| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1979-04-19) April 19, 1979 (age 45)[1] Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Nationality | Virgin Islander |
| Listed height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Norland (Miami, Florida) |
| College | Florida (1997–2001) |
| WNBA draft | 2001: 3rd round, 39th overall pick |
| Selected by the Minnesota Lynx | |
| Position | Guard |
| Number | 5 |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Tombi Bates[2] (née Bell; born April 19, 1979) is an U.S. Virgin Islands former professional basketball player.
Bates played for Miami Norland Senior High School, and during her tenure there, was one of the top players in her county.[3]
Bates played for the Florida Gators from 1997 to 2001. She was featured in an April 2001 article for The Gainesville Sun.[4]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | Florida | 25 | 1 | 14.7 | .426 | .362 | .672 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 4.1 |
| 1998-99 | Florida | 25 | 1 | 14.1 | .344 | .250 | .619 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 3.4 |
| 1999-00 | Florida | 34 | 34 | 29.6 | .371 | .294 | .677 | 3.7 | 6.0 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 7.1 |
| 2000-01 | Florida | 28 | 27 | 34.2 | .494 | .377 | .705 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 12.4 |
| Career[5] | 112 | 63 | 24.0 | .426 | .362 | .672 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 6.9 |
Bates was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in 2001.[6]
Bates spent the 2005–2006 season as an assistant coach of the Miami Hurricanes.[7] Bates later became an NCAA certified referee and a FIBA certified official.[8]
Bates graduated from Florida with bachelor's degree in exercise and sports sciences with a specialization in sport management in 2002.[7] Bates is the sister of NBA player, Raja Bell.[7][9] As of 2013, Bates is a physical education teacher at José Martí MAST 6-12 Academy.[10]
