MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – Minnesota Lynx Head Coach and General Manager Cheryl Reeve today announced the team has re-signed forward Cecilia Zandalasini. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Zandalasini, 23, a WNBA Champion in 2017 with Minnesota, most recently played with the Lynx during the 2018 season, her best season in in the WNBA, where she saw action in 29 games (six starts) and averaged 5.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg and 1.1 apg in 16.5 mpg, shooting 40.9% from the floor, 38.3% (23-for-60) from three-point range and 84.0% from the free throw line. Her season was highlighted by her performance on June 16, 2018 vs. New York where she finished with a career-high 13 points (one of six double-figure efforts), adding a career-best three steals. The 2018 season saw Zandalasini have a run of 11 consecutive games with a made three-pointer, the longest by any Lynx player aside from Maya Moore since 2012.
She joined the Lynx for the final three games of her rookie season in 2017, debuting in the Aug. 30 game at Indiana, becoming the fifth-youngest player to appear in a regular season game for Minnesota (Quanitra Hollingsworth, Svetlana Abrosimova, Candice Wiggins, Núria Martínez). Zandalasini scored two points with one rebound in her three outings, logging a total of 18:37 minutes. She appeared in five postseason games during Minnesota’s championship run, including all three Finals victories, totaling two points and one assist in 11 minutes.
“We are looking forward to having Ceci back with the Lynx for a full WNBA season,” said Reeve. “She is enjoying a successful European campaign and will figure prominently in the Lynx success in 2020.”
The 6-1 forward from Broni, Italy has been playing professionally this winter in Turkey, for EuroLeague powerhouse Fenerbahce. Zandalasini averaged 12.3 ppg on 46.3% shooting and 2.9 rpg and 2.7 apg in Turkish league play. In 14 EuroLeague games this season, Zandalasini has averaged 16.1 ppg on 46.2% shooting, including 39.5% from deep and 3.5 rpg while helping Fenerbahce to a 11–3 record, best in Group B and clinching a top spot in the EuroLeague playoffs.
The Lynx will tip off their 23rd WNBA season on Friday, May 15, at 7:00 p.m. in Chicago against the Sky before returning home to face the Indiana Fever on Sunday May 17 at 6:00 p.m. at Target Center. Full-season memberships, which include tickets to all 18 home games, are still available by visiting www.lynxbasketball.com/membership or by calling 612-673-8400.