Connecticut Sun Signs Abrosimova, Waives Anderson

By the Connecticut Sun
Posted Wednesday, August 27, 2008

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (August 27, 2008) — The Connecticut Sun announced Wednesday the signing of former Minnesota Lynx and UConn forward Svetlana Abrosimova, who will join the team for the rest of this season beginning Friday in Atlanta, where the Sun face the Dream.

As per team policy, no terms were released.

“Svetlana will bring us a great veteran presence at the three and four positions,” Sun coach Mike Thibault said. “Her ability to score from both the perimeter and in the lane will add a great dynamic to our offense. She played very well for Russia in the Olympics.”

A 6-foot-2 native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Abrosimova helped her country win the Bronze Medal at the Olympics in Beijing this summer, averaging 7.4 points and 6.6 rebounds in eight tournament games. Drafted out of UConn with the seventh overall pick in 2001, Abrosimova averaged 10 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in seven seasons with the Lynx.

“I’ve been in the league for seven years, and played for one team,” Abrosimova said Wednesday. “I made good friends there, but I’m excited to be going to a different team, and especially the team in Connecticut. I’m very excited to be playing in front of the Connecticut people again. I’m just hoping I can help Connecticut win a championship.”

Abrosimova enjoyed a storied career at UConn, where she graduated as the only player in program history to rank in the top-10 in points, rebounds, assists and steals. She was a member of UConn’s 2000 National Championship team, and left UConn as the fifth-ranked scorer in program history, with 1,865 points.

“When it comes to acquiring players, our only goal is to sign people who can help us win games,” Connecticut Sun General Manager Chris Sienko said. “Svetlana’s popularity in Connecticut is a great bonus, but our reason for signing her is to improve our chances of winning a title.”

To make room on the roster for Abrosimova, the Sun waived rookie guard Jolene Anderson, who was selected in the second round of the 2008 WNBA Draft.

“It’s hard to let a player go at this point in the season,” said Thibault of Anderson, who appeared in 24 games with seven starts for the Sun, averaging four points per game. “She’s done a great job for us, but our feeling as a staff is that we needed more veteran experience as we attempt to win a championship.”