Remember when Krystal Thomas was drafted by the Seattle Storm? It was back in 2011 and she was the picked in the third round, making her the 36th draft pick of that season, but she had a few detours in the WNBA since then. Well, she is back, signed on with the Storm and training with the team as we speak.
It’s no doubt that Thomas is a skillful player on the court, but she has also demonstrated a profound sense of strength and stability off the court. Thomas, who stands at 6’5, has overcome a lot of adversity in her life. Her mother passed away after battling breast cancer when Thomas was 16 and her father was in prison for seven years of her life. Of her mother, she says, "She's made me pretty much everything that I am as a woman today. She's the person that challenged me, that pushed me, that was tough on me but also loved me to the ends of the earth."
If you are familiar with Jenny Boucek’s scouting process, it includes selecting players who are not only skilled athletes but also champions in their own lives, working to better their communities, overcoming obstacles and really serving as role models for the Seattle area. Thomas definitely fits that bill.
Back in 2011, she only played seven games with the Storm before working in some seven-day contracts with both the Storm and Phoenix from 2011 to 2012, playing many more games with the Mercury. She was present in 29 in 2012. She remained with Phoenix the following season, playing in every game, then played for the Fever in 2014, where she was present in 21. Thomas’s stats include 3.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 15.6 minutes per game for her entire career. Her best rebound record, 18 in a single game, was with Seattle, while her best score, 15, was with Washington.
Thomas’s degree is in psychology. She attended Duke, graduating in 2011 with an average of 6.1 points and 5.8 rebounds. She had the third highest rebound number in Duke history, a total of 300, and won the Full Court Press ACC Player of the Year.
For fans that recall Thomas as a Storm player, do you think that she will be an asset to the team? Are you excited to see Thomas back and training with the Storm? Do you think she’ll start in the first game of the season? Tell us your thoughts below.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
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