Monique Reid is one of the greatest women basketball players the city of Louisville has ever seen. The future Cardinal played four seasons at Fern Creek High School. She showcased an uncanny ability to score. In her junior and senior year, she was named a first-team All-State selection. In her final season, she scored the second-most points in the state and averaged 31.6 points per game and 19.2 rebounds per game. Reid finished her high school career with 2,666 career points.
At the University of Louisville, Reid established a culture of winning. The program still feels her imprint, as the Lady Cardinals top tier play has extended into the new decade. After her freshman year, she became an All-Big East first-team performer. Coming into her senior year, Reid garnered All American consideration. During her senior year, she suffered an osteochondral injury. After being granted a medical 5th year, Reid would finish her career in 2013 as a top 10 scorer of all time for the Lady Cardinal basketball program. When her career ended, she had participated in two national championship games.
After her college career, she needed knee surgery in the summer of 2013. The former Cardinal then accepted the head coach basketball position at her alma mater. Reid, in the past and present, had used her platform to better others.
“I want to create a safe space for kids,” Reid said. “Basketball helps kids build relationships and learn the value of teamwork.”
In 2014, Reid would take the values she learned overseas to resume her basketball career. Her first stop was for the New Basket Oberhausen in the DBBL, DBBL is the premier women’s basketball league in Germany. Reid averaged 14.9 points in 18 games in the 2013-2014 season. The next season was even better, with 15.6 points per game in 20 games. Since then, she has played for several teams in Europe. She played for Goldis ICIM Arad, Montana 2003, and Beroe Stara Zagora. Having been overseas for years, she has a unique perspective about the social unrest that has taken hold of America within the last year.
“It makes me realize how blessed I am. A lot of these countries don’t have social issues like America. I’m sure each country has its problems. But when I come overseas, I realize how small the big problems we have are.”
Reid averaged 23.5 ppg with Beroe Stara Zagora in her best season. Reid would return to America between her foreign career to play for the Atlanta Monarchs in the WBCBL. The WBCBL is the developmental team for the WNBA. The Monarchs would go on to win the WBCBL Championship. Returning from overseas allowed Reid to understand the differences between professional basketball in the United States and abroad.
“American basketball culture is huge. The game is more physical and faster. Foreign basketball culture usually isn’t as big. Soccer is the main sport most of the time. The game overseas is slower and more finesse. As an American, we bring a certain edge to the game.”
Reid has played in six different countries and over eight teams. Reid is in the prime of her career and a great example of how a player can turn tragedy into triumph. Reid has had opportunities to travel the world doing what she loves to do. Now that she has established a foreign basketball career; Reid is ready to make even more of an impact in the community. Reid signed with sports and entertainment management company Total 360 management. The company is quickly becoming one of the premier management companies in the country.
When asked why she signed with Total 360, she simply replied, “I wanted to build my brand with great people.” The Cardinal great currently plays for the Alexandria Sporting Club in Egypt. For Monique Reid, it’s game on. The venue doesn’t matter. If there are backboards and rims, Reid seeks to dominate on the court and off.
