Elizabeth Williams Bio
Elizabeth Olatayo Williams is a Nigerian-American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Chicago Sky of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Galatasaray of the Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League. Standing 191 cm and competing at the center position, she has built her career as a versatile big known for rebounding, rim protection, and dependable interior scoring. Over the course of her professional journey, Williams has earned league-wide recognition, including the WNBA Most Improved Player award, multiple All-Defensive team selections, and a Turkish Super League championship. Off the court, she has also been a prominent voice in athlete-led civic and social campaigns.
Early Life and Background
Elizabeth Olatayo Williams was born on June 23, 1993, in Colchester, England, to Nigerian parents. Her dual Nigerian and American heritage has shaped her identity, and she later grew up in the United States, where she attended Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The combination of her British birthplace, Nigerian family roots, and American upbringing reflects the international background that has defined much of her basketball journey.
Williams comes from a family with strong athletic ties. Her younger brother, Mark, followed a similar path, playing college basketball at Duke and being selected 15th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2022 NBA draft. Their shared experience in top-level basketball, and at the same collegiate program, has created a notable family connection to the sport at the highest levels of competition.
Path to Basketball
Williams first gained international attention as a teenager with USA Basketball. In 2009, she was selected to the inaugural U16 national team that competed at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Mexico City, where she led the team in rebounding, tied for the most blocks per game, and was named tournament Most Valuable Player as the United States won gold. The following summer, she helped the U17 team capture another gold medal at the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship in France, finishing as the team’s leading scorer and rebounder.
Her youth success continued in 2011 at the FIBA U19 World Championship in Puerto Montt, Chile, where she played a key role in helping the United States win gold. After completing a distinguished high school career at Princess Anne, Williams committed to Duke University, where she played four seasons for the Blue Devils from 2011 to 2015. During her senior year, she averaged 14.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, and she finished her career with 426 total blocks, the ninth highest in NCAA history.
Elizabeth Williams Career
Early Career (2015)
Williams entered the WNBA as a top prospect, and the Connecticut Sun selected her with the fourth overall pick in the 2015 WNBA draft. Her rookie season offered a measured introduction to the professional level, and she averaged 3.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game. Although her statistical role was limited, the experience gave her a foundation in the league’s physical and tactical demands.
That same year, she began her international career, joining İstanbul Üniversitesi of the Turkish Super League during the 2015-16 season. The overseas opportunity allowed her to refine her game against experienced professionals and helped prepare her for an expanded role back in the WNBA.
Atlanta Dream Breakthrough (2016-2021)
In 2016, Williams was traded to the Atlanta Dream, a move that became the turning point of her WNBA career. With increased minutes and responsibility, she produced a breakout season, averaging 11.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, and she was named the WNBA Most Improved Player. The following year, her continued growth was rewarded with a selection to the WNBA All-Star team.
Williams remained with the Atlanta Dream through the 2021 season, establishing herself as one of the league’s most dependable interior defenders. Beyond her on-court contributions, she played a leading role in the 2020 campaign by Atlanta Dream players, including efforts encouraging team ownership to reconsider political stances on the Black Lives Matter movement, and supporting Reverend Raphael Warnock’s successful run in the 2020-21 United States Senate special election in Georgia.
Washington Mystics (2022)
Following her long stint in Atlanta, Williams signed with the Washington Mystics ahead of the 2022 WNBA season, a decision she outlined in a personal essay published in The Players’ Tribune. The move gave her a fresh environment and a chance to contribute to a championship-caliber roster.
Chicago Sky Era (2023-Present)
On February 3, 2023, Williams signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Sky, joining a contending team and embracing a veteran leadership role. Her time with Chicago was interrupted in 2024 when she suffered a torn meniscus on June 6, an injury that ended her season prematurely. On September 29, 2024, she signed a one-year extension with the Sky, signaling the organization’s continued confidence in her presence on and off the court.
Notable Events and Milestones
Williams has collected several individual honors throughout her career, including the WNBA All-Defensive First Team in 2020 and the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2023. In college, she was named the WBCA Defensive Player of the Year in 2015, a fitting recognition for a player who finished her Duke career among the all-time leaders in blocked shots. Her international résumé includes a Turkish Super League championship in 2022, a Turkish Presidential Cup in 2019, and a Turkish Cup in 2020, achievements gathered across stints with several of the country’s top clubs.
Elizabeth Williams Career Wins
Elizabeth Williams has built an impressive résumé of team championships and individual accolades across both American and international competition. In addition to multiple gold medals with USA Basketball at the youth level, she has captured club titles in Turkey and earned recognition as one of the premier defensive players in the WNBA.
International and Club Highlights
Williams began her overseas career with İstanbul Üniversitesi in 2015 and has since played for Nadezhda Orenburg, the Liaoning Flying Eagles, Botaş, and Fenerbahçe in Turkey, where she won a Turkish Super League title in 2022, a Turkish Cup in 2020, and a Turkish Presidential Cup in 2019. She later joined Çukurova Basketbol and, in June 2025, signed with Galatasaray of the Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League, continuing her presence in one of Europe’s most competitive basketball leagues.
Other Performances
Across the WNBA, Williams has also posted strong defensive numbers, including selection to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team in 2020 and the All-Defensive Second Team in 2023, along with her 2016 WNBA Most Improved Player honor and 2017 All-Star nod. Her combination of team success and individual recognition has made her one of the most consistent American bigs of her generation.
Elizabeth Williams Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Williams was born in England to Nigerian parents and later moved to the United States, where her family settled in Virginia. Her younger brother, Mark Williams, followed a similar basketball path, playing at Duke and being selected in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets. The siblings’ shared journey from high-level college basketball to professional careers in top leagues has made the Williams family one of the more recognizable basketball families of recent years.
Personal Life
Williams has been open about her Nigerian-American identity and has spoken publicly about civic engagement, including her involvement in social and political causes alongside her Atlanta Dream teammates. Public details about her marital status, spouse, or children are not widely documented in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 WNBA season represents a continuation of Williams’ tenure with the Chicago Sky, where she signed a one-year extension in September 2024. After missing significant time in 2024 due to a torn meniscus, her return to full fitness will be a key storyline for the Sky, with the team leaning on her veteran presence and interior defense. Her combination of experience, shot-blocking, and rebounding is expected to remain central to Chicago’s rotation and overall defensive identity.
Internationally, Williams added a new chapter to her overseas career on June 19, 2025, when she signed with Galatasaray of the Turkish Women’s Basketball Super League. The move places her at one of Turkey’s most historic clubs, where she will compete for both domestic titles and European competition.
With championships in Turkey, multiple All-Defensive honors, and more than a decade of professional experience, Williams enters 2025 as a respected veteran on both sides of the Atlantic. Her ability to contribute on the floor while mentoring younger players continues to shape her legacy as one of the WNBA’s most reliable centers.