Jessica Breland is a professional basketball player and WNBA veteran known for her defensive skills and versatility as a forward. She graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2011 and entered the WNBA the same year. Over her nine-season career, she has played for five teams: the Connecticut Sun, New York Liberty, Indiana Fever, Chicago Sky, and Atlanta Dream. Breland has appeared in 242 WNBA games, starting 180 of them, and has accumulated career totals of 1,766 points, 1,423 rebounds, 324 assists, 328 blocks, and 188 steals. She ranks 12th all-time in blocks per game in WNBA history with an average of 1.3 blocks per game[1][2][3][5]. Breland has earned multiple honors during her career. She was selected as a WNBA All-Star in 2014 after leading the league in blocks while playing for the Chicago Sky. Additionally, she was named to the WNBA First Team All-Defensive Team in 2018 during her tenure with the Atlanta Dream[1][4]. Beyond her on-court achievements, Breland has demonstrated resilience, overcoming significant personal challenges such as a battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which required her to pause her basketball career temporarily[6]. In November 2020, Breland joined the Duke University women’s basketball program as an operations intern during the 2020-21 season, reflecting a transition toward roles beyond active play[1]. Her experience and defensive prowess have made her a respected figure in women’s basketball, both for her athletic contributions and her perseverance.