For Collegeville native Lucy Olsen, the WNBA was once a childhood dream, writes Maria McIlwain for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Olsen starred at Villanova, becoming Division I’s third-leading scorer, before transferring to Iowa. Then the 5-foot-10 guard was drafted 23rd overall by the Washington Mystics in April.
Four months later, Olsen shared the court with her former Wildcats teammate and mentor, Maddy Siegrist, now with the Dallas Wings. The two Villanova standouts logged just over nine minutes together in a physical, defense-heavy battle that echoed their college practices.
Olsen credits Siegrist’s relentless work ethic, forged during Villanova’s 2023 Sweet 16 run, for helping her navigate the ups and downs of her rookie season. Securing one of just 156 WNBA roster spots is no small feat for a second-round pick, but Olsen has averaged 3.8 points over 27 games.
Siegrist praised Olsen’s growth. “She’s worked really hard, so she deserves it.”
This fall, Olsen will play in Australia with the Townsville Fire, but hopes to one day suit up for – or against – the future Philadelphia WNBA team.
Read more about Lucy Olsen’s journey from Collegeville to pro basketball in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
