Roster Review | Janel McCarville

Mitchell Hansen
Web Editorial Associate
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C | 6-2, 225 lbs

2016 season: 33 games, 0 starts, 3.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 45.7 FG%, 18.2 3P%, 60.0 FT%

Center Janel McCarville concluded her third season with the Minnesota Lynx in 2016.

Someone who has always been a familiar name to Minnesota basketball fans, McCarville made her return to Minnesota prior to the 2013 season after playing four years of basketball at the University of Minnesota.

McCarville, the No. 1 pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft, was acquired by the Lynx in 2013 as part of a three-team trade. Not only did McCarville provide a veteran post presence on the Lynx, but she also was reunited with Gophers teammate and Minnesota native Lindsay Whalen.

McCarville, who sat out the entire 2015 season with injuries, has helped the Lynx to one WNBA Championship and has made two WNBA Finals appearances in those three seasons.

In her ninth WNBA season in 2016, McCarville averaged 3.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.3 blocks per game. She also shot 45.7 percent from the field in the game, which ranked sixth among Lynx players.

McCarville is set to begin her 10th WNBA season when the 2017 season kicks off in May.

Top Three Games Of The Season

3.) Sept. 17 vs. Atlanta Dream

In the 95-87 win over the Atlanta Dream at the Target Center, McCarville tallied seven points, five rebounds, three assists and one block in 21-plus minutes, which was her second-highest minutes total of the season. McCarville shot 3-for-7 from the field and 1-of-2 from the free throw line in the game.

2.) May 27 vs. Indiana Fever

In the 74-71 win over the Indiana Fever in Minneapolis, McCarville finished with a near triple-double of eight points and nine rebounds. She also recorded four assists and two steals in the game. McCarville shot 3-for-5 from the field and went 1-for-2 from free throw line.

1.) July 15 vs. New York Liberty

In the 88-70 win over the New York Liberty at the Target Center, McCarville finished with a season-best 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. She also recorded one assist and one steal while recorded a plus-minus of plus-15.

Offseason Plans

McCarville is spending her offseason back in her home state of Wisconsin.

Since becoming a member of the Lynx, this is the first offseason McCarville hasn’t spent overseas during the offseason. She previously played in Turkey, Poland, China and Turkey in previous years.

Role For 2017?

In 2016, McCarville added veteran depth of the Lynx, primarily coming off of the bench in relief of Rebekkah Brunson and Sylvia Fowles.

In 2017, expect more of the same from McCarville, who will turn 35 in November. The Lynx kick off the 2017 season at 6 p.m. May 14 against the Chicago Sky at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

They Said It…

“(Janel) is an excellent passing big, which is a perfect fit for our system and a great complement to the high quality three-point shooters that we have on our roster,” Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said when the team acquired McCarville in 2013. “A highly efficient post player, Janel will fit right in with our current roster and give us yet another option on offense while anchoring our defense.”