Penicheiro was born and raised in Figueira da Foz, Portugal. Penicheiro played for several professional clubs through her teenage years, though she did not play at the senior level until after she starred for Old Dominion Universitycollege basketball team. She played at Old Dominion from 1994 to 1998 and helped lead the Lady Monarchs to the 1997 NCAA Championship game. In 1997, Penicheiro was named to the Final Four All-Tournament team.[3] During her playing time at ODU, Penicheiro collected 1,304 career points and finished her career as ODU's all-time steal leader with 591. She is second all-time at ODU on the career assist list to another ODU great, Nancy Lieberman, with 939. She is the Colonial Athletic Association's all-time leader in both assists and steals.
Penicheiro is a two-time Kodak All-American, selected in 1997 and 1998. She became ODU's second winner of the prestigious Lifetime/Wade Trophy and the first international player to win the honor. A four-time All-CAA honoree, Ticha was named the conference's Player-of-the Year in 1995-96 and 1996-97 while also claiming the Rookie of the Year award in 1994–95. She graduated from Old Dominion in 1998 with degrees in communications and interdisciplinary studies, and was inducted into the ODU Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.[4]
In 1998, Ticha Penicheiro commenced her professional basketball career with the Sacramento Monarchs, marking her debut as a rookie in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Notably, she secured the third position in the voting for the WNBA Rookie of the Year award. Throughout her tenure, Penicheiro distinguished herself as a four-time WNBA All-Star player, achieving prominence for her adeptness on the court. She notably equaled the WNBA's record for the highest number of assists in a single game on two occasions, further solidifying her reputation as a proficient playmaker.
In 1999, Penicheiro's exceptional performance led to her selection as a WNBA first-team player. During this season, she achieved a personal milestone by attaining her highest scoring output in the WNBA, netting 27 points against the Minnesota Lynx. In subsequent years, she maintained her stature in the league, earning a place on the WNBA's second team in 2001.
By June 19, 2003, Penicheiro had amassed notable career statistics, including 1,027 points, 1,121 assists, 615 rebounds, and 322 steals in the WNBA. Her remarkable averages of 6.8 points, 7.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.15 steals per game underscored her significant contributions to the sport.
Penicheiro retired as the all-time WNBA leader in total assists and assists per game. Penicheiro's legacy in the WNBA is distinguished by her remarkable playmaking abilities, characterized by her consistently flashy style on the court. Notably, she played a pivotal role in leading the Sacramento Monarchs to their inaugural WNBA championship title in 2005.
Following the dissolution of the Monarchs franchise, Penicheiro transitioned to the Los Angeles Sparks. In recognition of her stellar career, fans voted her among the Top 15 players in the WNBA's fifteen-year history in 2011.[6] Despite signing with the Chicago Sky in February 2012, injuries hampered her performance, prompting her decision to retire from the WNBA at the conclusion of the 2012 season.[7]
Penicheiro's contributions to the sport were further acknowledged with her induction into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. Her enduring impact on women's basketball culminated in her inclusion in the WNBA Top 20@20 list in 2016, commemorating the league's twentieth anniversary. Additionally, she was honored as a member of The W25, the WNBA's 25th anniversary team, in 2021, solidifying her status as one of the league's most influential figures.
When inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019, she was an active agent with about 30 clients, among them current WNBA players Kayla McBride and Courtney Vandersloot.[2]
Personal life
Penicheiro is a supporter of the Special Olympics. She also supports ovarian cancer research in honor of one of her close friends who was diagnosed with the disease. Besides her native Portuguese, she speaks English, Spanish and conversational Italian. Her father, João, is a former basketball player and now coaches her older brother, Paulo, who plays professionally in Portugal. She became an aunt when her brother and sister-in-law gave birth to their son João Miguel in 2009. Penicheiro also enjoys listening to R&B music and Hip-Hop and is an avid collector of watches and clothes.[9][10]
On February 20, 2013, Penicheiro became an American citizen, taking the oath with 1,200 others at the Sacramento Convention Center.[11]
