This was published 7 years ago
Sydney University Flames teen Tahlia Tupaea drafted to WNBA club Minnesota Lynx
By Roy Ward
This year wasn't meant to be Tahlia Tupaea's year.
The Sydney University Flames guard started 2017 coming off a troublesome foot injury which had forced her out of the first half of the WNBL season so she was aiming to regain some touch and help her club in the WNBL finals.
Lynx effect: Tahlia Tupaea (right) will head to Minnesota next year.Credit: Mick Connolly
She ended up doing a little more than that, playing a key bench role as the Flames won their first championship since 2001.
On Friday Tupaea became the latest Australian to be drafted to the WNBA with the Minnesota Lynx picking her up with the 36th and last pick.
The 19-year-old Penrith product was shocked at how quickly it has happened. She won't be making the move to Minnesota this year with the Lynx wanting her to play through the next WNBL season before heading over in 2018.
"It was a shock, I didn't think it would be today," Tupaea said.
"I was planning and hoping it would happen next year, so I'm stoked at the moment, still overwhelmed and a bit speechless.
"I always watch the WNBA so I know Cheryl Reeves coaches the Lynx and they have Lindsay Whalen who is a great point guard and Maya Moore who is an amazing player.
"I feel honoured that such a world-class organisation saw enough in me to give me a shot with them."
Whalen is 34 and still an elite WNBA playmaker but her game has some similarities to Tupaea so the Australian could be her long-term replacement.
Tupaea hasn't taken the usual route to the WNBA as she turned down opportunities to play US college basketball in favour of remaining in the WNBL with the Flames.
She had good reason as the Flames made her the second-youngest player to ever appear in the WNBL when she made her debut as a 15-year-old.
But she has shown the skills and poise of a much older player and despite her late entry last season she still averaged eight points per game in 15 matches.
Tupaea has played 90 WNBL games and represented Australia at junior level and the Flames re-signed her this past week on a two-year deal.
"I did get picked up quite young for the Flames and I did some classes in high school as I was going to look at college," Tupaea said.
"But I stayed with the Flames and I think it was a great decision to stay in the WNBL."
Tupaea was expected to start at point guard for the Flames last season before her foot injury sidelined her and this forced the Flames to look for a replacement with Opals and WNBA star Leilani Mitchell signed to fill the role.
Mitchell proved the key cog in the Flames' championship win and was named grand final most valuable player, while Tupaea had the chance to work against Mitchell at training.
Tupaea has just returned home from a post-season holiday and will continue regaining her match fitness with the Flames' new entry in the South East Australian Basketball League, the Sydney Uni Sparks, when their season resumes next weekend.