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WNBA News: Lynx to Sign Erlana Larkins; Sky Re-Sign Linnae Harper, Amber Harris

By Joseph Zucker

INDIANAPOLIS, IN AUG 06 2017: Indiana Fever forward Erlana Larkins (2) with the lay up over Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore (23) during the game between the Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever AUG 06, 2017, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. The Indiana Fever defeated the Minnesota Lynx 84-82. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN AUG 06 2017: Indiana Fever forward Erlana Larkins (2) with the lay up over Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore (23) during the game between the Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever AUG 06, 2017, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. The Indiana Fever defeated the Minnesota Lynx 84-82. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Lynx to Sign Larkins on Seven-Day Deal

The Minnesota Lynx will sign veteran forward Erlana Larkins to a seven-day contract, the Star Tribune‘s Kent Youngblood reported Wednesday.

The move comes as the Lynx experimented unsuccessfully with Lynetta Kizer as Rebekkah Brunson’s backup.

They waived Kizer on June 30 before running it back with a seven-day contract. However, the 28-year-old hasn’t proven to be a good fit in Minnesota’s frontcourt.

The Indiana Fever waived Larkins in May after she spent six years with the franchise. Youngblood noted the 32-year-old had been dealing with a bone bruise in her knee she sustained while playing overseas.

Larkins should help the Lynx on the glass, which is an area where they’re already among the best in the league. For her career, she boasts a 12.1 percent offensive rebounding rate and a 21.1 percent rebounding rate, according to Basketball Reference. Her 16.4 percent total rebounding rate is 17th in WNBA history.

Larkins also shot 61.5 percent from the field and averaged 6.7 points in her last two seasons with the Fever.

It’s not hard to see why the Lynx would want to take a flier on the eight-year veteran.

Sky Confirm Harper, Harris Additions

The Chicago Sky announced Wednesday they re-signed Linnae Harper to a seven-day contract while signing Amber Harris to a seven-day deal as well.

The WNBA allowed the Sky an additional hardship spot on the roster to facilitate both moves at the same time. Jamierra Faulkner suffered a season-ending knee injury, while Astou Ndour is battling an ankle injury.

Harper has played a total of 43 minutes in 10 games for the Sky, scoring 14 points and dishing out nine assists.

She was on the floor for 10 minutes in each of Chicago’s last two games. With Faulkner out, the Sky will likely continue to lean on Harper to provide depth at point guard behind Courtney Vandersloot.

Harris has yet to appear in a game this season after the Sky waived her in May. During the 2017 season, she averaged 1.6 points and 1.6 rebounds in 27 games for Chicago.

The 30-year-old was very effective on the boards in her limited role. She averaged 9.5 rebounds per 36 minutes, according to Basketball Reference.

That could make Harris an asset for the Sky, who are tied for ninth in total rebounding rate (48.2 percent).

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