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Alexander Shun

Web Editor Associate | Twitter

Jennifer O’Neill came out of the University of Kentucky hoping to continue her basketball career playing in the WNBA. That didn’t happen. At least, not at first.

“I watched it [the WNBA Draft] with my family, but I didn’t think I was going to get drafted or anything like that,” O’Neill said. “I knew my chances were very low.”

O’Neill watched as 36 selections were made, and of all the names called that night, her name was not one of them.

Despite being undrafted, O’Neill wanted to play basketball in some facet and decided to play basketball for the Puerto Rican national team; that is until the Minnesota Lynx invited her to participate in their training camp.

“I instantly started crying. I was just so happy.”

O’Neill knew she had to impress in training camp to make the roster, and that is exactly what she did.

She went on to average five points, two rebounds and three assists in 16 minutes in the Lynx’s two preseason games and earned a spot on the opening night roster.

“I don’t think I tried to prove that I belong in the league or on this team,” O’Neill said. “I just really tried to be a sponge and learn as much as I could.”

Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve has been very impressed with her point guard to this point and noted some of the intangibles that make O’Neill such a special player.

“I go back to the start of training camp with her. She’s just been somebody that’s had a thirst for wanting to do what we want her to do and wanting to be a good teammate and getting the ball where it’s supposed to go,” Reeve said. “That’s my favorite thing about her – she’s just unafraid.”

O’Neill can afford to be fearless, because when she makes a mistake, she has a two-time WNBA champion and Olympic gold-medalist to tell her exactly what she did wrong.

I’m learning from her [Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen] every day. She’s constantly talking to me and teaching me.”

Whalen has been pleased with O’Neill’s play so far as well and noted how important O’Neill’s role has been to the team’s early success.

“Yeah she’s given us huge minutes so far. Each game she has just given us a lot,” Whalen said. “She’s a different look from the rest of us guards. The rest of us are bigger, so we’re taller whereas she kind of plays under people and kind of moves her feet and is crafty with her hands and things…She’s been great, really fun to be around and she’s learned a lot and she’s applied it to the court.”

Such praise is always appreciated, especially when coming from a player of Whalen’s caliber, but O’Neill says she’s just working on getting better and enjoying every moment with the team.

“I’m just happy to be here,” said O’Neill. “Dreams do come true.”

O’Neill is averaging 4.8 points and 2.4 rebounds a game through her first five games. She also currently ranks fourth in the league in three-point percentage (57 percent) and seventh in free-throw percentage (100 percent).

To cast your vote for Jen O’Neill and send her to the WNBA All-Star Game in Connecticut, click here and click vote for player.

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