Monica Wright finished her career at the University of Virginia having scored more points in a single season and over the course of a career than any other player to have donned a Virginia women's basketball jersey. Named the ACC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, the National Defensive Player of the Year, and every All-America first team you can think of, and being drafted No. 2 overall by the Minnesota Lynx, there is no doubt that Wright is a special type of player. And just three games into the WNBA season, Monica Wright has already proven herself to be indispensible to her new team.
Wright debuted her WNBA regular season career against the Tulsa Shock. Right off the bat as a starter, she put together a whopping 18 points in the 80-74 matchup, second highest on the team. Compare this debut with that of former Olympic track star Marion Jones, who also played her first minute as a WNBA player that night. Three seconds into that career, Jones committed a foul against Wright. Three minutes and 16 seconds later, she was pulled, only to watch the rest from bench with 0 points, 0 rebounds.
Wright's second game was not as eventful, starting, but only putting up five points in the 87-76 loss to the Washington Mystics.
Wright started and played in her third game tonight, in a tough 79-76 loss to the Seattle Storm. However, Wright made her presence known, leading the team with 19 points. Wright also contributed 2 rebounds and 2 assists.
The Lynx might only be 1-2 on the season so far, but there's no doubt about it. Monica Wright has arrived in the WNBA and any team to have her on their roster should be counting their blessings.
Despite the tough loss, Virginia head coach Debbie Ryan says that Wright "played her heart out tonight."