Lynx Select Rebekkah Brunson in Dispersal Draft
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The Minnesota Lynx today selected WNBA All-Star and six-year veteran Rebekkah Brunson with the second selection in the dispersal draft involving Sacramento Monarchs players. In 192 career regular season games, Brunson, an All-Star in 2007, holds career averages of 8.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
Originally selected 10th overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft by Sacramento, Brunson averaged a career-high 12.3 points per game in 2009, while appearing in 27 games (17 starts) with the Monarchs. Additionally, the six-foot-three forward hauled in 7.0 rebounds per game, 2.5 of those on the offensive end, good for 10th and third-best in the WNBA, respectively. Her 78.3 free-throw percentage and 1.5 steals per game in 2009 were also career highs. A career 46.6 percent shooter, Brunson connected on 48.6 percent of her shots in 2009, the 11th highest mark in the WNBA.
"We're very pleased with the addition of Rebekkah," said Lynx Executive Vice President Roger Griffith. "She adds a lot of rebounding ability, along with supreme athleticism and toughness around the basket, to our team. She's consistently been among the best rebounders in the league throughout her career, and we expect her to be an immediate difference-maker on our front line. We believe she'll be a great complement to the talents and abilities of Nicky Anosike, Charde Houston and Quanitra Hollingsworth. The addition of a proven WNBA veteran in Brunson, a former WNBA All-Star, is the next step in forming a roster that we expect will have us contending for the top spot in the Western Conference in 2010."
Over her six-year career with Sacramento, Brunson tallied 1,857 points and 1,310 rebounds in more than 4,700 minutes of action. Brunson's career rebounding average of 6.2 rpg ranks 20th all-time in WNBA history. Furthermore, the Washington, D.C., native ranks as one of only two players (Candice Dupree) to finish among the top ten in rebounds per game each of the last three years. Brunson's best season statistically came in 2007, when in 33 games (29 starts) she averaged 11.5 points and a career-high 8.9 rebounds in 28.2 minutes per game. Brunson ranked second in the WNBA in rebounds per game that year, and first in total offensive rebounds with 130. For her efforts, Brunson was selected to play in the 2007 WNBA All-Star Game, but could not participate due to injury. Brunson was also named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2007.
A veteran of postseason play, Brunson appeared in 26 career playoff games with Sacramento, making 11 starts. Brunson holds career playoff averages of 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game. A catalyst in the Monarchs' WNBA title run in 2005, Brunson started all eight postseason contests that year, tallying 6.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Brunson enjoyed her best postseason run in 2007, averaging 15.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while starting all three games.
Prior to entering the WNBA, Brunson played four years at Georgetown University, where she left as the school's all-time leading rebounder (1,093). Brunson averaged 19.1 points and 12.0 rebounds her senior year en route to earning AP All-America honorable mention and Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors.
For more news and notes on the team follow the Minnesota Lynx on Twitter.
Originally selected 10th overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft by Sacramento, Brunson averaged a career-high 12.3 points per game in 2009, while appearing in 27 games (17 starts) with the Monarchs. Additionally, the six-foot-three forward hauled in 7.0 rebounds per game, 2.5 of those on the offensive end, good for 10th and third-best in the WNBA, respectively. Her 78.3 free-throw percentage and 1.5 steals per game in 2009 were also career highs. A career 46.6 percent shooter, Brunson connected on 48.6 percent of her shots in 2009, the 11th highest mark in the WNBA.
"We're very pleased with the addition of Rebekkah," said Lynx Executive Vice President Roger Griffith. "She adds a lot of rebounding ability, along with supreme athleticism and toughness around the basket, to our team. She's consistently been among the best rebounders in the league throughout her career, and we expect her to be an immediate difference-maker on our front line. We believe she'll be a great complement to the talents and abilities of Nicky Anosike, Charde Houston and Quanitra Hollingsworth. The addition of a proven WNBA veteran in Brunson, a former WNBA All-Star, is the next step in forming a roster that we expect will have us contending for the top spot in the Western Conference in 2010."
Over her six-year career with Sacramento, Brunson tallied 1,857 points and 1,310 rebounds in more than 4,700 minutes of action. Brunson's career rebounding average of 6.2 rpg ranks 20th all-time in WNBA history. Furthermore, the Washington, D.C., native ranks as one of only two players (Candice Dupree) to finish among the top ten in rebounds per game each of the last three years. Brunson's best season statistically came in 2007, when in 33 games (29 starts) she averaged 11.5 points and a career-high 8.9 rebounds in 28.2 minutes per game. Brunson ranked second in the WNBA in rebounds per game that year, and first in total offensive rebounds with 130. For her efforts, Brunson was selected to play in the 2007 WNBA All-Star Game, but could not participate due to injury. Brunson was also named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2007.
A veteran of postseason play, Brunson appeared in 26 career playoff games with Sacramento, making 11 starts. Brunson holds career playoff averages of 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game. A catalyst in the Monarchs' WNBA title run in 2005, Brunson started all eight postseason contests that year, tallying 6.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Brunson enjoyed her best postseason run in 2007, averaging 15.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while starting all three games.
Prior to entering the WNBA, Brunson played four years at Georgetown University, where she left as the school's all-time leading rebounder (1,093). Brunson averaged 19.1 points and 12.0 rebounds her senior year en route to earning AP All-America honorable mention and Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors.
For more news and notes on the team follow the Minnesota Lynx on Twitter.
