WNBA standout Erica Wheeler gives back to her hometown Miami community

Erica Wheeler – the only active WNBA player who hails from Miami – is not a household name.

Wheeler, a 34-year-old native of Liberty City, is the only player in league history to go from undrafted to MVP of the All-Star Game.

Even so, she’s not nearly as well known as the many sports stars to come from the Magic City.

Not that it bothers Wheeler.

“I honestly don’t care what the world thinks of me as long as my family is proud of me,” Wheeler, a graduate of Broward’s Parkway Academy, told The Herald. “My mom (Melissa Cooper) passed away (on July 17, 2012), and I know she’s watching me more than ever. As long as I’m doing what I need to do to make her proud and keep her legacy going, I think that’s the biggest thing for me.

“The people in Miami who need to know me, (they) know me.”

She proved that point this past Saturday, holding the eighth annual Erica Wheeler Basketball Camp at Bucky Dent Park in Hialeah.

It’s a free camp for girls only, and more than 150 kids came out. The kids ranged from middle school to high school, and the event was sponsored by adidas.

Each camper received: a pair of free adidas sneakers, priced at $150; a book bag; water bottle; camp shirt and shorts, and a headband.

“I’ve been with adidas since 2020, and that allows me to bless my community,” Wheeler said. “Most camps charge these kids.

“But I’m not interested in making a dollar off kids who are just chasing their dreams. My goal is to be that bridge and show that it ain’t always about money. Any kid in my camp, if they have the aspiration to be great, I believe in them.”

Wheeler also said that many local parents have emailed her that their kids need new basketball shoes, and Jornnai Barnett is a perfect example.

Barnett, a 15-year-old sophomore who plays on South Broward High’s varsity, couldn’t wait to put on her new sneakers on Saturday.

“My old shoes were busted up,” Barnett said.

Besides the new gear, Barnett said the camp featured hard work.

“We did a lot of drills,” Barnett said. “I have low confidence on handling the ball. But this camp boosted my confidence to go to the basket and to use my non-dominant hand.”

Camila Figueroa, a 13-year-old eighth-grader at Doral Academy, also loved the camp.

Figueroa, who is already 5-foot-10 with growth potential since her dad is 6-4, said she enjoyed getting instruction from Wheeler and fellow WNBA standout Betnijah Laney-Hamilton.

“Having them there inspires you to go even harder,” Figueroa said. “It motivates you to do even better.”

Wheeler, a 5-7 guard who last season led the Seattle Storm to the playoffs -- pushing the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces to the limit -- is not surprised her camp is popular.

“Some people ask how I get so many kids to my camp,” Wheeler said. “Well, you have to be there the whole time and not just show up for an hour.

“I’m there from start to finish. I’m there when we are setting up until it ends and also cleaning up afterward. I dedicate my time to these kids so they can see what hard work looks like.

“I was once in their shoes. I lived in the area they live in. If I can get at least one kid to believe that no matter her circumstances, she can still be a professional athlete at the highest level, the camp is a success.”

Laney-Hamilton, who has known Wheeler since their days at Rutgers University, has no doubt that this camp was a hit.

For starters, Laney-Hamilton saw many players on Saturday who have grown from previous camps – both physically and in terms of their games.

Secondly, Laney-Hamilton said it was great for her and Wheeler to give the campers an example of what they can become if they continue to work.

Either way, Wheeler is the right role model, Laney-Hamilton said.

“The passion Erica has and the amount of energy she puts in is second to none,” Laney-Hamilton said. “This camp has continued to grow over the years, and that’s because of her.

“She’s not doing this to prove anything. She does it because she cares.”