SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Former Cyclone women’s basketball standout Chelsea Poppens signed a professional contract with the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars, the team announced Wednesday.
“This is a great opportunity for Pop,” head coach Bill Fennelly said. “San Antonio is one of the best franchises in the WNBA, and Coach Hughes is one of the best coaches in the league. I know she will, as she did for us, go and compete every day and do all she can to make the team better.”
During her time with the Cyclones she became just the second player in school history to reach 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. She finished her career averaging 11.1 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game. Poppens was a two-time Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American and named to the All-Big 12 first team in 2012 and 2013. For her work in the classroom The Aplington, Iowa native was also named an Academic All-Big 12 honoree her junior and senior seasons.
The last Cyclone to sign with an NBA team was point guard Alison Lacey, who made the Seattle Storm’s final roster in 2010 after being drafted 10th overall by the Storm in the 2010 WNBA Draft.
Poppens is eligible to play in the Silver Stars’ next game against the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday at 7 p.m. For fans wishing to catch a glimpse of Poppens donning a Silver Stars uniform, the team’s next televised game will be on Friday, August 23rd, at Tulsa on NBA TV at 7 p.m.
