Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

Ruthy Hebard

With the Chicago Sky missing all-star forward Candace Parker, the team turned to the next woman up.

Luckily for them it was Ruthy Hebard of Fairbanks.

The second-year WNBA forward filled in admirably for Parker and responded with an epic 18-point, 10-rebound, 3-block effort to lead the Sky over the Atlanta Dream 85-77.

It was Hebard’s second double-double in 25 career games in the WNBA.

“You never know how much you’re gonna play, if you’re gonna start or not,” said Hebard. “So I try to come into every game expecting to play 30 minutes or three minutes, whatever happens, just to be ready for it when I get my chance.”

She played 34 minutes, made 6-of-14 field goals and grabbed four offensive rebounds.

Hebard, of West Valley High fame, also made the play of the game late in the first quarter, sinking a rainbow 20-footer off a broken play.

With the first-quarter clock winding down, Chicago guard Courtney Vandersloot threw an over-the-shoulder pass that went off Hebard’s hands.

Hebard was able to chase down the loose ball, turn and shoot. Nothing but net.

The 6-foot-4 Alaskan is known as a predominant post player with one 3-pointer in 58 career pro games.

But she’s an 80 percent career free-throw shooter in the pro ranks, so her shooting stroke is pure.

It’s just a matter of getting comfortable with letting it fly from downtown.

“The sky is the ceiling for her,” said her coach James Wade.

Hebard is now tied with Eagle River’s Kelsey Griffin with the most double-doubles in the WNBA by Alaskan.

WNBA Double-Doubles By Alaskans
1999 Andrea Lloyd Minnesota 11pts/11ast
2012 Kelsey Griffin Connecticut 13pts/10reb
2013 Kelsey Griffin Connecticut 22pts/10reb
2020 Ruthy Hebard Chicago 12pts/11reb
2021 Ruthy Hebard Chicago 18pts/10reb