MN Lynx Re-Sign Rebekkah Brunson

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team has re-signed forward Rebekkah Brunson. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are extremely happy that Rebekkah Brunson, one of the cornerstones of our franchise and the only player in league history with five WNBA Championships, will remain a Lynx,” said Lynx Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve. “From the moment she arrived in Minnesota, Rebekkah has been a vital part of our franchise both on and off the court. She’s a tireless worker and passionate leader and we are thrilled that she’s decided to continue her career with us.”

Brunson, a 14-year pro out of Georgetown University, is coming off one of her best seasons in 2017 where she averaged 10.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 1.5 apg in 26.9 mpg while shooting 44.9% from the floor and 71.1% from the free throw line. The 10.2 ppg scoring average was her best since she averaged 10.6 ppg in 2013. She connected on 34.8% (23-of-66) of her three-point attempts, having entered the season 2-for-12 from beyond the arc for her career. Brunson surpassed Tina Thompson (3,070) for third place on the league's all-time rebounding list June 30 at Phoenix while finishing with 3,187 total career boards at the end of the season. She enters the 2018 season needing 130 rebounds to surpass Tamika Catchings (3,316) for the most rebounds in WNBA history.

Acquired by the Lynx in the dispersal draft of former Sacramento players on Dec. 14, 2009, Brunson averaged 9.5 ppg and 6.0 rpg in 27.9 mpg while starting all eight postseason contests in 2017 en route to becoming the first player to win five WNBA championships (four with Minnesota, one with Sacramento). She registered a pair of double-doubles in the 2017 playoffs, including an 18-point, 13-rebound performance in the Finals Game 4 win at Los Angeles (Oct. 1).

The four-time All-Star holds Lynx records as the franchise career leader in rebounds (1,989) and double-doubles (55) while ranking second in blocks (161) and fourth in steals (247).

UMC Women's Basketball Signs NCE/U-H Guard Sirjord

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women’s basketball team rounded out their 2018-19 recruiting class by signing Kayla Sirjord (G, 5-6, Ulen, Minn./Ulen-Hitterdal H.S.) to a National Letter of Intent. Sirjord joins Mary Burke (F, 5-11, Virginia, Minn./Mountain Iron-Buhl H.S.), Paige Cornale (G, 5-10, Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek H.S.), Bren Fox (C, 6-3, Norwood Young America, Minn./Norwood Young America H.S), Julia Peplinski (F, 5-10, Hustisford, Wis./Hustisford H.S.) and Kylie Post (G, 5-7, Corcoran, Minn./Maranatha Christian Academy).

“Kayla can score the ball anywhere on the court,” said Head Coach Mike Roysland. “She has a very quick release on her shot. In addition, her speed is very deceptively quick. We are always excited when we can sign area kids and Kayla is one we are very excited to get here to Minnesota Crookston. We can’t wait to see what she can do as a member of the Golden Eagle family.”

The Minnesota Crookston women’s basketball signing class addresses key areas for the Golden Eagles as they added three guards and three post players in this recruiting cycle. The six signees give Minnesota Crookston added competition, depth and versatility at all five positions heading into the 2018-19 season. The Golden Eagles are slated to lose only two players from this season's roster, but two crucial cogs in the program with Micaela Noga (Sr., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) and Emily Gruber (Sr., F, Monticello, Minn.). Minnesota Crookston is slated to return 10 players to the fray for the 2018-19 season.

Sirjord joins a squad that has been to three-consecutive NSIC/Sanford Health quarterfinals. The Golden Eagles have accumulated a program high of 40 wins in the last three years, including a school-record 18 wins during the 2015-16 season. Head Coach Mike Roysland is in his 12th season leading the squad. Roysland was the NSIC Coach of the Year following the 2014-15 season. 

Sirjord gives the Golden Eagles a player who can shoot the ball from anywhere on the court. She will also add speed to the guard court for Minnesota Crookston. She joins Cornale and Post as guard recruits. All three will add different qualities to the back court for the 2018-19 season.

Kayla Sirjord (G, 5-6, Ulen, Minn./Ulen-Hitterdal H.S.)

Sirjord plays basketball for Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal. She helped lead her team to a 10-14 mark and a 9-5 record in the Pine to Prairie Conference as a junior. Sirjord was a 2017 Courts Plus Summer League All Star. She averaged 17.6 points and was second in league history with three-pointers made. Sirjord was also a 2015 Courts Plus Summer League All-Star after tallying 19.9 points per game. She is a six-time KRJB-KRJM Star of the Game. She also ran track in high school, making it to section finals in 100m hurdles two years in a row. She was first in subsection in 100m hurdles in 2017. Sirjord played AAU basketball for the MN Comets.

Sirjord is the daughter of Jerome and Angie Sirjord. She was born Dec. 4, 1999. Sirjord plans to major in Health Sciences (Pre-Med). Her father Jerome played football at the University of Minnesota Crookston. Her mom Angie competed in gymnastics at the University of Wisconsin-Las Crosse. Her brother Brady plays football at Concordia College (Minn.). She was been a member of the National Honor Society and Minnesota Honor Society, along with A Honor Roll.

All signees are contingent upon admission to UMC and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Everyone released today has signed their National Letter of Intent prior to release of information.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
(via UMC SID)

MN Lynx Announce Contract Extension with Sylvia Fowles

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team has signed center Sylvia Fowles to a multi-year contract extension. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

“We are happy to have extended the contract of one of our team leaders and one of the best players in the WNBA,” said Lynx Executive Vice President Roger Griffith. “When we traded for Sylvia two seasons ago, we did so with the goal of winning more championships. That decision has paid off so far after she helped guide us to the 2015 WNBA Championship. Over the last three years, Sylvia has been an integral part of our success and is undoubtedly one of the elite centers in the WNBA. We are thrilled that she’s decided to continue her career with the Lynx.”

Playing in her 10th WNBA season, Fowles has put together one of the best seasons of her career, averaging 19.1 points on 65.0% shooting, 10.4 rebounds and 2.06 blocks. She ranks second in FG accuracy, fifth in scoring, second in rebounding and third in blocks. Fowles has been named Western Conference Player of the Month three straight times this season. She has recorded 19 double-doubles this season, a single season franchise record moving her career total to 126, which ranks third only to Lisa Leslie (157) and Tina Charles (140).

Acquired from Chicago on July 27, 2015, along with a second-round pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft, Fowles helped lead the Lynx to the 2015 WNBA Championship. She was named Most Valuable Player of the WNBA Finals after averaging 15.6 ppg (69.6%) and 9.4 rpg vs. Indiana, capped by a 20-point, 11-board effort in Game 5. The three-time Olympian has racked up numerous league awards including winning Defensive Player of the Year three times (2011, 2013, 2016), All-WNBA First-Team selection twice (2010, 2013) and WNBA All-Defensive First Team six times (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016).