San Antonio Stars center Jayne Appel-Marinelli announced Friday that she will retire at the end of the season after a seven-year WNBA career.
Appel-Marinelli, a former Stanford All-American who played in three Final Fours, spent all seven years of her career in San Antonio. Heading into Friday's game against the Dallas Wings, Appel-Marinelli is averaging 4.0 points and 5.1 rebounds a game, starting all 29 games for the struggling Stars, who have been eliminated from postseason contention.
Appel-Marinelli married Chris Marinelli, a former Stanford football player, in April and the couple live in New York. She cited the physical toll that basketball has taken on her body and her desire to start a new chapter in her life as her reasons for retirement.
"During the Olympic break, I went home and I had time to reflect on what I want to do next," Appel-Marinelli said. "I thought about how I feel physically and everything I still want to be able to do in my life and I feel good about my decision.
Appel-Marinelli was the fifth pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft after capping her Stanford career as the Pac-12's all-time leading rebounder.
Stars coach Dan Hughes called Appel-Marinelli a "caring leader."
"She's meant a lot to this franchise even beyond her performance on the court," said Hughes, who is also leaving at the end of this season.