Noelle Quinn is leaving Westwood and going to Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Wednesday was a big day for the former UCLA women’s basketball team’s star guard, as the Minnesota Lynx chose Quinn as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2007 WNBA draft in Cleveland, Ohio.
“I was nervous up until (I was picked),” Quinn told WNBA.com. “I was happy with the decision. I had a chance to speak with the staff before the draft and they are all very genuine people. It will be a great situation.”
Quinn is the last member of the women’s basketball team’s “Triple Threat” to join the WNBA. After playing alongside Bruin teammates Nikki Blue and Lisa Willis from 2004 to 2006, Quinn will now see them on opposing WNBA teams. Blue is currently a guard for the Washington Mystics and Willis is a guard for the Los Angeles Sparks.
During her time as a Bruin, Quinn made an immediate impact as a freshman and continued to contribute to the program for four years. She was named to the All-Pac-10 First Team for three consecutive years (2005-2007) and was an AP All-America Honorable Mention in 2006 and 2007.
In addition to accumulating awards, Quinn has amassed several UCLA basketball records. Out of all the great basketball players to come through UCLA, male or female, Quinn is the only Bruin to collect over 1,700 points, 700 rebounds, and 400 assists in her career.
Quinn’s new team, the Minnesota Lynx, finished last season with a 10-24 record. The team is lead by guard Seimone Augustus, who was a rookie last year. The Lynx organization sees a lot of potential in Quinn as a member of its team.
“We believe Noelle has tremendous upside and growth as a player,” Lynx head coach Don Zierden told UCLABruins.com. “As a coaching staff, we really like her ability to pass the ball and score within the flow of the offense. She is an extremely talented player who knows the game. We look forward to adding her to our solid core of young players.”
In Wednesday’s WNBA draft, the Minnesota Lynx traded Tangela Smith to the Phoenix Mercury for former Duke University guard Lindsey Harding, who was the top selection in the draft. Also joining the team are some second-round picks: former USC guard Eshaya Murphy, former Stanford center Brooke Smith, and former Boston College forward Kathrin Ress.
Even though it has been a while since Quinn has visited Minnesota, she is optimistic about her move and the next stage of her basketball career.
“I was in Minnesota when I was little, probably 13. I don’t know too much, but I hear it is a great place,” she told WNBA.com. “I know the Lynx have struggled the past couple seasons, but hopefully that will change.”