconsin history when she finished her career.
716
Points scored by Anderson in the 2006-07 season, a Wisconsin record.
123
Consecutive games started by Anderson, a Badgers record.
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USA Basketball teams that Anderson joined while she was with the Badgers. She played on under-19, under-20 and under-21 teams.
118
Games in which Anderson scored in double figures. No Wisconsin women’s basketball player has more.
248
The Wisconsin record for 3-pointers made, set by Anderson during her four-year career.
ANDERSON AT UW
2,312
18.8
6
Anderson was the first Wisconsin player to break 2,000 career points and finished with 2,312 in her career.
Anderson finished her Badgers career with an average of 18.8 points per game.
Anderson scored at least 30 points in a game six times during her Badgers career, all during her junior and senior seasons.
BY THE NUMBERS
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Francis Pomeroy Naismith National Player of the Year for seniors 5 foot 8 or shorter
2008