LAS VEGAS — Ask anybody within the WNBA about Rae Burrell, and the phrase „athleticism“ is bound to accompany their description of the fifth-year participant out of Tennessee.
Ask those self same individuals the place she honed her athletic expertise, and so they could also be shocked to study she excelled on the soccer discipline at an elite stage in Southern Nevada.
It wasn’t till highschool that she selected basketball over soccer, and was one of many Silver State’s finest gamers, main Liberty Excessive Faculty to the state championship sport her senior 12 months.
„I feel it simply type of sticks with you,“ Burrell mentioned of the agility and athleticism she introduced from the soccer discipline to the basketball court docket. „Clearly, I have not carried out it in what number of years, however I feel when you study one thing, particularly after I was doing it so long as I used to be … I really feel prefer it’s simply type of muscle reminiscence relating to the footwork, and also you type of simply bear in mind and also you’re simply ready to make use of that to your benefit.“
LA Sparks‘ Rae Burrell revealed which teammate she’d need by her aspect on a stranded island and which one she’d kick to the curb 😂
Her solutions didn’t disappoint.
The red-hot Sparks tackle the Washington Mystics tonight!
(H/T @WillieGRamirez ) pic.twitter.com/TOAQ263XqK
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) Could 29, 2026
The Sparks‘ Final X-Issue
And it is the Los Angeles Sparks who’re the beneficiary of a really particular expertise, whose size and talent to make issues occur in crucial occasions are turning her right into a not-so-secret weapon off the bench.
„X Components,“ two-time WNBA champion Kelsey Plum mentioned. „We discuss Cam (Brink), however Rae is de facto going to be the distinction for us this 12 months. As a result of lots of occasions (with) nice groups, the beginning lineup is even, and it is actually the bench that has like essentially the most impression by way of my expertise of profitable large video games after which happening a playoff run.
„So, Rae and Cameron, you can also make the argument, are the most important items for us.“
By six video games, Burrell has began 4 occasions and is averaging 26.2 minutes per sport, almost eight greater than her earlier profession excessive of 18.4 final season.
The 6-foot-2 swing-guard is definitely taking advantage of her minutes, averaging 8.7 factors, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per sport. And it hasn’t essentially been about large numbers with Burrell this season, because it’s extra so the standard minutes she’s offering.
„All of us love Rae,“ Sparks coach Lynne Roberts mentioned. „I feel what her worth is that does not present up on the stat sheet is simply the power and the athleticism she brings. She’s a starter on this league, and you understand you are taking part in on an excellent crew when you may convey someone like that off the bench.
„Her power, her capability … I do not know who’s extra athletic within the league than her.“
As we noticed in Los Angeles‘ latest 101-95 street win over the defending-champion Las Vegas Aces, when Burrell calmly buried an enormous 3-pointer with a bit greater than 5 minutes left and snared a rebound with roughly 20 seconds left to assist protect the lead for the Sparks.
Oh, and she or he additionally drew the project of defending reigning league MVP A’ja Wilson.
„She’s in all probability essentially the most athletic particular person I do know, in any sport, simply the best way she strikes,“ Brink mentioned. „And he or she’s nonetheless totally tapping that potential athletically. The sky is the restrict for her. And he or she ought to simply be so assured in her skills. She’s a pleasure to play with, only a bodily phenom, for certain.“
Perseverance Has Paid Off
Burrell’s development has been no picnic, both, as her profession has taken twists and turns, marred by accidents she’s overcome and fought by way of since her senior 12 months at Tennessee.
Burrell, who will flip 26 on June 21, missed a number of weeks in her last season in Knoxville on account of a knee harm after which returned and helped the Volunteers attain the Candy 16.
After being drafted ninth total within the 2022 WNBA Draft, a foot harm stored her out of all however three video games her rookie season. She did not make the roster out of the 2023 coaching camp, however the crew wanted her and signed her to a pair of hardship contracts earlier than conserving her aboard the remainder of the season.
It wasn’t till Feb. 1, 2024, that she signed a multi-year contract with the Sparks. Recent off the league’s newly signed CBA with the gamers‘ union, and a record-breaking wage improve for gamers, Burrell remains to be making a comparatively low $277,500, per Spotrac.com.
However, Burrell is not complaining, as she’s content material doing what she’s all the time carried out, quietly having an impression whereas proving her value and elevating her inventory, to not point out gracing social media with one of the vital fashionable tunnel walks earlier than each sport.
„I am positively happy with it (with) lots of perception in myself,“ Burrell mentioned concerning the development of her profession. „A whole lot of naysayers, and lots of people did not suppose that I deserved to be the place I used to be at, however I do know the work that I put in, and I let myself belief the method and the work that I put in every day, year-round.“Unmatched’s Affect on Burrell
Burrell credit her offseason work at Unmatched as considered one of her greatest stepping stones, as she was ready to make use of her size and athleticism – there’s that phrase once more – to thrive in an open house within the 3-on-3 league, one thing excellent for a participant like her. Burrell was capable of run the ground, learn schemes, and work on the tempo of her sport.
It additionally helped that she was guarding the perfect of the perfect, permitting her not solely to work on her offensive sport but additionally to enhance her defensive expertise by guarding All-Stars and championship gamers.
„Watching her type of blossom over at Unmatched was enjoyable for me, as a result of I do know she’s a hooper, she loves to love work, she’s within the health club, and she or he’s a type of individuals who has actually excessive aspirations,“ Plum mentioned. „She needs it, so I am excited for her. I feel she’s gonna proceed to have an excellent 12 months.“
W.G. Ramirez is a 39-year veteran sports activities author and 54-year resident of Southern Nevada who’s a Senior Employees Author at Ballislife.com. Comply with him on X at @WillieGRamirez.
