Rutgers University has announced that former women’s basketball player Matee Ajavon will be inducted into the 2025 Rutgers Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Friday, October 17 at Jersey Mike’s Arena. Ajavon’s achievements include leading the team to the 2007 National Championship game and later playing professionally in the WNBA and overseas.
“Matee Ajaon’s inclusion in the Rutgers Hall of Fame is a wonderfully fitting honor,” said Rutgers women’s basketball head coach Coquese Washington. “Matee helped push this program to great heights with a national title run while simultaneously etching her name in the record books. Her impact was felt long after she left campus — in the WNBA, overseas and as a role model. This Hall of Fame honor is well deserved, as she is a true Scarlet Knight legend.”
Ajavon was recognized as an Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention in both 2007 and 2008. She was also a candidate for several major awards during her college career, including the Naismith National Player of the Year Award (2006, 2008), Wade Trophy (2006-2008), and Nancy Liberman Award (2008). In her freshman year, she averaged 12.4 points per game with 121 assists and was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Year in 2005.
She earned First Team All-BIG EAST honors in both 2006 and 2008. In the professional ranks, Ajavon was selected fifth overall by the Houston Comets in the 2008 WNBA Draft. During her rookie season, she averaged eight points per game and made the All-Rookie Team. After Houston folded, she joined the Washington Mystics through the Dispersal Draft before finishing her WNBA career with four seasons at Atlanta Dream, contributing to five playoff appearances between those teams.
Internationally, Ajavon won gold with Team USA at the 2007 Pan American Games and played professionally in Turkey, Poland, and Israel.
Ajavon’s legacy at Rutgers includes ranking tenth on all-time scoring (1,622 points), fourth in assists (556), fifth in steals (275), and seventh for most games played (132).
The new Hall of Fame class will be recognized again on Saturday, October 18 when Rutgers Football faces Oregon at SHI Stadium.
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