Eleven Bruins Represent in WNBA Preseason
May 03, 2024 | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – The WNBA preseason kicks off on Friday, May 3, with 11 Bruins represented in seven W organizations.
The Bruins boast six players on preseason rosters, including recent WNBA draftee Charisma Osborne who was selected by the Phoenix Mercury. Bruins are in the front office and leading benches of three teams in the women's association.
Pro Bruins
Monique Billings (2014-18) returns to Los Angeles to join the Sparks for the 2024 season. UCLA's all-time block leader signed with her hometown team in February after spending six seasons with the Atlanta Dream. Billings made nine starts in 39 appearances during 2023, averaging 4.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 16.7 minutes on the floor. The Corona, Calif., native has played 176 games since being drafted; Billings has scored 1,041 points and grabbed 1,016 rebounds in her professional career.
Kennedy Burke (2015-19) signed with the New York Liberty in February; Burke has spent the past two seasons playing for ESB Villeneuve in France's Ligue Féminine de Basketball. She has earned back-to-back Most Valuable Player honors overseas; Burke averaged 14.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.5 steals in 23 games played in the French league. The 2019 graduate spent four seasons in the WNBA after leaving Westwood, playing 92 games in four seasons. She averaged a career-high 7.2 points per game while making 11 starts for the Indiana Fever in 2020.
Two-time WNBA champion Jordin Canada (2014-18) will start the 2024 campaign in Atlanta, joining the Dream from a trade made by the Los Angeles Sparks in February. UCLA's third all-time leading scorer (2,153 points) spent her WNBA offseason in the Australian WNBL; Canada played for the Melbourne Boomers for the 2023-24 season, earning WNBL Most Valuable Player for her contributions. In a standout defensive season, Canada led the WNBA for a second time with 2.3 steals per game (2019, 2023); the Bruin alum earned her second WNBA All-Defensive 1st Team nod with the achievement. Canada played 38 games and recorded career-high averages in points (13.3) and assists (6.0) per game.
Rebekah Gardner (2008-12) was traded to the New York Liberty on Thursday, March 14. Gardner made her WNBA debut in 2022 after a decade-long career overseas. She was named to the 2022 All-WNBA Rookie Team and the AP All-WNBA Rookie Team after averaging 8.4 points and 1.4 steals per game. She shot an efficient 54.2 percent from the field and had an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double against the Sparks.
Michaela Onyenwere (2017-21) will join the Chicago Sky for the 2024; the unanimous 2021 Associated Press Rookie of the Year was included in a four-team trade that landed her in the Windy City. Onyenwere started 27 games in 40 appearances with the Phoenix Mercury in 2023, averaging a career-high 8.9 points (.404 FG%) and 3.7 rebounds per game during her third campaign in the W.
Osborne (2019-24) was drafted 25th overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury. The shooting guard finished her decorated collegiate career as the second Pac-12 guard in Conference history with 2,000+ points, 800+ rebounds (joining Sabrina Ionescu from the University of Oregon). The Moreno Valley native etched her name into UCLA's all-time record book and lands in the top 10 in 13 separate statistical categories. She played 152 games for the Bruins and finishes as the all-time leader in games played, games started (150 GS), and three-pointers made (282 3FGM). Osborne earned four All-Pac-12 and two All-Defensive Team selections during her time in the Westwood.
Front Office Bruins
The back-to-back WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces have three Bruins on staff. Natalie Nakase remains on the sideline as an assistant coach, Nikki Fargas leads as the team's president, and four-time WNBA All Star Natalie Williams continues as the general manager of the organization.
Noelle Quinn received a multiyear contract extension to continue to lead the Seattle Storm as their head coach. The fourth pick in the 2007 WNBA draft, Quinn played 12 years in the league before picking up the clipboard. Quinn has guided the Storm to a pair of 20-win seasons, two playoff appearances, and the first-ever WNBA commissioner's Cup title in 2021.
Annie Meyers Drysdale, who recently was named the recipient of the 2024 Kobe and Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award, remains the vice president and a broadcaster for the Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix Suns. The Kobe and Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award honors advocates and influencers who use their time, talent and platform to raise awareness for the WNBA and girls' and women's basketball. She was also inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in August 2023 as a member of the 1976 Women's Olympic Basketball Team.
WNBA Preseason Schedule (all times PT)
Friday, May 3
Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings
*Chicago Sky vs. Minnesota Lynx (5 p.m.)
Saturday, May 4
Washington Mystics vs. *Atlanta Dream (10 a.m.)
*Seattle Storm vs. *Los Angeles Sparks (6:30 p.m.)
Tuesday, May 7
*New York Liberty vs. *Chicago Sky (5 p.m.)
*Phoenix Mecury vs. *Seattle Storm (7 p.m.)
Wednesday, May 8
Minnesota Lynx vs. Washington Mystics
Thursday, May 9
*New York Liberty vs. Connecticut Sun (4 p.m.)
Friday, May 10
*Atlanta Dream vs. Indiana Fever (4 p.m.)
*Los Angeles Sparks vs. *Phoenix Mercury (7 p.m.)
Saturday, May 11
Puerto Rico vs. *Las Vegas Aces (10 a.m.)
*include Bruin alumni
The Bruins boast six players on preseason rosters, including recent WNBA draftee Charisma Osborne who was selected by the Phoenix Mercury. Bruins are in the front office and leading benches of three teams in the women's association.
Pro Bruins
Monique Billings (2014-18) returns to Los Angeles to join the Sparks for the 2024 season. UCLA's all-time block leader signed with her hometown team in February after spending six seasons with the Atlanta Dream. Billings made nine starts in 39 appearances during 2023, averaging 4.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 16.7 minutes on the floor. The Corona, Calif., native has played 176 games since being drafted; Billings has scored 1,041 points and grabbed 1,016 rebounds in her professional career.
Kennedy Burke (2015-19) signed with the New York Liberty in February; Burke has spent the past two seasons playing for ESB Villeneuve in France's Ligue Féminine de Basketball. She has earned back-to-back Most Valuable Player honors overseas; Burke averaged 14.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.5 steals in 23 games played in the French league. The 2019 graduate spent four seasons in the WNBA after leaving Westwood, playing 92 games in four seasons. She averaged a career-high 7.2 points per game while making 11 starts for the Indiana Fever in 2020.
Two-time WNBA champion Jordin Canada (2014-18) will start the 2024 campaign in Atlanta, joining the Dream from a trade made by the Los Angeles Sparks in February. UCLA's third all-time leading scorer (2,153 points) spent her WNBA offseason in the Australian WNBL; Canada played for the Melbourne Boomers for the 2023-24 season, earning WNBL Most Valuable Player for her contributions. In a standout defensive season, Canada led the WNBA for a second time with 2.3 steals per game (2019, 2023); the Bruin alum earned her second WNBA All-Defensive 1st Team nod with the achievement. Canada played 38 games and recorded career-high averages in points (13.3) and assists (6.0) per game.
Rebekah Gardner (2008-12) was traded to the New York Liberty on Thursday, March 14. Gardner made her WNBA debut in 2022 after a decade-long career overseas. She was named to the 2022 All-WNBA Rookie Team and the AP All-WNBA Rookie Team after averaging 8.4 points and 1.4 steals per game. She shot an efficient 54.2 percent from the field and had an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double against the Sparks.
Michaela Onyenwere (2017-21) will join the Chicago Sky for the 2024; the unanimous 2021 Associated Press Rookie of the Year was included in a four-team trade that landed her in the Windy City. Onyenwere started 27 games in 40 appearances with the Phoenix Mercury in 2023, averaging a career-high 8.9 points (.404 FG%) and 3.7 rebounds per game during her third campaign in the W.
Osborne (2019-24) was drafted 25th overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury. The shooting guard finished her decorated collegiate career as the second Pac-12 guard in Conference history with 2,000+ points, 800+ rebounds (joining Sabrina Ionescu from the University of Oregon). The Moreno Valley native etched her name into UCLA's all-time record book and lands in the top 10 in 13 separate statistical categories. She played 152 games for the Bruins and finishes as the all-time leader in games played, games started (150 GS), and three-pointers made (282 3FGM). Osborne earned four All-Pac-12 and two All-Defensive Team selections during her time in the Westwood.
Front Office Bruins
The back-to-back WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces have three Bruins on staff. Natalie Nakase remains on the sideline as an assistant coach, Nikki Fargas leads as the team's president, and four-time WNBA All Star Natalie Williams continues as the general manager of the organization.
Noelle Quinn received a multiyear contract extension to continue to lead the Seattle Storm as their head coach. The fourth pick in the 2007 WNBA draft, Quinn played 12 years in the league before picking up the clipboard. Quinn has guided the Storm to a pair of 20-win seasons, two playoff appearances, and the first-ever WNBA commissioner's Cup title in 2021.
Annie Meyers Drysdale, who recently was named the recipient of the 2024 Kobe and Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award, remains the vice president and a broadcaster for the Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix Suns. The Kobe and Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award honors advocates and influencers who use their time, talent and platform to raise awareness for the WNBA and girls' and women's basketball. She was also inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in August 2023 as a member of the 1976 Women's Olympic Basketball Team.
WNBA Preseason Schedule (all times PT)
Friday, May 3
Indiana Fever vs. Dallas Wings
*Chicago Sky vs. Minnesota Lynx (5 p.m.)
Saturday, May 4
Washington Mystics vs. *Atlanta Dream (10 a.m.)
*Seattle Storm vs. *Los Angeles Sparks (6:30 p.m.)
Tuesday, May 7
*New York Liberty vs. *Chicago Sky (5 p.m.)
*Phoenix Mecury vs. *Seattle Storm (7 p.m.)
Wednesday, May 8
Minnesota Lynx vs. Washington Mystics
Thursday, May 9
*New York Liberty vs. Connecticut Sun (4 p.m.)
Friday, May 10
*Atlanta Dream vs. Indiana Fever (4 p.m.)
*Los Angeles Sparks vs. *Phoenix Mercury (7 p.m.)
Saturday, May 11
Puerto Rico vs. *Las Vegas Aces (10 a.m.)
*include Bruin alumni
Players Mentioned
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