The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

HER Seattle Storm fell short in their push toward the WNBA post season, but before the regular season ended, Waltiea Rolle was able to make an impact with the franchise with increased opportunities on the floor.

Rolle tallied a WNBA career high in the Storm’s penultimate game of the season with a double double - 10 points and 10 rebounds - in a 77-65 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on August 15.

In six games with the Storm this season, Rolle averaged 3.2 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.

Seattle finished the season at 12-22, no.5 in the Western Conference standings.

On August 11, the Storm signed Rolle for the remainder of the season after she completed three 10-day contracts with the club.

Rolle made Bahamian basketball history by becoming the first Bahamian to play in the WNBA when she appeared in the Storm’s 80-74 loss to the Tulsa Shock on July 29.

She signed her first seven-day contract with the Storm on July 21, dressing for all three of Seattle’s games spanning from July 22-26, but did not receive playing time during the three games in that timespan.

During the second contract, she received spot duty in three consecutive contests when she scored two points in each outing. She ended the season with five rebounds in a 78-65 loss to the Phoenix Mercury.

On Rolle’s tenure with the club at the time of her signing, Storm coach Brian Agler said: “We’re always looking to find young players and build for the future.”

In an earlier statement he detailed the impact Rolle will have on the organisation.

“Waltiea is an athletic post player who had a very good career at North Carolina,” he said. “She will have an opportunity to show what she can provide us in both a practice and game environment.”

After completing training camp and the preseason with the Minnesota Lynx, Rolle was waived in May just prior to the tip-off of the WNBA season.

The 6’6” centre was a third-round pick (36th overall) by the Lynx in the 2013 WNBA Draft and appeared in all three preseason games with the team this season, averaging 7.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game.

For the Lynx, she came off the bench and in 23.30 minutes, led in scoring with 17 points and five rebounds in their 82-66 triumph over the Australian national team in Minneapolis on May 5.