Alexander Shun

Web Editor Associate | Twitter 

It is 10 games in to the young season and the Minnesota Lynx are now welcoming their newest rookie. Well, not rookie, but…”rookie.”

Guard Anna Cruz may be new to the Lynx team, but she is not new to basketball at all, having played 10 seasons overseas in Europe before signing with the New York Liberty last year. Cruz averaged 7.7 points, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals in her lone season with the Liberty before she was traded to Minnesota on draft night.

Cruz may have missed the first 10 games of the season, she was playing for the Spanish National team in the EuroBasket Tournament, but she is set on learning things here as quickly as possible.

“This week of practice has been really good for her,” said Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve when talking about Cruz’s learning of the system. “She’s been a sponge in that there’s not too much that we’ve thrown at her that she hasn’t handled well.”

While Reeve and Cruz both agree that there is still a lot for her to learn, the integration of Cruz into the Lynx system has been seamless thus far.

“It’s been easy,” said Reeve. “She’s smart, she’s a heady player, she’s a risk-taker, which I like, and she’s unafraid. She’s just fit really well into the group.”

Cruz’s quick learning means she will make her Lynx debut on Friday night in Chicago against the Sky; something Cruz is definitely looking forward to.

“Yeah I am definitely excited. No more practice, I like to play in games. It’ll be fun.”

Cruz will be the first perimeter player off the bench and will spend time at both the point and shooting guard positions so as to give Lindsay Whalen and Seimone Augustus added rest.

“There are some weeks that we’re going to have three or four games and it’s going to be very important to have depth,” said Whalen. “You want to play with great players that can come in and get the job done and we know that she definitely can. We’re excited to have her in here and I’m looking forward to playing with her.”

Whalen played against Cruz in a few games last year and recalls having a couple tough battles with her. Luckily for both players, such battles can remain on the practice court now rather than in games.

“It’s definitely nice to be playing with her rather than against her,” said Cruz when speaking of Whalen. “Definitely better.”

Though her role will be to spell Whalen and Augustus, Cruz is ready to contribute as much as she can in any way that she can.

“I know this is a good team. I’m here to try to do my best, help the team.”

Reeve believes that Cruz is ready to step in and contribute and can’t wait to see her play Friday.

“You’re going to see her come in for Whay’ [Whalen] and you’re going to see her play alongside Whay,’ so there’s no waiting to get her ready and into her role.”