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A 12th overall pick in the 2019 draft, Magbegor arrives on American soil having delayed her debut in favour of an extra season with the Melbourne Boomers.
Such a decision has since proven fruitful for the 20-year-old, who forwent the collegiate level altogether once the professional path to the WNBL opened up.
“Ultimately, I think I wanted to get that exposure and be able to play against professionals,” Magbegor said, during a media conference call on Monday (AEST).
That experience will bode well for the Storm, with assistant-turned-head coach Gary Kloppenburg quick to praise the rookie’s ability to learn at speed.
“She’s advanced,” Kloppenburg said.
“I mean, I know she’s had some really good coaching down there in Australia with Sandy (Brondello) on the national team, and so she’s farther along.
“I mean, she’s a young player, but, you know, I can imagine if she played in college, she’d be one of the top players. You know, a top-five player coming out of college.”
Born in New Zealand, Magbegor moved to Melbourne when she was five and is the latest name on a growing list of Australians to take their talents to the United States - one headlined by Storm and Opals legend Lauren Jackson.
But while the COVID-19 outbreak will force her rookie campaign to look a little different - with the WNBA reducing the regular season to 22 games per team at Florida’s IMG Academy - she remains ready to take the court alongside former MVP Breanna Stewart and club legend Sue Bird.
The Storm are favourites to reclaim the championship this season and boast a roster both deep with talent and reinvigorated by the return of the aforementioned duo.
Nevertheless, Magbegor is paying no attention to external expectations, knowing full-well that: “Being in the WNBA is a whole different game.”
Seattle will tip-off their season against New York Liberty on July 26, before returning three days later for the Minnesota Lynx LIVE, FREE and in HD on SBS VICELAND and On Demand.
