David Levine -> RE: Minnesota Lynx (5/2/2016 6:53:10 PM)
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Janel McCarville appears set to return to Lynx If the ex-Gopher pronounces herself physically healthy after playing in Europe, she's expected to join the Lynx. By Kent Youngblood Star Tribune MAY 2, 2016 — 6:21PM It appears Janel McCarville will be coming back to Minnesota…again. The former University of Minnesota star center, who helped the Lynx to the 2013 WNBA title, has agreed in principal to return to the Lynx as a backup to Sylvia Fowles this season, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations. No official deal is done. McCarville’s return will hinge on how she feels physically in the coming weeks; she just finished playing for a team in Turkey. But her return would provide more veteran depth in the post for the Lynx, who will be trying for a third time to win back-to-back league titles when the 2016 season begins this month. It would also re-reunite McCarville with her former Gophers teammate Lindsay Whalen. The two helped lead the Gophers to the NCAA Final Four in the spring of 2004, then spent two seasons together with the Lynx. Acquired in a three-team trade from the New York Liberty in March of 2013 McCarville — who had sat out the 2011 season after a dispute with the Liberty — came to Minnesota and averaged 6.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists for the Lynx, who surged to their second WNBA title in three seasons. In 2014 McCarville averaged 7.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Lynx, who were eliminated in the Western Conference finals by the Phoenix Mercury, which went on to win the league title. Last year, citing health, McCarville — who had battled back problems during the 2014 season — decided not to play during the WNBA season, though she frequently attended Lynx games. Minnesota, after acquiring Fowles in a mid-season trade, returned to the finals, beating Indiana in five games for a third title in five seasons. McCarville would add much-needed inside depth to a Lynx team that is determined, in an Olympic year, not to overtax their star players; Fowles and Whalen, along with Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus, will be on the U.S. team playing in the Games this summer. The 6-2 McCarville, 33, is a strong defender and a standout passer from the post. She, along with Natasha Howard — acquired in an off-season trade that sent Devereaux Peters to Indiana — would be experienced backups to Fowles and Rebekkah Brunson. When she made the decision to sit out last summer, McCarville indicated that, should she return to the WNBA, the Lynx would be the only team she would want to play for. Now, it could happen.
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