Range Receives WNBA Invite
Courtney Range has signed a training camp contract with the Washington Mystics of the WNBA (Photo by Cal.ISIPhotos.com)

Range Receives WNBA Invite

WASHINGTON D.C. - Cal senior Courtney Range has signed a WNBA training camp contract with the Washington Mystics, the league announced Wednesday.

Range, a 6'3" guard/forward, appeared in 125 games over her four years in Berkeley, making 81 starts and helping the Golden Bears to three NCAA Tournament appearances.  A two-time All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention selection, Range ranked in the top three on the team in both scoring and rebounding each of the last two seasons.

"Playing in the WNBA has been a lifelong dream of mine," said Range. "I am incredibly grateful and excited for this opportunity. The Mystics are a great team and I can't wait to challenge myself against some of the top players in the world. I am so thankful for my time in Berkeley and for all the support and encouragement I have received from my teammates, coaches, and the Cal community. I am so blessed to be a Golden Bear."

The Manteca, Calif. native leaves Cal as one of the most versatile players in program history. With the ability to play both in the post and on the wing, Range amassed 698 rebounds and 1,142 points in her Cal career, good for 19th on Cal's all-time scoring list. Range also ranks in the top-10 in program history with 119 career three-point field goals. An instant contributor since her arrival in Berkeley, Range was named to the Naismith Trophy Top 50 Watch List during the 2015-16 season and was a member of the USA Basketball Women's World University Games team that won gold after going a perfect 6-0 at the 2015 World University Games in Gwangiu, South Korea.

The Mystics begin training camp on April 23 before opening the regular season on May 14 against the San Antonio Stars. Washington missed the playoffs last season but made waves this offseason after acquiring 2015 WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne via trade. Three-time WNBA Coach of the Year Mike Thibault is entering his fifth season as head coach of the Mystics, leading Washington to three playoff appearances.

"There is absolutely no better feeling as a coach than witnessing your student-athletes get the opportunity to pursue a lifelong dream," said Cal head coach Lindsay Gottlieb. "The fact that Courtney has received an invite to the Washington Mystics training camp speaks to her talent and perseverance and we know she'll make us proud as she competes for a roster spot. I have so much respect for Coach Thibault and his staff; I'm excited for Courtney to learn from them, to compete with and against the unbelievably talented women on their roster, and to represent our Cal Women's program as another Bear in the WNBA."

Gottlieb is no stranger to sending players to the pros, with three Golden Bears making significant contributions in the WNBA last season: Brittany Boyd (New York Liberty), Layshia Clarendon (Atlanta Dream), and Reshanda Gray (Atlanta Dream). Gray was traded to the Connecticut Sun this offseason.

Range, who is on track to complete her degree in sociology, leaves for the nation's capital on Friday. 
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