NEW YORK, NY -- Three former University of Texas women's basketball players, including 5-9 point guard Kenya Larkin (Duncanville, Texas/Duncanville HS/Trinity Valley JC) who just completed her eligibility this season, have been assigned to WNBA rosters following free agent allocation on April 25. All 16 teams in the WNBA will open their respective training camps this upcoming Monday, April 29th.
Larkin, who helped lead 22-10 Texas to the 2002 NCAA Championship Sweet 16 in March, was assigned to the Western Conference's Phoenix Mercury. The other two Longhorn free agents are 5-8 guard Beverly Williams '91, a former Kodak All-American and former star in the now-defunct ABL (American Basketball League) who has recovered from an ACL knee injury and is assigned to the Sacramento Monarchs; and 5-8 guard Erica Routt '96, former All-Southwest Conference standout who is assigned to the Utah Starzz. Sacramento and Utah also play in the Western Conference.
In addition to these three former Longhorns, four other former Texas standouts are on the WNBA's 2002 pre-season rosters. Nell Fortner '82, former U.S. Olympic coach who led the 2000 USA team to the Olympic gold in Sydney, Australia, enters her second season as general manager and head coach of the Indiana Fever. Edwina Brown '00, former Kodak All-American and 2000 Margaret Wade Trophy winner as National Player of the Year, is entering her third season with the WNBA's Detroit Shock. Brown, a 5-10 guard, was the third pick overall -- and the first collegian taken -- in the 2000 draft. The Shock and Fever also play in the Eastern Conference.
Two additional former UT standouts are listed on Western Conference rosters. Nekeshia Henderson '95, a 5-8 All-Southwest Conference guard, is in her second season with the Houston Comets. Rounding out the Texas stars in the WNBA is Edna Campbell '91, a 5-8 guard on the Sacramento Monarchs roster who will miss the 2002 season for medical reasons. Campbell, another All-Conference star at Texas, also played on USA Basketball National Teams for four years, earning two gold medals.
During pre-season camp, the WNBA teams begin their preseason schedule on Thursday, May 9. The 2002 WNBA regular season commences on Memorial Day weekend with two games. Defending champion Los Angeles Sparks host the New York Liberty on Saturday, May 25. The Sparks then travel to Houston to face the Comets on Memorial Day - Monday, May 27. Both those games begin at 3 p.m. (Eastern time), and will be televised on NBC.
For more information on the WNBA, to go www.wnba.com. The full list of 2002 WNBA free agents can be found at www.wnba.com/news/free_agents02.html.