During the third quarter of a WNBA game between the Washington Mystics and the Atlanta Dream, rookie guard Evina Westbrook suited up for her first game as a Mystic – the third team she’s been on during her first season in the league.
In a victory over the Dream with a score of 92-74, she contributed three points, three assists, and one steal in eleven minutes of action.
Her points came from a single three-pointer, which she made after an attempt resulted in an airball. When talking about the missed shot, she said, “[t]hat felt good, like I’m shooting it again, and my teammates knew that. So the second one, for it to go in and [seeing] my teammates’ reaction, it gave me a sense of confidence.”
The former Uconn player was drafted by the Seattle Storm in the second round of the 2022 WNBA draft. Westbrook played for the Storm in the preseason but was waived prior to opening night.
She was then signed by the Minnesota Lynx, but only played 12.4 minutes per game while averaging 2.6 points. She was waived again on June 24 when the WNBA’s guaranteed contract deadline was approaching.
When she was picked up by the Mystics, Westbrook said, “Twenty-four hours after I was waived from Minnesota, my agent got a call from [Mystics Coach Mike Thibault], saying they were interested in signing me to a seven-day [contract].… Twenty-four hours after that, I flew out.”
Upon arriving in Washington, she not only had to learn a new system, but also had to unlearn the two other systems she’s played in. While head coach Mike Thibault wasn’t in attendance for her first practice as a Mystic, his assistants praised her for quickly learning the new system.
Although she was able to find a new home in the WNBA, there was one issue – Westbrook can only have three seven-day contracts. Thibault intended to sign her to multiple seven-day contacts, but he is still unsure about whether to sign her permanently.
Westbrook understands that basketball is business, and all she can do is work hard and improve in hopes of finding a permanent home.
“I know I can give so much more, and I try to do that. It’s just me telling myself, ‘Evina, you’re a dog. Play like that.’” Westbrook said.
Link to Article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/07/02/evina-westbrook-mystics-rookie/
In a victory over the Dream with a score of 92-74, she contributed three points, three assists, and one steal in eleven minutes of action.
Her points came from a single three-pointer, which she made after an attempt resulted in an airball. When talking about the missed shot, she said, “[t]hat felt good, like I’m shooting it again, and my teammates knew that. So the second one, for it to go in and [seeing] my teammates’ reaction, it gave me a sense of confidence.”
The former Uconn player was drafted by the Seattle Storm in the second round of the 2022 WNBA draft. Westbrook played for the Storm in the preseason but was waived prior to opening night.
She was then signed by the Minnesota Lynx, but only played 12.4 minutes per game while averaging 2.6 points. She was waived again on June 24 when the WNBA’s guaranteed contract deadline was approaching.
When she was picked up by the Mystics, Westbrook said, “Twenty-four hours after I was waived from Minnesota, my agent got a call from [Mystics Coach Mike Thibault], saying they were interested in signing me to a seven-day [contract].… Twenty-four hours after that, I flew out.”
Upon arriving in Washington, she not only had to learn a new system, but also had to unlearn the two other systems she’s played in. While head coach Mike Thibault wasn’t in attendance for her first practice as a Mystic, his assistants praised her for quickly learning the new system.
Although she was able to find a new home in the WNBA, there was one issue – Westbrook can only have three seven-day contracts. Thibault intended to sign her to multiple seven-day contacts, but he is still unsure about whether to sign her permanently.
Westbrook understands that basketball is business, and all she can do is work hard and improve in hopes of finding a permanent home.
“I know I can give so much more, and I try to do that. It’s just me telling myself, ‘Evina, you’re a dog. Play like that.’” Westbrook said.
Link to Article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/07/02/evina-westbrook-mystics-rookie/