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WNBA Minnesota Lynx Releases Former Washington Huskies Chantel Osahor

By Bret Stuter

Mar 24, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Washington Huskies forward/center Chantel Osahor (0) grabs a rebound in front of Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs center Chinwe Okorie (45) during the third quarter in the semifinals of the Oklahoma City Regional of the women's 2017 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Washington Huskies forward/center Chantel Osahor (0) grabs a rebound in front of Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs center Chinwe Okorie (45) during the third quarter in the semifinals of the Oklahoma City Regional of the women's 2017 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 27, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Washington Huskies forward Chantel Osahor (0) and guard Kelsey Plum (10) celebrate against the Stanford Cardinal in the finals of the Lexington regional of the women’s NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena. Washington defeated Stanford 85-76. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Washington Huskies forward Chantel Osahor (0) and guard Kelsey Plum (10) celebrate against the Stanford Cardinal in the finals of the Lexington regional of the women’s NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena. Washington defeated Stanford 85-76. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /

The WNBA Minnesota Lynx Announced today that the team has released 21st selected former Washington Huskies forward Chantel Osahor

The WNBA Minnesota Lynx announced via their website that the team has waived former Washington Huskies Chantel Osahor via a press release.

The official press release was distributed on May 9, 2017, and was the result of the team paring down their roster in preparation of the WNBA season. Per the press release:

"Minnesota Lynx Waive ThreeMay 9, 2017MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team has waived forwards Chantel Osahor and Breanna Richardson and guard Moriah Mack. With the move, the Lynx training camp roster stands at 12 players.Osahor, a 6-2 forward from the University of Washington, was originally drafted by the Chicago Sky with the 21st overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft before being traded to the Lynx on April 14. She collected a game-high six rebounds and five assists in Minnesota’s 113-67 victory vs. the Atlanta Dream on May 5."

In addition to Osahor, the team has also the release of forward Breanna Richadson and guard Moriah Mack.

One Game and POOF!

So the question is why?

Osahor is a rookie, but just came off a great performance against the Atlanta Dream, where she pulled in a six rebounds and handed out five assists in just 18 minutes. In fact, she attempted just one shot in the game which did not sink.

But she placed sixth in the WNBA for rebounds, and tied at first in the league with Kelsey Plum for assists with five.  After the smoke clears, that seems premature to waiving a just arrived rookie.  In fact, in both statistics, Osahor was the preseason team leader.

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WNBA or WTH?

I will readily admit that I have no historic reference with the WNBA. But after this move, I doubt that I will have much patience to follow the sport.  The WNBA preseason is two games, and the team rosters are just 12 players.

So I get it.  Ultimately, roster spots are very valuable on a WNBA Team.

But an 18 minute performance from a rookie where the player leads the team in key statistics of rebounds and assists yields walking papers seems a tad… amateurish.  To complicate the matter, the WNBA has no development league to pick up WNBA cast-offs.

Overseas

On one hand, not all is lost for former Washington Huskies Osahor.  She now has options to play where the real money is: overseas.  In fact, it’s not just Europe for adventurous ladies, but women’s basketball is played in Australia too.

Next: Washington Huskies WR John Ross III Officially Cincinnati Bengal

On the other hand, there is still the possibility that a WNBA team will claim Osahor off the waiver wire.  But with just 12 roster spots, I would consider that only a remote chance.

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