Forest Park grad Wright focuses on getting better, not a WNBA career

Monica Wright has scored more points in a single season than any player in University of Virginia women's basketball history.

Six hundred ninety six. That's more than Dawn Staley, more than Heather Burge, more than Wendy Palmer.

All three of those former Cavaliers went on to play in the WNBA.

Wright is keenly aware of that. The junior guard is practically an expert when it comes to the pro-gram's heritage.

She understands where the Cavaliers have been and where they are headed. She's proud to be a part of that tradition and, more importantly, she wants to uphold it.

If a record or two comes her way because of it, Wright is appreciative but what the two-time hon-orable mention All-American really wants is to win an Atlantic Coast Conference championship and advance beyond the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

"Our program has a legacy that we want to uphold," the Forest Park High School graduate said.

Wright contributed to that legacy this season by leading the ACC in scoring with 20.5 points per game.

That happens to be a Virginia single-season school record as well.

Sometime next winter, Wright will surpass Staley as the school's career scoring leader—making her arguably the best player to ever wear a Cavaliers' jersey.

The numbers, through, won't matter as much as the wins.

"Those things happen because I'm surrounded by excellent players who make me better," Wright said. "They aren't planned. I'm more proud of the team accomplishments than I am the individual accomplishments."

So you won't hear her talk much about that career-high 35-point performance at Tennessee or the nine steals against Illinois.

"It goes along with the territory," said Wright, who was a finalist for three prestigious national awards—the Wooden Award, Wade Trophy and Naismith Trophy.

"A lot of players contributed in many different ways. I just feel like scoring is what I had to do in order for the team to win," she said. "We made it to the [NCAA] tournament here and we won state championships at Forest Park. Those are the things I'll remember most. It's a lot harder to do those things than it is to win individual awards."

Wright scored at least 20 points in 21 of Virginia's 34 games this season and her 2.9 steals ranked 17th in the nation among Division I players.

But beating Tennessee in Knoxville and Marist in the first round of the NCAA Tournament meant much more to the nation's 13th-leading scorer.

"Coming to Virginia is the best decision I've made in my life. I've learned so many things on and off the court and I've changed as a person," Wright said. "It's been a great experience. I can't believe how fast it's going by. I want to cherish these moments."

Even if it means resisting the urge to look ahead to the next phase of her career: professional basketball.

When the Connecticut Sun used their second pick in the 2009 WNBA draft to select Virginia for-ward Lyndra Littles last week, Wright paused briefly to celebrate her teammate's good fortune. But she couldn't afford to get caught up in the hoopla.

Wright had study hall to attend—and a senior season to prepare for.

"I was extremely excited for her. She's worked so hard during her career here and she definitely deserves it," Wright said. "[Playing in the WNBA] is definitely in the back of my mind. But I want to stay focused on the season to come and improving on the things I need to improve on for the team to win because that's what matters most."