In a major statement, the Tasmania Jewels have secured the15th draft pick of the current WNBA season as the team’s first Import Player for WNBL27.
Gianna Kneepkens has been turning heads in her rookie season with the Connecticut Sun since going viral in her debut against New York drilling a long three pointer with ease.
Her debut pro-season follows a successful tenure in America’s top level college basketball league the NCAA, culminating in a national championship win with UCLA this year.
The 23-year-old rising star guard is widely considered one of the most efficient scorers and three-point shooters, with an elite 94 per cent free throw percentage.
Kneepkens is currently the highest ranked international WNBA draft pick to sign up for Australia’s WNBL27, cementing the strength of the Jewels with still one import spot to go.
“We’re building a team that Tasmanian fans are going to love,” Jewels Head Coach Claudia Brassard said. “We have a roster of players who work hard and will play harder.
“We have something to prove as the new team on the block, and that hunger will fuel our competitiveness.
“Gianna is a tremendous shooter, and wait until you see our final import, she’s also brilliant. Quality players want to play for Tasmania, and that speaks volumes about us as a team, Tasmania as a home, and our incredible fans too.”
While Kneepkens hasn’t been to Australia yet, the Minnesota born star has the quintessential Tasmanian qualities of hard yakka at heart.
“I’m not always the fastest or the strongest, but I like to put in the most work,” she said.
“My strengths are shooting. I want to rebound. I want to defend hard. I want to win.”
Kneepkens credits thousands of hours of work and being the first in and last to leave the gym for her keen shooting.
“I was in the gym a lot, a tonne, I’m a big gym-rat,” she said. “That’s definitely how I’ve gotten to where I am.
“When I’m able to get those runs up by myself, then when I’m in the game, I’ve already felt it, so I have the confidence to do it.
“I think confidence is even more important in basketball than the physical. Just believing in yourself even if others don’t and not comparing your journey to others.
“Just putting your head down and working and truly believing that what you have is good enough, and to continue to be humble and get better has been huge in my career and a big part of being the basketball player you want to be.”
Kneepkens is committed to joining the Jewels pending WNBL review and approval, leaving only one import spot remaining at the Jewels.
Foundation Memberships for the Jewels are live, go to www.tasmaniajewels.com.au
The Jewels first game is scheduled for October 15 at the MyState Bank Arena in Hobart and the first game at the Launceston Silverdome on October 31.
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