May 23, 2005

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A quick glance at the Women's National Basketball Association's 2005 opening-day rosters reveals the names of three former UC Santa Barbara players currently competing at their sport's highest level.

Erin Buescher (1997-2000) is back in the WNBA with the Sacramento Monarchs following a one-year hiatus, Kayte Christensen (1998-2002) enters her fourth season as a member of the Phoenix Mercury, while Kristen Mann (2001-05) is in her rookie campaign with the Minnesota Lynx.

Acquired by Sacramento in a March trade, Buescher made the Monarchs' 13-player active roster and scored seven points in 16 minutes off the bench during their season-opening 77-72 win at Phoenix on Saturday, May 21. She was originally a second round draft choice (23rd overall) by Minnesota in 2001, where she played one season before spending the 2002 and 2003 campaigns with the Charlotte Sting. The Rohnert Park, Calif., native sat out 2004 after playing professionally in New Zealand earlier that year but was still under contract with Charlotte, who dealt her rights to the Monarchs. In 76 career WNBA games, Buescher is averaging 3.9 points and 2.9 rebounds.

As a Gaucho, the 6'2" guard ranks fourth in school history with 1,700 career points, a feat accomplished in only three seasons before transferring to the Master's College for her senior campaign in 2000-01. Buescher's 864 career boards are also fourth-best, while her 18.1 career scoring average is easily a UCSB record. The three-time Big West Conference Player of the Year was also a Third Team Associated Press All-American in 1999-00.

Christensen has appeared in 93 career games with the Mercury since 2002, when she was the 40th overall draft pick and the only third-round selection to make an active roster that season. In 2003 Christensen enjoyed her best season, when she averaged 6.9 points and 4.2 rebounds while starting 16 contests; for her career the 6'3" forward from Alturas, Calif., has posted 4.0 points and 2.9 boards per tilt. She did not score in eight minutes of action Saturday vs. Sacramento.

Christensen capped her Gaucho career as the Big West Player of the Year and an honorable mention Kodak All-American in 2001-02. Her 54.9% career field goal percentage is second-best in school history, while she also ranks ninth in rebounds with 807.

In April the Lynx selected Mann 11th overall in the WNBA Draft, highest-ever for a former Santa Barbara player. The native of Santa Ana, Calif., averaged 5.0 points and 12.0 minutes during three preseason games, but did not take the court during Minnesota's 79-65 loss at Houston to open the season on Sunday.

Mann is coming off a stellar 2004-05 campaign with the Gauchos in which she was named Big West Player of the Year and an honorable mention All-American after averaging 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds, both placing among the top-30 players nationally. The 6'2" forward ranks third all-time at UCSB with 1,700 career points and seventh with 820 boards as a Gaucho.

Joining Mann on the Lynx's preseason roster was 2004 Santa Barbara alum and current Gaucho assistant coach April McDivitt. She appeared in two preseason games before suffering a shoulder injury, and was subsequently released by Minnesota. Meanwhile UCSB's all-time leading scorer Lindsay Taylor (2000-04) was attempting to earn a roster spot with her hometown Phoenix Mercury for a second straight season, but was cut on May 19.

In addition to the aforementioned players, former Gauchos Erin Alexander (1993-97), Stacy Clinesmith (1996-2000) and Erika Kienast (1988-92) enjoyed careers in the WNBA as well.