Lauren Avant Sumski led Lynx Women’s Basketball to unparalleled success and is arguably the most decorated student-athlete in Rhodes Athletics history.
Lauren transferred to Rhodes in 2011 after beginning her career at the University of Tennessee, where she played for legendary Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt.
In her three seasons with the Lynx, the team compiled a record of 68-16 and she helped change the Women’s Basketball culture at Rhodes.
“During my 17-year tenure at Rhodes, Sumski is the most electric player to wear a Lynx uniform,” said Jim Duncan, Rhodes Director of Athletics. “Home Women’s Basketball games at Rhodes became a must-see event, because LA would almost always put on a show.”
Her career accomplishments are astounding, and include:
- First-team All-American selection in 2013 and 2014
- All-Region in 2013 and Region Player of the Year in 2014
- Women’s Basketball Coaches Association top three finalist for National Player of the Year
- Conference MVP in 2014
- Conference Tournament MVP in 2013 and 2014
- Leading the Lynx to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 2013 and 2014, where the Lynx won two games in the postseason
- The holder of four Lynx single-season records: points in a season (692), free throws made (180), points per game average (25.6), and field goals made (240).
- She is a member of the Lynx 1,000-point club, with 1,373 career points.
After graduation, Lauren began her collegiate coaching career, eventually returning as Lynx Head Coach for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. Her SAA title as a Head Coach in 2018-19 earned her the distinction of being the only person in SAA history to win league titles as a player and a coach.
She is currently the women’s basketball head coach at Lipscomb University in Nashville, where her teams have won 20 games in two of the last three seasons.
In recognition of her accomplishments as a student-athlete and Head Coach in Women’s Basketball, Rhodes is honored to induct Lauren Avant Sumski into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame this 25th day of October, 2025.
