Rachel Banham returns to her first WNBA home in Connecticut
Rachel Banham has signed a two-year deal with the Connecticut Sun, marking a return for the Minnesota basketball great to the team that drafted her fourth overall in 2016.
“We are excited to welcome Rachel back to Connecticut,” General Manager Darius Taylor said in a releaes. “Her experience, sharp-shooting and versatility provides depth to our backcourt. She will be a tremendous fit with our team and organization.”
Banham, 30, spent 2016 to 2019 with Connecticut before returning home to Minnesota in a trade with the Lynx in 2020. The former University of Minnesota Gophers All-American averaged 6.4 points in 115 games with the Lynx.
Banham has spent the past two years working as an assistant with the Gophers women's basketball team. She was promoted to assistant coach this year under new head coach Dawn Plitzuweit, having started with the program in 2022 as the director of quality control.
It's unclear at this point if she will continue to work with the Gophers. However, there is no crossover between the college basketball season and the start of WNBA training camps on April 28, followed by the season opener on May 14.
Banham left the University of Minnesota as the schools' all-time leading scorer with 3,093 points, which at the time ranked No. 1 in Big Ten history and sixth in NCAA history.
She now ranks third in conference history behind Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell (3,402) and Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark (3,424 and counting).
May 13, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Minnesota Lynx guard Rachel Banham (15) goes up to make a basket as Chicago Sky guard Rebekah Gardner (35) pursues during the second half at Scotiabank Arena.
Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
