Lynx rookie forward Tamika Williams appears to be like many other 22-year-olds. She graduated from college last spring with a degree in interpersonal communications and plans to attend graduate school to obtain a degree in sports marketing. She has a miniature schnauzer named Duke and is spending her summer in Minneapolis. And she makes sure to catch her favorite MTV show, "The Osbournes."
Just an average 22-year-old, right?
Well, Williams is actually quite unlike the average 22-year-old. She was part of the University of Connecticut's undefeated national championship team. In May, she was selected as the sixth pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft. And her name was on the WNBA All-Star ballot — as a rookie!
The list doesn't stop there. In her freshman season with the Lynx, she ranks second in the WNBA in offensive rebounds (3.3 per game) and seventh in total rebounds (7.8). She surpassed the Lynx franchise record for offensive rebounds in a season — in only 17 games. Williams has scored her career-high of 19 points twice and has 10 double-digit scoring efforts. After setting a UConn school record for career field goal percentage, she now ranks third in the WNBA at 53.9 percent.
These Tamika Williams fans traveled from Ohio to Target Center for Friday's game. (Lynx photo)
With the addition of Williams to complement former UConn standout Svetlana Abrosimova and Lynx All-Star Katie Smith, the team is hoping some of the college magic experienced in Hartford will make its way to Target Center.
Tamika Williams is really quite unlike any other 22-year-old. Just ask her old college coach, Geno Auriemma. He knows just how impressive she is.
"I just think she's handled everything with tremendous maturity," Auriemma said. "And I think that's going to carry on wherever she goes."
