Evina Westbrook not declaring for WNBA draft, will return to UConn women’s basketball for redshirt senior year

For a team with no seniors, the one major personnel question the UConn Huskies faced this offseason was whether guard Evina Westbrook would depart for the 2021 WNBA draft or return for her redshirt senior season in 2021-22.

The Huskies got their answer Sunday. Westbrook will return to Storrs this fall to give another go at what the team couldn’t fulfill this season: bringing home the program’s 12th national title.

Westbrook posted a photo on Instagram Sunday night with herself in UConn gear and the caption “unfinished business” with a Husky emoji and blue heart.

ESPN’s latest WNBA mock draft had Westbrook going fifth overall to the Dallas Wings. While the general opt-in deadline was April 1, as a Final Four participant Westbrook had 48 hours following UConn’s 69-59 loss to Arizona to inform the league of her decision.

College players are eligible to leave for the draft if they turn 22 in that calendar year or upon graduation. Westbrook turned 22 in September, but prior to her debut with the Huskies in December 2020, she went nearly two years without playing basketball.

The Tennessee transfer sat out the 2019-20 season after arriving in Storrs and underwent two knee surgeries in six months that kept her on campus rehabbing when the rest of campus was empty in the spring. The wait and hard work have been worth it: Westbrook was one of two Huskies to play all 30 games this season, averaging 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 30.7 minutes. She shot 45.4 percent from the field and 33.9 percent on 3s.

Aside for doing a little bit of everything on the floor and bringing a defensive edge not apparent on the stat sheet, Westbrook became the beloved “team mom” of the Huskies, taking the youngsters under her wing and making sure they always felt at home when they couldn’t physically be with their families. Freshman Paige Bueckers once called her the “heart and soul” of the team.

“She’s one of the best teammates and one of the best people I’ve ever been around,” Bueckers said in February. “She does so much for this team, not only on the court, but off the court as well.”

Barring any transfers, the Huskies will have a 15-person roster (including 14 scholarship players) next season following the addition of its three remaining 2021 recruits.

Alexa Philippou can be reached at aphilippou@courant.com.