In the latest episode of Locked On Women’s Basketball, Hunter Cruse and Em Adler are back with another edition of their WNBA Retrospect series. Recent WNBA Retrospect episodes have discussed why Becky Hammon went undrafted in 1999 and why Katie Douglas fell to the No. 10 pick in 2001.
This episode looks at former Georgetown standout Rebekkah Brunson, who was the No. 10 pick in 2004 but went on to break the then-WNBA record for career rebounds. (She currently ranks fourth all-time in total rebounds, first in offensive rebounds and eighth in defensive rebounds.)
Adler talks about the scouting report on Brunson, a 6’2 forward, as a college player:
“For me, the scout starts — and in some places you could make the case that it also ends — at the athleticism. I think we don’t see post players with her level of athleticism, I would say, very often — really, honestly, at all sometimes. What she showed both on offense and on defense for me was a very unique combination of lateral quickness and stride length and coordination. …
“Everything I would say physically was very polished, very coordinated. She just moved in a way that frankly, I don’t think at any point watching either a game or a highlight of hers that it looked like anyone on the court could really come close to matching.”
Related reading from 2022: Why Minnesota appreciates Rebekkah Brunson so much
Cruse compares Brunson to Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese, who fell to No. 7 overall in this year’s draft but currently ranks second in the WNBA in rebounds per game:
“The basis of the Reese comp is just around the fact that you’re betting on motor with Brunson. You bet on the athleticism and the motor. She got so many rebounds, just an absolute insane athlete altogether. … You would think the all-time leading rebounder for a point in time was 6’7, 6’6. And she’s just — it’s just motor.”
Related reading: Inside Angel Reese’s record-breaking double-double streak
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