Our teams are certainly increasing in talent especially since the Freshies. For a long time, our pros were A'ja, Alisha Gray, and Tiffany Mitchell. About Ten more Gamecocks have gone on to make WNBA rosters in the last 3-4 years and we probably add at least three more (Tessa, Chloe, and Ashlyn) next year.
I'm hoping the "5 for 5" will pass and we will have Tessa one more year ... not only for her shooting but her leadership ... from what I see on TV and in person, she is a very respected "person" and this transitions to the floor as well ... Go Gamecocks!
That may happen, but I think she is easily a Top 12 prospect for the WNBA draft. She has won a Championship. She has graduated. What would there be for her to come back except for just loving the University of South Carolina. We, also, have a depth issue that we are going to have to sort out over the next year or two. You tell Agot Makeer and Jerzy Robinson that they have to sit another year in 27-28 while Tessa does a 5th season? I think we may get some attrition if that happens.
She would make more money playing in college than the WNBA, so there's that.
Maybe. However, rookies in the WNBA do make almost $300,000 a year now as a result of their new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Also, leaving after next season would start her clock for getting bigger deals 3 years down the road. Boston did just sign that 6.5 Million dollar deal after her 3rd year in the league. Finally, it does not resolve the glut of starting level players we have on this team. Sometimes a player graduating and moving on is good. Makeer was one of our better players during the playoff run this year. With Jordan Lee coming in from Texas that means Makeer will probably be our 1st or 2nd person off the bench this year.
