Former UConn guards Evina Westbrook and Moriah Jefferson signed contracts with the Minnesota Lynx on Friday.
The franchise announced on Thursday that Westbrook had signed a hardship exception. Her deal was reportedly restructured to a full-season contract and she will now be with the Lynx for the rest of the season, according to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou.
There are now three Huskies on the Minnesota roster. The Lynx waived another former UConn guard, Crystal Dangerfield, back on May 3. She signed a hardship contract with the Indiana Fever and was released on Wednesday, in accordance with league policy that once a team is back to 10 available players the hardship agreement must expire. Napheesa Collier is also on the Minnesota roster, but she is pregnant and not with the team.
Westbrook, a 6-foot guard, was selected 21st overall by the Seattle Storm in this year’s WNBA draft but was waived by the team on May 4. She averaged 9.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists through two preseason games and scored 15 points in less than 17 minutes in the second contest against the Phoenix Mercury, including the game-winning shot.. She went 3 of 4 on 3-point attempts and also had four rebounds, two assists and a crucial block.
Jefferson, who has been in the league since 2016, was waived by the Dallas Wings earlier this week. She started 28 of 29 games for the team last season, averaging 5.4 points, 2.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds. Across her WNBA career, which has been plagued by knee injuries, the 5-6 Jefferson has averaged 8.7 points, 3.3 assists and 2.0 rebounds.
The Lynx have drawn attention around the league for their roster moves so far this season. The team waived Dangerfield and guard Layshia Clarendon during training camp and sent shockwaves when it bought out six-time All-WNBA selection Angel McCoughtry on Thursday.
Minnesota also re-signed forward Nikolina Milic, center Hannah Sjerven and guard Yvonne Turner to hardship contracts on Friday. All five signed players will be available for a game against the Chicago Sky on Saturday night.
