Growing up in Washington D.C., Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson was not always a basketball player. Working her first job as a lifeguard, Brunson didn’t see herself becoming a professional basketball player until later in life.
One person in particular who had a huge impact on Brunson's professional successes was her grandmother. She supported Brunson and showed her the true meaning of hard work by sticking to her core principles and values. Her grandmother’s life was filled with many struggles; she had to endure and overcome many hardships such as Nazi Germany and immigrating to America with a bi-racial child. However, being the strong women Brunson’s grandmother was, “she definitely persevered.” said Brunson. “She was someone who always worked hard, did a lot for herself, her family, and the people she’s worked with. She was very influential.”
Brunson began playing basketball at the age of 13. She attended Oxon High School in Maryland and continued on to Georgetown University, where she became the program’s all-time leading rebounder. She was drafted 10th overall in 2004 by Sacramento and was acquired by the Lynx this season in a dispersal draft involving former Monarchs.
Being on the road frequently and playing the high-energy type of basketball that she does, Brunson recognizes her hard work needs to be rewarded. In her free time, “it’s a lot of the sofa and remote,” said Brunson. She enjoys the whole movie theatre experience as she likes to get her popcorn, her pop, sit in the back and put her feet up. According to Rebekkah, the funniest movie she’s seen so far this season is "Get him to the Greek." During the season, like any athlete, there’s a lot of necessary recuperating and relaxing. Therefore, Brunson has been unable to experience the sites her new home, Minneapolis, has to offer. “From previously being here, I know this is a city and state has a lot to offer, so I’m going to get out and see as much as I can.”
From lifeguard to WNBA All-Star, Rebekkah Brunson, now in her seventh season in the WNBA, is at the pinnacle of her career. In her first year with the Lynx, Brunson is one of only four players in 2010 averaging a double- double, averaging a career-high 12.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game through 12 contests. Brunson has been a spark for Lynx; as ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo put it, "Rebekkah Brunson is actually fun to watch rebound!"
Currently sitting in the fourth position in the Western Conference, the Lynx and Brunson are staying focused. “We’re going day by day and game by game. We don’t want to focus too much on the big picture. We just want to take it step by step,” said Brunson.
With a WNBA-record six-game homestand starting tomorrow night, the Lynx have been gaining momentum with the return of Seimone Augustus. Brunson said, “It’s a team game but right now our soul focus is trying to get as many wins as possible.”
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