The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Westbrook will return to UConn for senior year
UConn redshirt junior Evina Westbrook will be returning to the Huskies for her senior season.
The 22-year-old Westbrook, who is eligible for the WNBA Draft, posted on Instagram Sunday night that she has “unfinished business.” Teammates Paige Bueckers and Nika Muhl were among the first to comment, Bueckers with a “right here witchu” and Muhl with three heart emojis.
Westbrook transferred to UConn from Tennessee after two seasons, having to sit out last year due to NCAA rules. In her lone UConn season, Westbrook averaged 9.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, starting all 30. She also totaled 128 assists for the year, second best behind Bueckers.
Westbrook is UConn’s only drafteligible player, projected in ESPN’s latest mock draft to be picked fifth by the Dallas Wings.
“Westbrook can make a big impact on a game without big stats,” ESPN reporter Mechelle Voepel wrote.
Westbrook quickly became a leader
of this young UConn squad, some referring to her as the “mom of our team.”
“E, she does everything for this team,” Bueckers said last month after the Huskies beat Iowa in the Sweet 16. Westbrook finished the game one rebound shy of a triple-double. “I said that once before, and she keeps proving my point. Rebounds, assists, passing, defense, scoring, just anything we need her to do, she’s going to do it, she’s going to do it to the best of her ability. When anybody’s slacking, she’s going to pick it up for us.”
There was some speculation Westbrook could head to the WNBA – only given 48 hours from UConn’s last game to decide to declare for the April 15 draft. Westbrook played a different role for the Huskies than when at Tennessee where she was the team’s co-leading scorer in 2018-19.
Coming off a knee injury, the start of her season was slow before Westbrook before finding her role. UConn’s disappointing Final Four loss to Arizona, a game in which Westbrook scored 10, likely played a role in the decision. Also playing a contributing factor is the close-knit group that is expected to be the favorite for a national title next season.
As it stands, UConn is positioned to return its entire team and bring in multiple recruits, including the No. 1 prospect Azzi Fudd. It remains possible a team member, or multiple, could transfer this offseason given the loaded roster size and talent.