By Alicia Couch Payne
Christi Thomas graduated from Buford High School in 2000. She is what is called a “Buford Lifetimer” having spent her entire K-12 career in the Buford City School System. Thomas was a leader among her peers at BHS. She was an honor graduate and a basketball standout at Buford. Thomas honed her basketball skills coming up in the Buford recreational league from the tender age of six. Her natural talent, drive, and hard work led to her amassing an impressive 2,174 points during her time at Buford High School. Thomas was named three times as an All-State selection and led her team to a State Runner-Up position in 1999. Her senior year she was named Ms. Georgia Basketball.
“Christi was one of the pioneers of girls basketball in Buford. She was part of the team that was the beginning of the girls’ sports program that really excelled here. She was an exceptional student and athlete. We really enjoyed watching her play and become so successful,” reflects Buford Board of Education Chairman Phillip Beard.
After graduating from high school, Thomas played for the University of Georgia. While at UGA, she was the SEC Freshman of the Year, 3-Time All-SEC Performer (2001-2004), and Wade Trophy Nominee (2004). She was part of the Under 20 USA National Team where she helped win a gold medal and was named as an all-tournament team award winner. Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree in housing and consumer economics.
Thomas was selected 12th overall in the 2004 draft for the WNBA by the Los Angles Sparks. She spent five years with the Sparks, one year with the Minnesota Lynx, and the Chicago Sky for her final season in the WNBA in 2010. After that, Thomas had a tough decision to make about her future. For many WNBA players, the chance to play abroad meant a bigger paycheck. It was an opportunity that she couldn’t turn down. Thomas played abroad for nine years in Spain, Russia, Latvia, Israel, Italy, and Turkey. During this time she learned to speak Turkish and conversational Hebrew. While in Israel, Thomas was able to complete her master’s degree in criminal justice.
Injuries seemed to plague Thomas during the years spent abroad, undergoing four knee surgeries, foot surgery, and ankle surgery. In December 2014 she suffered a partially torn lateral collateral ligament in her knee and had to make another tough decision. Ultimately, Thomas chose to retire from professional basketball and returned home.
In 2015, Christi Thomas was inducted into the Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame. Thomas turned to teaching others the skills she had learned. She coached with Perimeter Christian Schools, the Cambridge Feeder Program, Northview High School, and is currently a member of the Flowery Branch High School girls basketball staff.
Thomas combined her natural talent with hard work, intelligence, and good coaching to become a successful professional athlete with two degrees. Lessons learned in Buford stayed with her throughout the years. Once a Wolf, always a Wolf.
