David Levine -> RE: Minnesota Lynx (3/14/2018 12:46:21 PM)
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March 13, 2018 MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team has signed free agent guard Tanisha Wright. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. "We are very excited to welcome Tanisha back to the WNBA and specifically to the Minnesota Lynx," said Lynx Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve. "Tanisha has proven herself to be a formidable opponent throughout her career. She’s tough, experienced and as competitive as anyone I’ve coached against. She’s the kind of player who always makes the game difficult for her opponent, so it goes without saying that we’re really looking forward to having her on our side." Wright, a 12-year veteran and WNBA champion with Seattle in 2010, most recently played for New York in 2016 where she saw action in 29 games, averaging 6.7 ppg (40.1%) and 3.6 apg in 23.0 mpg. Wright has been named to the All-Defensive First Team on five occasions (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014) and Second Team twice (2015, 2016). Since their inception in 2005, only Tamika Catchings (12 times), Alana Beard (eight) and Sylvia Fowles (eight) have landed on the WNBA’s All-Defensive Teams more frequently. In perhaps her best season, the 5-11 Wright averaged a career-high 12.2 ppg on 46.3% shooting in 2009 while also posting career bests in FT accuracy (90.6%, good for 3rd in the WNBA) and steals (1.52 spg). She tallied 10.1 ppg while hitting a career-high 49.2% from the floor and 89.7% from the FT line (4th in the WNBA) in 2011 and averaged 11.9 ppg while ranking 8th in the league in assists (4.1 apg) in 2013. All-time, Wright ranks 13th in WNBA history in assists (1231) and 20th in games played (393) and stands as one of only 16 players to have collected at least 3000 points, 1000 rebounds and 1000 assists in their careers. The West Mifflin, Pa., native owns career averages of 7.7 ppg (42.6%), 2.7 rpg and 3.1 apg in 24.5 mpg. Prior to sitting out the 2017 campaign, she had missed only 15 games in 12 WNBA seasons. Chosen by Seattle in the 1st round (12th overall) of the 2005 Draft out of Penn State, Wright brings a wealth of postseason experience, appearing in the WNBA Playoffs in 11 of her 12 seasons. She holds averages of 10.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 3.3 apg in 35 career postseason appearances, shooting 47.1% from the field and 77.6% from the line while logging 27.2 mpg. During the Storm’s run to the 2010 title, Wright started in all seven playoff games and helped Seattle finish a league-best 28-6 and a perfect 7-0 in the postseason. Wright just completed her first season as an assistant coach at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where the 49ers finished the 2017-18 season with a 14-16 record under head coach Cara Consuegra.
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