A former player in the Women’s National Basketball Association with an outstanding competitive resume, Jia Perkins joins the Cal State LA women’s basketball program as the associate head coach. Perkins played for four WNBA teams over a 13-year playing career and also played professionally in the International Basketball Federation.
Perkins was part of a WNBA championship team in 2017 with the Minnesota Lynx and she was on the WNBA’s All-Defensive Second Team in 2013 as a member of the San Antonio Stars. Perkins was also a WNBA All-Star with the Chicago Sky in 2009.
She began her WNBA career with the Charlotte Sting in 2004-05.
Perkins also played professionally overseas, where she won championships in Israel and Dubai. She retired as a champion from the WNBA following the 2016-17 season with the Minnesota Lynx.
Perkins earned All-America honors at Texas Tech and was inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame in 2016. She was also on a USA World Championship gold medalist team in 2002.
Perkins earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration at Texas Tech.
She has a daughter, Aalirah, who is a sophomore in high school and plays basketball and runs track. She also has a dog named Maximus Prime.
