The Minnesota Lynx announced Thursday afternoon that they have made two more additions ahead of the 2019 WNBA season.
The organization announced that it has re-signed veteran post Erlana Larkins, who played in Minnesota a season ago, as well as signed forward Kelsey Griffin.
Larkins, who will be entering her 10th season in the WNBA, signed with the Lynx midway through the 2018 campaign and appeared in a total of 13 games. During that span, she averaged 2.1 points and shot 44.4 percent from the field in 12.9 minutes coming off the bench.
Starting her career with the New York Liberty in 2008, Larkins spent a majority of her tenure in the league with the Indiana Fever from 2012-17, winning a WNBA title with the Fever in 2012.
“We enjoyed the short time we had with Erlana last season and look forward to her return,” Lynx head coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve said in the statement released by the team. “Her defense, rebounding, and ability to pass will be extremely valuable to our team.”
Griffin, who was drafted by Minnesota as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft and later traded to Connecticut for a draft pick, comes to the Lynx after being named the regular season and Finals Most Valuable Player in the Women’s National Basketball League in Australia.
Griffin appeared in 26 contests during her season in Australia, averaging a WNBL-leading 19.7 points and league-best 12.3 rebounds, while recording 2.8 assists and shooting 50.6 percent from the field.
“Kelsey is coming off one of her best season’s yet as a pro and we are excited she is returning to the WNBA as a Lynx,” Reeve added in the statement. “Kelsey has the ability to stretch the defense as a shooting power forward and is an aggressive rebounder.”
Griffin spent five seasons in the WNBA with the Connecticut Sun from 2010-14 and hasn’t played in the WNBA since. She holds career averages of 4.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.9 steals in 18 minutes per game, having shot 37.6 percent from the field and 25.6 percent from three.
Her ability to both shoot the ball and play multiple positions, both with stretching the floor and providing a presence in the post, could prove to be a valuable asset and addition to Minnesota in 2019.
A few notable free agents left on the market for the Lynx to keep an eye on throughout the rest of the offseason is Rebekkah Brunson and Cecilia Zandalasini, who both played in Minnesota in 2018 and aren’t expected to go anywhere as the new year approaches this summer.
Become a Zone Coverage Member Today!
