WNBL 2014/15: Koehn set to make a splash with Boomers
The Melbourne Boomers are set to unveil new import signing Laurie Koehn this weekend in round seven of the WNBL season.
The 5-foot-8 shooting guard has a decorated past, with the former Kansas State University star playing in the WNBA and Poland over the past 10 years whilst also representing the USA at the 2000 Under 18 FIBA World Championships and the 2003 Pan American Games, winning gold and silver respectively.
In 2005 Koehn was signed as a free agent by the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, where she played four seasons, before being waived by the Mystics and the Phoenix Mercury in 2009 and taking her talents to Europe.
Photo Credit: Craig Cappy
After stints in Poland and Turkey, Koehn returned to the WNBA to play one season with the Atlanta Dream before making her way down under and signing with the now defunct Logan Thunder for two seasons.
During her first stint in the WNBL, Koehn lived up to the hype by leading the league in three-point makes in 2012/13, netting 69 shots from beyond the arc in 21 games to finish 20 ahead of her nearest competitor.
Photo Credit: WNBL
Other career highlights and achievements for the shooting star include becoming the all-time leading three-point leader in NCAA women’s history, as well as leading the WNBA in three-point percentage in 2005 and winning the WNBA three-point shoot-out title in 2007.
A video featuring Koehn, at college at the time, connecting on an incredible 132 three-pointers from 135 attempts in five minutes went viral on YouTube and currently has over 500,000 views, showcasing her incredible perimeter shooting talent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WziEQZgwwX8
Koehn will bring some much-needed offensive help for Tess Madgen at the Boomers for the remainder of the 2014/15 season, with the scoring void left by a season-ending injury to Opals star Rachel Jarry not having been consistently filled thus far.
While the Boomers remain undersized in the paint, the raw scoring talent of Koehn will arguably prove to be a more valuable asset for the Melbourne side by season’s end and could be the catalyst for a surge up the table as they challenge for a top four finish.
Melbourne will travel up the road to Bendigo in Koehn’s season debut on Saturday before being unveiled in front of the home fans for the first time on Sunday when the Boomers host Sydney Uni at 1pm.
Tickets for the home clash can be purchased at trybooking.com.