The number of Lynx players going to the Olympics just doubled.
Center Natalie Achonwa and guard/forward Bridget Carleton were named to the Canadian women's Olympic team Tuesday. They, along with Team USA members Sylvia Fowles and Napheesa Collier, will be in Tokyo for the Games.
Achonwa is averaging 3.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in eight appearances for the Lynx this season. Carleton has played in 14 games, with seven starts, and is averaging 4.5 points and 2.8 rebounds
"Every time I get the call to represent my country and wear a Canadian jersey, it's a tremendous honor for me," Achonwa said in a news release sent out by the Lynx.
Said Carleton: "It's been a dream of mine to be an Olympian ever since I can remember, so it's pretty surreal it's actually happening.'"
For Achonwa, it could be her first basketball since spraining the medial collateral ligament in her right knee in a victory over Los Angeles June 12 at Target Center. At the time, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve — who will be an assistant coach for Team USA in Tokyo — said the injury would take "weeks" to come back from. But Achonwa wasn't wearing a brace at the Lynx's most recent home game.
This week, Reeve said the Lynx medical team has been working with Team Canada working on a plan to get Achonwa ready in time for the Olympics, after which she would resume playing for the Lynx.
