Essence Carson

Education

Carson attended and played college basketball at Rutgers University.

Career

Carson was named a WBCA All-American. She participated in the 2004 WBCA High School All-America Game, where she was a starter and scored seven points. Carson was also a McDonald"s All-American where she was also a starter and scored 5 points.

Carson continued with the team as it became the U19 team, and competed in the 2005 U19 World Championships in Tunis, Tunisia.

Carson scored 5.6 points per game. In 2007, Moscow, Russia she competed with the International Basketball Federation U20 World Championship Foreign Women Team (Formerly the World Championship Foreign Young Women Team) where she was once again a starter and obtained gold.

Carson was the 7th draft pick in the 2008 Women's National Basketball Association Draft. But the Liberty just fell short of the finals in the eastern conference finals against Detroit Shock.

She was one of the many rookies, including former Rutgers teammate Matee Ajavon.

On June 9, 2013, Carson, during a game with the Atlanta Dream, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and will miss the rest of the season. In the 2013 season, she was averaging a team-high 17.7 points and 6.3 rebounds through the first three games. She has averaged 8.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in 172 career games.

All Star In the 2011 Women's National Basketball Association All-Star Game, she was voted for a reserve for the east and scored 13 points.

Carson is from Paterson, New Jersey and is one of three children. Her brother, Shaquille Thomas, currently plays basketball for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats.

Essence graduated with a degree in Psychology and minor in from Rutgers and plays the piano, saxophone, electric bass, and drums.

Achievements

• She started playing organized sports at age 11 and attended Rosa L. Parks School of Fine and Performing Arts, while competing athletically at Eastside High School in Paterson, where she was an all-state volleyball player and state champion in the 400 meters. Carson was a member of the United States of America Women"s U18 team which won the gold medal at the International Basketball Federation Americas Championship in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The event was held in August 2004, when the United States of America team defeated Puerto Rico to win the championship. Carson helped the team win the gold medal, scoring 8.7 points per game. The United States of America team won all eight games, winning the gold medal. Carson went on to compete with the International Basketball Federation Americas U20 Championship Foreign Women Team (Formerly the World Championship Foreign Young Women Qualifying Team) where they won gold in 2006. She helped the Liberty win the first round series of the 2008 playoffs.

Membership

She is currently a member of the Women's National Basketball Association New York Liberty.