The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) debut of Bahamian pivot Waltiea Rolle will have to wait a bit longer than anticipated.

The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team waived 22-year-old Rolle just hours before the team was set to tip off the 2014 campaign on the road against the Washington Mystics.

The move was made to trim the team’s roster to 12 players in preparation for opening night.

Rolle, a third-round pick (36th overall) by the Lynx in the 2013 WNBA Draft, appeared in all three preseason games with the Lynx this season, averaging 7.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game.

She expressed her disappointment, yet was able to deliver an encouraging message to her fans on Facebook. “I would like to thank everybody for their prayers and encouraging words. I don’t think of it as bad luck, it was more of a blessing. I tried my best,” she said. “I want to thank the whole Minnesota Lynx association for everything they have done. I met some great people and had a great experience. There is only forward from here, just an unfortunate bump in the road.”

Rolle was cut to make space on the final roster for a trio of players currently recovering from knee surgery – reserve guard Monica Wright, reserve forward Devereaux Peters and starting forward Rebekkah Brunson.

She was also beat out by a trio of rookies - forward/centre Damiris Dantas, forward Asia Taylor and guard/forward Tricia Liston.

Rolle’s agent, Jacquie Rolle of Xcel Management Group, said they remain optimistic on Waltiea’s WNBA dream coming to fruition.

“We are all disappointed but not discouraged in any way,” she said. “As you know there is always a ‘plan B’ already in motion with lots on the table. We are just looking at other teams right now that might want to pick her up before the season officially starts.”  

Rolle’s top outing of the preseason came against Australia when she finished with 17 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Rolle, a 6’ 6” centre and the first Bahamian drafted in WNBA history, spent a season in Europe before making the transition to the WNBA this season. She had a remarkable season with only 21 games played in Bulgaria’s NBL League, yet still claimed the season’s most valuable player award, as well as the Bulgarian Cup. 

Her season averages included 22.9 points, 13.1 rebounds, 2.1 block shots, 2.0 assists and 0.8 steals.

Prior to being drafted by the Lynx in the 2013 draft, Rolle averaged 12.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game in her senior year with North Carolina, ranking second in the ACC in blocks per game. She was voted to the ACC All-Defensive team by coaches twice during her collegiate career.

Rolle finished her four-year career at North Carolina as the eighth-leading shot blocker in ACC history (262). 

As a senior, she ranked third in the ACC in offensive rebounds, while ranking second on the Tar Heels in points and third in rebounds.