Okorie, Richardson Sign WNBA Training Camp Contracts

April 21, 2017

(Photo Courtesy: Kelly Price, MSU Athletics)

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) – After helping Mississippi State to its first Final Four, Breanna Richardson and Chinwe Okorie have been invited to WNBA training camps which begin this weekend.

Richardson inked a training camp contract with the three-time WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx, while Okorie signed to attend camp with the New York Liberty.

“I’m very excited for Breanna and Chinwe to have this opportunity,” Vic Schaefer said. “Both of them have worked very hard to improve their games, and they are prepared. I’m excited to see what the future holds for them, but I know they are going to be great representatives for Mississippi State.”

Richardson wrapped her career with a school-record 142 career games played. The Conyers, Ga., native, who earned her degree in December, scored 7.5 points and grabbed 4.8 rebounds per contest in her final season with the Bulldogs to finish 18^th at MSU in career scoring with 1,110 points.

“I am thankful to the Minnesota Lynx for giving me this opportunity to go to training camp,” Richardson said. “Minnesota is a great organization, and I am excited to have the opportunity to compete against some talented players. I appreciate my family and my coaches and teammates at Mississippi State because they have prepared me for this opportunity.”

Richardson also capped her MSU career eighth in rebounds with 727.

Like Richardson, Okorie also scored at a 7.5 clip in her senior campaign while pulling down a team second-most 5.4 rebounds per game. The Lagos, Nigeria, native knocked down 56.4 percent from the field, the eighth-best season field goal percentage by a Bulldog.

“It is a blessing to be invited to training camp with a New York Liberty organization that has such a rich history and has turned out so many great players,” Okorie said. “To have this opportunity is something I have dreamed about, and it would not be possible without God’s blessings and support and encouragement from my family, teammates, coaches and fans at Mississippi State.”

Okorie’s 52.1 percent career field goal percentage rates sixth in program annals. She wrapped her three seasons of action in Maroon and White with 6.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest.

The duo combined with Ketara Chapel and Dominique Dillingham to comprise the winningest class in program history with 111 victories.