via hawkeyesports.com
LOS ANGELES – Former Hawkeye star Monika Czinano was waived by WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks this week, just prior to the season starting.
Czinano was drafted with the 26th overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft. As she was cut from the team, the Sparks said, “Thank you Monika Czinano. We’re rooting for you!” The WNBA season starts May 19 and teams are trimming rosters at this time.
Czinano is the third Hawkeye that has been drafted in the WNBA since 2019. (Kathleen Doyle, Megan Gustafson)
Czinano finished her Iowa career with 2,413 points, 787 rebounds, and shot at least 67% the past four seasons. She was the fifth Hawkeye to net more than 2,000 points in a career. She helped lead Iowa to the Final Four this past season and a berth in the national championship game.
17 Hawkeyes have been drafted or signed in the WNBA since the league originated in 1997.
Czinano broke the Big Ten Tournament single game field percentage record, going 11-of-12 (.917) to help Iowa to their 2023 Big Ten Championship victory over Ohio State. She reached double figures in 28 games this season and in 11 of them she netted more than 20 points.
Czinano finished her decorated Hawkeye career with Unanimous First Team All-Big Ten honors, was on the All-Big Ten Tournament, and earned honorable mention from the Associated Press in 2022-23.
