For the first time in surgery in May, Rebekkah Brunson took full part in Lynx practice, ran up and down the court, banged hard on the inside. And she came out of it feeling fine.
And so Brunson, the forward who brings power and energy to the Lynx lineup, will make her 2014 WNBA debut when the Lynx host the Atlanta Dream at Target Center Tuesday.
"I had to be really patient, but you have to trust the process," said Brunson, who had surgery May 13 for tendinosis. "I was itching to get back out there, but I took my time. And I think I'm in a good position now. I'm super excited to be joining the team.''
Meanwhile, guard Seimone Augustus, who has missed seven straight games and eight overall with left knee bursitis, likely won't play Tuesday. But she is expected to return Friday against San Antonio. And that means the Lynx will have 10 games with their full roster healthy before the playoffs start. The Lynx are two games behind Phoenix in the Western Conference. It will be very hard to catch the Mercury, which is an amazing 18-3. But the prospect of a fully healthy Lynx roster has coach Cheryl Reeve optimistic about the way this season will end. "Ten games, 11 games with this group?" Reeve asked. "It's enough to get us playing great basketball Not just good basketball, good enough to win a game. But great. That's what's on the mind of our players. And getting those two back in the fold is a big part of us getting there."
