Today is the first day of the WNBA training camp. The Co-Players of the Year in the American Athletic Conference, Elena Tsineke and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, were drafted back-to-back in the second round of the 2023 WNBA Draft. Both are coming off an incredible season at the University of South Florida and have a lot to prove and bring their skills to the WNBA. So let’s look at what Tsineke and Fankam Mendjiadeu bring to training camp.
𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒂𝒎𝒑! @DulcyMendjiadeu ➡️ @seattlestorm @baldiana_24 ➡️ @WashMystics @KitLaksa ➡️ @DallasWings @ETsineke ➡️ @WashMystics @CourtMWilliams ➡️ @chicagosky #HornsUp🤘 | #ProBulls pic.twitter.com/xbo4FCRe0z
— USF W. Basketball (@USFWBB) April 30, 2023
Elena Tsineke — Washington Mystics
The Greek goddess had one of her best seasons as a Bull. Tsineke finished her college career with WBCA All-American Honorable Mention. Tsineke finished with double figures in 31 of the 33 games she played this past season. She averaged 17.9 points per game and for the season( 591); Tsineke can create, facilitate and finish at the rim. Tsineke is fearless when it comes to creating offense for her team. She averaged 45% from the field and finished the season with 38% from the arc.
For her last game as a college athlete against the former champions South Carolina, she finished with 20 points, 2 steals, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 40% from the field and 66% from the 3. Tsineke is the total package and will be a great asset for the Washington Mystics. However, she needs to improve her turnover ratio; being the game is faster at the pro level, that would be one point of improvement for her. She has great energy and is a good teammate, which would benefit Washington’s second unit. Tsineke being 5’7 doesn’t matter; she will run through the defender and get to the rim.
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu — Seattle Storm
The 6’4 center from Cameroon has grit, a fight, and a desire to be the best she can be at all times. Co-Player of the Year earned the WBCA All-American Honorable Mention as well. In her 2021-22 season with the Bulls, Fankam Mendjiadeu was one of the top centers in the American Athletic Conference in her first year with USF. She started the season as a preseason All-Conference selection and ended the campaign named to the American All-Conference Second Team. Fankam Mendjiadeu played in all 33 games for the Bulls, getting the start in 21 while averaging 23.7 minutes per game.
Her second year with USF was even better. She finished her college career averaging 16.5 points per game, 58% from the field, mainly in the paint. She played 34 games and averaged 33.6 minutes per game. Fankam Mendjiadeu finished with 418 total rebounds, 38 blocks and 34 steals for the 2022-23 season. Her last game versus the former champions (Gamecocks) wasn’t how she expected her season to end, with only four points for the game, two blocks and eight rebounds. However, that doesn’t determine her overall game or season. Her best game was against Ohio State, with 34 points.
Fankam Mendjiadeu will bring strength and consistency to Seattle. She will be a great addition to Seattle in the second unit. Her strength and hustle for rebounds will help Seattle’s bench. An extra body to protect the paint. But that’s not her strength; her kindness, hard work and being a great teammate is what makes Fankam Mendjiadeu special.
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