Emma Cannon Bio
Emma Cannon (born June 1, 1989) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and listed at 188 pounds, she has built a career that spans more than a decade across top leagues in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Cannon is best known for her rebounding, interior scoring, and international success, including back-to-back Israeli League championships with Elitzur Ramla in 2022 and 2023.
Since turning professional in 2011, Cannon has played in more than nine countries while continuing to compete in the WNBA. Her journey from Rochester, New York, to one of the world’s most demanding professional leagues reflects steady perseverance and a versatile skill set that has made her a valuable addition to every roster she has joined.
Early Life and Background
Emma Cannon was born on June 1, 1989, in Rochester, New York, where she grew up and developed her game. She attended the School of the Arts in Rochester, a public high school known for combining arts education with strong athletic programs. While playing for the school’s basketball team, Cannon put together one of the most decorated high school careers in program history.
During her time at the School of the Arts, Cannon collected 1,800 career points and 1,800 career rebounds. She also set school records for most points in a single game (47) and most rebounds in a single game (35). Those numbers reflect a player who dominated the paint at a young age and who could impact the game on both ends of the floor. Following her standout high school career, Cannon committed to play collegiate basketball at the University of Central Florida.
Path to Basketball
Cannon’s path to professional basketball began at the University of Central Florida, where she played three seasons for the Knights in Conference USA. As a freshman, she was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team after averaging 11.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Her sophomore year brought even greater recognition, as she earned First-Team All-C-USA honors, broke the school record for rebounds in a season with 393, and was named the C-USA Tournament MVP while leading the Knights to the NCAA Tournament. She also joined the program’s 1,000-point club during her junior season.
For her senior year, Cannon transferred to Florida Southern College, an NCAA Division II program in Lakeland, Florida. There she continued to produce at a high level, averaging 15.7 points and 12.1 rebounds per game while helping the Mocs post a 26-5 record and reach the Division II Regional Final. Her college performance earned her NCAA Division II All-American Honorable Mention recognition and prepared her for the jump to professional basketball overseas.
Emma Cannon Career
Early Career (2011-2015)
Emma Cannon began her professional career in 2011 with Osnabrücker SC of the German Bundesliga, where she played during the 2011-12 season. She then spent a brief stint with the Rockingham Flames in Australia before returning to Germany to join TSV 1880 Wasserburg in 2012. With Wasserburg, she became a dominant force in the German DBBL, helping the team win three consecutive league championships in 2013, 2014, and 2015, along with German Cup titles in 2014 and 2015. During the 2012 Australian season, she also earned SBL Most Valuable Player and SBL All-Star Five honors with the Rockingham Flames.
Her success in Germany established Cannon as one of the top overseas forwards in the European game. Her combination of size, rebounding, and scoring around the basket made her an attractive target for clubs across multiple leagues and laid the foundation for a long international career.
WNBA Breakthrough (2017-2021)
Cannon debuted in the WNBA in 2017 with the Phoenix Mercury, playing in all 34 regular-season games as a rookie. She averaged 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 49.1 percent from the field, showing efficiency inside the paint. She posted a career-high 17 points against the Dallas Wings on August 10 and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds against the Atlanta Dream on September 3. She re-signed with the Mercury ahead of the 2018 season but was waived before the regular season began, and a similar situation unfolded in 2019 with the Connecticut Sun.
In September 2020, Cannon joined the Las Vegas Aces during the WNBA’s COVID bubble season in Florida. She played in six postseason games, shooting 50.0 percent from the field and averaging 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds as the Aces advanced to the WNBA Finals. She re-signed with the Aces for 2021 but was waived after three games, then signed with Connecticut on June 7, 2021. After being released by the Sun, she joined the Indiana Fever on July 28, 2021, continuing her pattern of moving between WNBA rosters while maintaining her professional career overseas.
Los Angeles Sparks Era (2022-Present)
Cannon’s WNBA journey continued in 2022 when she briefly returned to the Phoenix Mercury, was released after one game, then signed with the Indiana Fever on June 5. She played 23 games for the Fever in 2022 and added 30 appearances in 2023, becoming a more consistent rotation piece. In April 2024, she signed a training camp contract with the Dallas Wings but was waived following the team’s first preseason game. She rejoined the Las Vegas Aces in May 2024 but was waived on June 16 of that year.
On February 2, 2025, Cannon signed with the Los Angeles Sparks for the 2025 WNBA season, marking her next chapter in the league. Her move to Los Angeles placed her on a young roster looking for veteran depth in the frontcourt. Heading into the current campaign, Cannon continued to bring physicality, rebounding, and post scoring to the Sparks.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although her sport is basketball rather than racing, Cannon’s professional identity centers on rebounding, interior finishing, and efficient shot selection. Throughout her career she has consistently shot near or above 50 percent from the field, a hallmark of a player who understands angles and footwork near the rim. Her 6-foot-2 frame and long arms allow her to compete against taller frontcourt players, while her international experience has helped her adapt to different systems and playing styles. Teammates and coaches have valued her willingness to do the unglamorous work on the boards and defend multiple positions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cannon’s career is highlighted by her back-to-back Israeli League championships with Elitzur Ramla in 2022 and 2023, along with her three German DBBL titles with TSV 1880 Wasserburg from 2013 through 2015. Her standout rookie season with the Phoenix Mercury in 2017, where she set early career highs in points and rebounds, also stands as a defining early milestone. Reaching the WNBA Finals with the Las Vegas Aces in 2020 added another major accomplishment to her resume, confirming her ability to perform on the league’s biggest stage.
Emma Cannon Career Wins
Across more than a decade of professional basketball, Emma Cannon has collected multiple championships and individual awards at home and abroad. Her trophy case includes three German DBBL titles, two German Cup wins, two Israeli League championships, and one SBL Most Valuable Player award from Australia’s Rockingham Flames in 2012. She has also been recognized at the collegiate level with multiple All-Conference USA honors.
International and Domestic Highlights
Cannon’s most celebrated runs came with TSV 1880 Wasserburg in Germany, where she helped the club dominate the DBBL from 2012 through 2015, and with Elitzur Ramla in Israel, where she won back-to-back league titles in 2022 and 2023. Her first major professional win came in the 2012-13 German DBBL season, while her most recent championship came in 2023 with Elitzur Ramla.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond her championships, Cannon earned individual recognition as the SBL Most Valuable Player in 2012 with the Rockingham Flames and was named to the SBL All-Star Five that same year. At the college level, she was a First-Team All-C-USA selection in 2009, a Third-Team All-C-USA pick in 2010, the C-USA Tournament MVP in 2009, and a C-USA All-Freshman Team honoree in 2008.
Emma Cannon Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Emma Cannon was raised in Rochester, New York, and her family background has been a quiet but steady presence in her life. Public details about her parents and siblings have not been widely reported, and she has kept her personal and family life largely private throughout her professional career.
Personal Life
Cannon is not publicly known to be married, and information about a spouse or children has not been disclosed in verified sources. Her social media presence under the handle @clickclackcannon on Instagram offers glimpses into her professional travels and training, but she has consistently kept romantic relationships and family details out of the public spotlight. Her focus remains firmly on basketball and on continuing to compete at the highest levels around the world.
2025 Season Performance
Emma Cannon entered the 2025 WNBA season with the Los Angeles Sparks after signing on February 2, 2025, providing veteran frontcourt depth for a roster in transition. Her role with the Sparks was centered on rebounding, interior defense, and efficient scoring near the basket. Throughout the regular season, she continued to demonstrate the same reliable inside presence that has defined her career.
Beyond the WNBA, Cannon also joined Henan Phoenix of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association in January 2025 after leaving CCC Polkowice in Poland. That move underscored her ongoing global schedule and her willingness to compete year-round across multiple leagues. Her experience with clubs in Germany, Israel, Russia, Poland, Hungary, Turkey, and China has made her one of the more traveled American basketball players of her generation.
Looking ahead, Cannon’s 2025 outlook with the Sparks was shaped by her ability to mentor younger teammates while still contributing on the court. With playoff hopes in play for Los Angeles, her rebounding and post defense were expected to remain valuable assets. As the season progressed, Cannon continued to embody the durability and adaptability that have carried her through more than a decade of professional basketball.