Former UConn guard Evina Westbrook signs hardship contract with Minnesota Lynx

Evina Westbrook signed a hardship contract with the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday, the franchise announced.

The former UConn guard was drafted 21st overall by the Seattle Storm in this year’s WNBA draft but was waived by the franchise on May 4.

Through two preseason games for the Storm, Westbrook averaged 9.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists. In the second contest, the 6-foot guard scored 15 points in less than 17 minutes, including the game-winner against the Phoenix Mercury. She went 3 of 4 on 3-point attempts and also recorded four rebounds, two assists and a crucial block.

Westbrook, a native of Salem, Oregon, spent the first two years of her career at Tennessee, sat out a year in 2019-20 due to transfer rules and then spent her last two seasons on the court for UConn. She averaged 9.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists during the 2021-22 college season.

The Lynx waived another former Husky guard, Crystal Dangerfield, on May 3. Dangerfield signed a hardship contract with the Indiana Fever and was released on Wednesday. Napheesa Collier is also on the Minnesota roster, but she is currently pregnant and not with the team.