Toronto Tempo says UCLA star Kiki Rice has not disappointed
Kiki Rice dribbled to the ring, deked after which put up a shot over the Toronto Tempo observe squad, crisp ombre blue-and-burgundy nails releasing the ball into the basket.
Just over a month in the past and nearly 10 miles away, Rice’s blue-and-yellow nails grasped the NCAA championship trophy in celebration at Pauley Pavilion. That’s when she was starring for UCLA and main the Bruins to their first NCAA national title throughout her fourth faculty season.
She was one of six Bruins to be selected in the WNBA draft on April 14, with all of them sticking to notoriously difficult-to-crack WNBA rosters. Rice was the enlargement Toronto Tempo’s first faculty choose.
“We got really lucky getting her in the draft,” Tempo coach Sandy Brondello stated. “She hasn’t disappointed.”
Former UCLA star Kiki Rice holds up a Toronto Tempo jersey subsequent to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Rice was the Tempo’s first draft choose and was chosen No. 6.
(Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images)
In her first two WNBA video games, Rice has averaged 7.7 factors and 1.3 assists in 20 minutes per recreation. She has been coming off the bench to again up start line guard Julie Allemandwho the Tempo took from the Sparks within the enlargement draft.
“There’s definitely a lot of adjustments and getting used to what it is like inside this level,” Rice stated on Friday. “But I’m with great vets, really great coaches, and I’m really enjoying the play as a pro.”
The No. 6 choose on this yr’s WNBA draft, Rice elevated her inventory as a prospect by having her finest UCLA season. She completed her senior season averaging 14.9 factors per recreation with 5.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists, and was named the Big Ten tournament MVP.
Ahead of the NCAA event, WNBA scouts stated that her defensive prowess and willingness to cost to the basket made her emerge as an early first-round candidate.
“She stays confident in who she is, and that’s what we just pour into her,” Brondello stated. “She comes from a really successful, you know, college program at UCLA. Cori [Close] is a great coach, and you know, pushed her hard for greatness. So she’s very mature. She knows that there’s another level that she can go to. “She’s going to work really hard to get there.”
Rice went by the WNBA rookie gauntlet, going from the NCAA championship recreation to the draft inside per week after which straight to the Tempo’s coaching camp.
“It’s something we all go through, it’s the same for all the rookies,” Rice stated. “I feel like I haven’t slept a ton the past few weeks. It’s definitely not easy, it happens very quickly, but I am very grateful to be in the position.”
Sparks coach Lynne Roberts coached in opposition to Rice throughout his first two UCLA seasons whereas the previous was the pinnacle coach at Utah.
Tempo guard Kiki Rice drives previous the Storm’s Zia Cooke throughout enlargement franchise Toronto’s first win on Wednesday in Toronto.
(Michael Chisholm/Getty Images)
“I think she’s going to do well with Sandy in her system,” Roberts stated on Friday. “I saw over the course of her four years… her decision making, you know, improve and get better, which is natural, and her outside shot get more comfortable…. She’s going to be a good player to watch.”
Rice confronted her previous teammates Lauren Betts and Angela Dugalic with the Washington Mystics within the franchise’s first recreation on May 8, and the trio hugged at heart courtroom in Toronto. Rice had one help and no factors in 18 minutes in the course of the loss. She rebounded with 12 factors and one help in 21 minutes in the course of the franchise’s first win over the Seattle Storm on Wednesday.
“Playing with five other pros, you got the advantage of really competitive practices,” Rice stated of her time at UCLA. “[The draft] It was an incredible moment, something that’s very special for all of us. “We didn’t do it alone, and to be able to share it with some of my closest friends, and to hear everyone’s name, to be called to see everyone walk across the stage, to be able to celebrate together, to enjoy the moment, it was special.”
This weekend offered a distinct sort of assembly, together with her UCLA coaches in attendance Friday evening as Rice scored 11 factors and added two assists in 21 minutes throughout to lose to the sparks. The Tempo rallied to inside one possession within the last minute and received a rematch on Sunday.
