Nashville, TN (AHN) - Legendary Tennessee Lady Vols head coach, Pat Summitt, says depression led to her former player, all-star forward Chamique Holdsclaw, to abruptly retire from the NBA.

Summitt said Holdsclaw first told her she was considering retirement while still a member of the Washington Mystics.

Summitt, who has worked as a consultant for the Mystics, flew to Washington "as a coach and a friend" to spend time with Holdsclaw.

"I said, 'OK, you've got a game tomorrow. Let's just go play and see how you feel. If it's not in your heart, then you'll know,'" said Summitt, speaking at a Tennessee alumni event in Nashville on Thursday. "She told me after that game, 'Coach, it's just not in my heart.'"

Five games into this season the six-time WNBA All-Star shocked the WNBA world when she retired from the sport in June.

While she didn't give a reason for her retirement at the time, Holdsclaw had already gone on record about her episodes with depression.

After playing for the Mystics for seven seasons ending in 2004, Holdsclaw played in Spain for a season before returning to the WNBA and the Sparks for the 2005 season.

She later said she left the Mystics because of her depression, saying it had caused her to become increasingly withdrawn from her teammates coaches and close friends.

Summitt said Holdsclaw is undecided on her future at this point, but is enjoying life and not being in a daily routine.

"She just feels like it's best for her not to play if she can't bring it all every night," she said.

Holdsclaw was the WNBA's No. 1 overall pick in 1999 after leading her high school team to four consecutive titles and Tennessee to three straight NCAA titles.