June 7- Eva Nemcova Misses her First Free Throw in almost a Year Ending her WNBA Record Streak
Updated: Jun 5, 2022
2000- On this date in Sports History, the Cleveland Rockers Eva Nemcova missed a free throw which ended her consecutive streak of 66 made free throws in a row. The 66 consecutive made free throws is a WNBA record. The streak went over parts of two seasons with it starting on June 14, 1999 and lasting until June 7, 2000. During the 1999 season, Nemcova shot 62/63 from the free throw line for 98.4%. She made four more free throws to start the 2000 season before missing one in the fourth game of the season. She broke the streak during a missed technical free throw against the Orlando Miracle. The game still went pretty good for Nemcova as she finished with a career-high 23 points in the same game. Nemcova only played 14 games in the 2000 season, but finished the season going 22/24 from the free throw line.
Eva Nemcova, who is from the Czech Republic, was drafted 2nd overall in the first ever WNBA draft in 1997 by the Cleveland Rockers. After being named the best player in Europe in 1996, she came over to the U.S. to play in the inaugural 1997 WNBA season. She played her whole career for the Rockers with her last season coming in 2001.
Nemcova’s record of 66 consecutive made free throws still stands today. The closest anyone has got to her 66 consecutive free throws is 59. DeWanna Bonner made 59 straight free throws for the Phoenix Mercury in 2015. Elena Delle Donne also made 59 straight free throws for the Washington Mystics in 2017. Delle Donne also made 58 straight free throws in 2015 for the Chicago Sky. Although Nemcova’s incredible single season free throw percentage of 98.4% in 1999 would be a record in the NBA, it sits in second place in the WNBA. Becky Hammon has the record after going a perfect 35/35 for 100% in 2014 for the San Antonio Stars.
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Sources
“CLEVELAND ROCKERS” Encyclopedia of Cleveland History | Case Western Reserve University, Case Western Reserve University, 11 May 2018
“1999 Cleveland Rockers Stats.” Basketball Reference
“Eva Nemcova.” WNBA.com, WNBA Archives