Senior Kate Endress will be practicing with the WNBA's Connecticut Suns on Wednesday.
Endress, who finished her final season with the women's basketball team in March, first became aware of the opportunity to play in the WNBA three weeks ago, Ball State head coach Tracy Roller said.
"When this opportunity presented itself as a real opportunity, which honestly was just about three weeks ago, Kate started to get back in the gym and also shore up her academics," Roller said.
Endress flew to Connecticut on Tuesday after she was able to finish most of her senior entrepreneurship project and other academic responsibilities. The Suns will allow her to return to Muncie on May 3 to present her project.
During her time with the Suns, she will be paid a per day per diem, like all other players. When the WNBA season starts on May 21, all teams are allowed 12 roster spots, and every one of those will be signed to a contract at that time. Teams may also put two players on injured reserve, allowing them 14 roster spots.
Currently, the Suns have 14 players on their roster, including two on injured reserve, so for now Endress is presumably safe from being cut, according to Roller.
The WNBA held its three-round draft this past weekend, and although Endress was on the board and some teams did consider her, she was not chosen. That's when Connecticut gave her the opportunity.
"It's a perfect opportunity for Kate," Roller said. "She either goes there and kicks butt and plays well and makes the team, or doesn't and comes home."
If Endress doesn't make the team, she still has a job waiting with a New York City bank. Roller said Endress does not need to report for that job until the middle of July, so she has time to see what happens with the WNBA.
The Ball State coaching staff is planning on traveling to see Endress play in the team's preseason game against Charlotte on May 8.
Endress is just the second player in Ball State history to have a chance to play at the WNBA level. Tamara Bowie was drafted in 2003 by the Washington Mystics, but eventually was cut from their roster. Roller said she feels Endress has a good shot of getting a contract.
"I feel real good about her chances right now because of the way their roster is," Roller said.
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