Eight-time All-Star Seimone Augustus retires, joins Los Angeles Sparks' coaching staff

Forward Seimone Augustus has retired and will be an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Sparks, the team announced Thursday.

"It's an honor to continue to serve the game that has given me so much," Augustus said in a statement announcing the news. "I'm excited to join the Sparks staff and look forward to developing in this new role."

A 15-year veteran, Augustus had re-signed with the team in February. She averaged 5.9 points in 21 games for the Sparks in the 2020 season, her first with the team.

"Seimone Augustus is one of the greatest basketball players to ever step foot on a court," Sparks general manager and head coach Derek Fisher said in the statement. "Her impact as a pioneer in our sport can be seen through all the players and people she's impacted in this game. It's been an amazing honor to work with her over the past year and we're excited to add all of her wisdom to our coaching staff."

Augustus, 37, spent the first 14 seasons of her WNBA career with the Minnesota Lynx, who selected her at No. 1 overall in the 2006 draft. She won four championships (2011, '13, '15 and '17) with the Lynx and was an eight-time All-Star.

She also has won three Olympic gold medals with USA Basketball (2008, '12 and '16).

Augustus is 10th in WNBA history with 6,005 career points. She has career averages of 15.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 391 regular-season games.