![]() ![]() That leaves only two of the top eight scorers (Emma Meesseman, Ariel Atkins and Tianna Hawkins) on the remaining active roster for the season. Three players did not return to the team in the offseason, two more players opted-out, Elena Delle Donne is out rehabbing her back, Shey Peddy was waived last week and now there is Powers' injury. Now losing Powers, means there are only four players left from last year's championship squad. RELATED: MYSTICS AREN'T FOCUSED ON PLAYOFFS, IT'S WINNING IN 2021 "I think she needs to start the healing process right now and she's got some structural issues that, not damage but structural issues that we can get to work on by getting her started with somebody right now." "She really wanted to try and come back and finish the last couple of weeks, but I think for her long-term health, there's no point in risking that," Thibault said. With a heightened chance to reinjure her hamstring with games basically every other day, it could cause longer issues for her and the team. For Thibault and his staff, they feel it is not worth pushing to bring Powers back. With the team not being in a position to focus on defending its maiden 2019 WNBA championship, the franchise is now looking to prepare for the 2021 season when all of the team's stars come back. ![]() Powers has been out since she suffered a hamstring injury on Aug. Head coach Mike Thibault told reporters on Thursday that the 26-year-old is "probably not coming back" this season. I’m excited to go out there and be happy for her.Roster woes continue for the Washington Mystics as it is expected for the team to be without guard/forward Aerial Powers for the remainder of the 2020 season. “The fact she wanted to meet with her team and face-to-face, says a lot of about the character of her and what she’s about. “Aerial handled herself so well,” Merchant said. Merchant said she will be at Powers’ side during the draft in Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. In addition to point guard Tarryn McCutcheon of East Lansing, MSU has signed Mardreika Cook of Muskegon and Nia Hollie of Minnetonka, Minn., who are both highly-regarded wing players. 12 in the country by, although the Spartans are still actively recruiting a couple of players. The loss of Powers will have no effect on MSU’s current recruiting class, which is ranked No. But I want to chase my dreams in the WNBA.” “I weighed all my pros and cons for staying and my pros and cons for leaving and I was in a good position all around. “I was very 50/50 for the longest of times,” Powers said. 17, will graduate next month with a degree in communications. ![]() She missed the entire 2012-13 season after tearing her Achilles tendon in October of her freshman year.Ī year ago, Jewell Lloyd passed on her senior year at Notre Dame and became the first pick of the draft and the rookie of the year for Seattle. 4 in MSU history.Įarly entries into the WNBA are rare, but the league allows players who are 22-years-old in the year of the draft to forgo remaining eligibility. Her 697 points this season topped her school record 678 points she scored as a sophomore. This season Powers averaged 21.8 points and 9.2 rebounds and became MSU’s all-time leading scorer with 1,817 career points, bettering the mark of 1,780 of Liz Shimek. “I also knew from the moment we recruited her and signed her, she’s been a pro-driven kid. “She has mixed emotions because she loves being a Spartan and she loves being near her family and knows what the next level is about,” Merchant said. Merchant said it was apparent Powers was torn about leaving MSU with a year’s eligibility remaining. I know some people have problems with it, but you know me, I’m very outgoing and I like new things and I’m excited for the experience.” “It’s not about the money to me,” Powers said. The team Diana Taurasi plays for in Russia paid her not to play in the WNBA last season. WNBA players have to play overseas to supplement their incomes. The average rookie salary in the WNBA is $36,500 and rookies sign non-negotiable three-year deals. The down side of playing in the WNBA is there will be no million-dollar rookie contract. Powers, 6-foot, is likely to be among the first five picks selected and will become the highest MSU player chosen in the draft, topping Kristin Haynie, who was the No. I’m not disappointed or upset or anything. “I want to coach her for 20 more years, but we’re still going to be a talented team. ![]() “The kid is a pro kid and I’m happy for her,” Merchant said. Once the conversation began, Merchant was able to tell Powers how happy she was for her former star. I was sitting there and didn’t know how to start the conversation.” It felt like I was in a relationship and was about to break up with a boy. “Obviously, I know she wants me to stay and I went to her house,” Powers said. ![]()
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