Burrell shows off talents during 2nd `rookie' season
TORRANCE » Rae Burrell is in the middle of her second WNBA season with the Sparks but the No. 9 pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft admits she still feels like a rookie.
That's because the former Tennessee standout played just three games last year, hampered by what quickly became a season-ending knee injury that required surgery to alleviate what became debilitating pain.
“I definitely still feel like a rookie,” Burrell shared on Wednesday at the team's training facility at El Camino College. “I played those first three games last year but I was injured, had not had knee surgery yet, wasn't moving exactly how I know I can move and how I want to move so I would definitely count this as more of a rookie year.”
Burrell played overseas in Australia during the offseason and participated in the Sparks' training camp, but she was waived before the season started in May. However, the 6-foot-2 guard/forward has found her way back onto the roster, playing in 13 games this season on two emergency hardship contracts because the team lacked healthy players.
“Being on a hardship (contract) it's not guaranteed, you can be released at any moment, so just making sure that I go out there and show what I can do and
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showcase my abilities is what I try to do every time I step on the floor,” Burrell explained.
She's also been focused on being a positive asset off the bench, finding playing time at shooting guard, small forward, and as the team's emergency power forward.
“Just bringing energy,” Burrell said. “Trying to be that spark off the bench and going in and giving whatever the team needs, whether it's rebounding or defense or just running the floor and spacing out, just giving energy off the bench to keep that momentum going.”
Burrell has rooted her game in the fundamentals.
She's made a concerted effort to do the little things, such as boxing out, to put herself in a better position to secure rebounds.
“Especially when you're on the bench, you get to see things that are happening in the game. If I'm seeing some missed box-outs or somebody that's crashing the boards hard that I'm about to guard, I make sure to be really attentive on getting my butt into them and backing them out so I can get the ball,” Burrell added.
The 23-year-old is averaging 3.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 13 games this season. Although Burrell is only averaging 10.9 minutes per game, Sparks coach Curt Miller said she is essentially auditioning for her future in the league.
“Certainly her energy is important,” Miller shared. “Her athleticism. Again, it's an opportunity for a player whose rookie season was cut short. She essentially is a rookie. All of this opportunity for her is tremendous for her future. Not only is it always an audition for us, but it's an audition for the whole league and she realizes that. She made a couple of energy plays, a big offensive rebound, different actions while she was in her short minutes (Tuesday night) were contributing factors to the win.”
The Sparks (8-15) are back in the win column for the first time in a month, ending their franchise-record eightgame losing streak.