Chelsea Newton was born on February 17, 1983 in Monroe, Louisiana, the daughter of Waymond and Mary Newton. She has an older sister, Keidra.

High School
Chelsea attended Carroll High School, where she was a straight-A student. She averaged 26.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 4.2 steals and 2.1 blocked shots per game as a senior. In addition to basketball, she competed in the high jump and long jump on the Carroll High School track and field team.

College
Chelsea attended Rutgers University, where she started 95 of 104 games, and averaged 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

WNBA
On April 16, 2005, Chelsea was selected by the Sacramento Monarchs in the second round (22nd overall) of the 2005 WNBA Draft.

On November 11, 2005, she was selected by the Chicago Sky in the 2005 WNBA Expansion Draft.

On March 23, 2007, she was reacquired by the Sacramento Monarchs in exchange for the Monarch's 2007 first round draft pick.