ODU to Retire Jerseys of Former Basketball Stars Ronnie Valentine and Adrienne Goodson

By Harry Minium

NORFOLK, Va. – Ronnie Valentine and Adrienne Goodson, who were All-Americans, collectively led their teams to conference championships and, in Goodson's case, a national title, and left an indelible mark on Old Dominion men’s and women’s basketball, will have their jerseys retired in January, Dr. Wood Selig, ODU’s director of athletics, announced Monday.

Goodson’s jersey number 24 will be retired on Saturday, January 17, when the Monarchs host Marshall. It will be the annual Anne Donavan Classic, which honors the late former ODU All-American, as well as alumni day for all former ODU players.

Valentine’s jersey number 42 will be retired a week later on Saturday, January 24, when the Monarchs host Louisiana. It will be alumni night, with former basketball players invited to attend.

“It is truly an honor to retire the jerseys of two high impact players," Dr. Selig said. “Ronnie Valentine and Adrienne Goodson each made significant and lasting contributions to ODU men’s and women’s basketball and are both revered by our long-time fans.

A Norfolk native and graduate of Norfolk Catholic High School, Valentine led ODU’s successful debut into Division I in 1976-77, when the Monarchs finished 25-4, won at Virginia and Georgetown and claimed the ECAC South championship.

More than four decades after his playing career ended at ODU, he remains the University’s all-time leading scorer with 2,204 points and is eighth in rebounding with 949. He was the first player in the history of Division I to score in double figures in every game in which he played – 101 in all.

At 6-foot-7, Valentine was both a fierce rebounder and scorer in the paint who was just as comfortable making 20-foot jump shots. He scored 36 points, with most coming on outside jumpers, in an 80-58 ECAC South championship game victory at Georgetown as a freshman.

The Monarchs won twice at Virginia, upset Florida State, won at Clemson in the NIT and upset then No. 3 Syracuse at Scope on national television when Valentine played for ODU. In his four seasons playing for long-time ODU Head Coach Paul Webb, the Monarchs had an 84-31 record, won two conference championships and advanced to the NIT quarterfinals.

Valentine was twice named an All-American and helped lead ODU to its first Division I NCAA Tournament as a senior in 1980.

Valentine played a season in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets before embarking on a long minor league pro career that took him to the Continental Basketball Association, the United States Basketball League and to stops in Italy, Turkey and South America.

He was named the CBA’s MVP in 1982 when he averaged 32 points per game for the Montana Golden Nuggets. He played for CBA championship teams in 1985 and 1987.

A native of Bayonne, New Jersey, Goodson was a key player off the bench as a freshman for ODU when the Lady Monarchs won the 1985 national championship.

Her defensive efforts against All-American Theresa Edwards in ODU’s national championship game victory over Georgia were critical. She averaged 9.5 points per game off the bench.

Goodson helped lead ODU to three NCAA tournaments and finished with 1,574 career points and 863 rebounds. She played for ODU’s two winningest women’s basketball coaches – Marianne Stanley and Wendy Larry.

A dynamic athlete known for her physical play, hustle and leadership, Goodson was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and an All-American as a senior.

A clutch player in high-pressure situations, she was named three times to the Sun Belt all-tournament teams and was the Sun Belt Tournament MVP as a junior.

There were no professional women's leagues in America when Goodson graduated in 1988, so she played professionally in Brazil for five seasons. Goodson captained the 1993 World University Games USA team that won the bronze medal.

She returned to America to play in the American Basketball League in 1996. When the ABL folded in 1998, she moved on to the WNBA, where in 221 games she scored 2,705 points, pulled down 1,126 rebounds and had 203 steals.

She was named a 2002 WNBA All-Star. In all, she played 14 seasons of professional basketball.  

She twice served as an ODU assistant coach and has been active in coaching and sponsoring youth basketball teams in her native New Jersey.

“I wasn't fortunate enough to see Adrienne play, but I've neard from hundreds of ODU fans how dominant a player she was,” Dr. Selig said.

“Clearly, she is deserving of this honor based on her stellar career at ODU. She was a national champion, an All-American and the Sun Belt Player of the Year. That’s quite a resume.”

Goodson will be the third member of the 1985 national championship team to have their jersey retired. Tracy Claxton’s number was retired in 2005 and Medina Dixon’s was retired in 2011.

Other women’s basketball players whose jerseys have been retired: Nancy Lieberman, Inge Nissen, Ticha Penicheiro, Clarisse Machanguana and Donovan.

Dr. Selig said both Valentine and Goodson reacted with tears when he called them.

"Making calls like this to former ODU student athletes is one of the best parts of my job," he said. “Obviously, this means a lot to both of them, as it should. I can't think of many higher honors."

Goodson said that one of her last conversations with Medina Dixon, before the former ODU forward died from liver cancer in 2021, was about her jersey retirement.

“She told me to be patient, that it was going to happen, that my jersey would be retired,” Goodson said. “I was really hoping it would happen. And she was right. It was emotional for me because my parents are still here. They will get the opportunity to see me on the court with flowers. I owe them so much. I am who I am because of them. It wasn’t just a one-time cry. I’ve had tears of joy ever since I got the phone call. I’ve seen other peoples’ jerseys go up. This time is going to be very different. For it to happen during the Anne Donovan Classic, that makes is so special.”

Valentine’s jersey will be the ninth men’s basketball player jersey to be retired. Others: Leo Anthony, Dave Twardzik, Kent Bazemore, Joel Copeland, Odell Hodge, Kenny Gattison, Mark West and Wilson Washington.

Valentine, who lives in Miami, Florida, said he was stunned to hear from Dr. Selig.

“I never expected anything like this to happen,” Valentine said. “It’s an amazing thing to happen after all these years.”

Lieberman and Valentine were in school four years together. She called Valentine shortly after Dr. Selig.

“He asked what it’s like to have your jersey retired and I told him that it’s ODU’s way of thanking him for his enormous contributions to ODU basketball,” Lieberman said. “He was excited and nervous and genuinely moved. We were inseparable when we were in school together, the men’s and women’s teams. It was very unique. I’ve cleared my schedule to be there with him.”

Minium is ODU's Senior Executive Writer for Athletics. Contact him at hminium@odu.edu or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram

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