Kennedy Burke’s whirlwind 72 hours
The former UCLA star was claimed by Indiana less than 72 hours after being waived by Dallas
INDIANAPOLIS – When rookie Kennedy Burke was waived by the Dallas Wings on May 22, she flew from Dallas to her home in California. She prayed about what was going to come next.
Her prayers were answered quickly.
Less than 72 hours after Burke was waived, she received a call from Indiana GM and Head Coach Pokey Chatman, who said she wanted Burke to play for the Fever.
So, a day after she arrived home, Burke packed her bags for Indianapolis.
Burke says her first few weeks in the WNBA have been hectic, but she’s grateful for everything she’s experienced since she was chosen by Dallas with the 22nd pick in the draft on April 10.
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“First of all, when I saw my name show up on the screen (on draft night) it was an unbelievable feeling,” Burke said before the Fever’s home opener on June 1. “But, grace to God, He put me in this position and I thank Him every day for putting me in this position. At first, I ended up in Dallas, but that wasn’t where I was supposed to be. I ended up here and I’m thankful for that every day.”
After Burke was waived by the Wings, Dallas CEO Greg Bibb told The Athletic that Burke “can and will” play in the WNBA again. Burke barely had time to process comments like that before she was signed by Indiana.
“I had no idea it was going to happen so quickly,” Burke said. “(Bibb) said he was really happy for me to be there at camp, but it wasn’t meant to be and he said I was going to get picked up sooner or later. And the next thing you know, I’m getting a call from Indiana. It was pretty cool.”
The Fever didn’t have a second-round pick on draft night, so Chatman was thrilled that she ended up with a 2019 second-rounder on her roster.
“Kennedy, she’s what this league is becoming,” Chatman said about the 6’1 combo guard, who averaged 15.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game during her final season at UCLA. “She can guard multiple positions, she can score, she can impact the game in so many areas that are vital. So we were pleased beyond measure that she was available.”
Burke was on the bench when the Fever played at Connecticut on May 28, but she didn’t enter the game. Against the Liberty on June 1, Burke played 16 minutes and scored seven points. She made all of her shots – a three-pointer and four free throws.
Burke played all three preseason games for Dallas. She led the Wings with 31 points in the preseason. She has certainly proven she can compete in the pros.
Burke thinks her versatility on both ends of the floor is a big reason why Chatman signed her. Chatman and the Fever are emphasizing defense this year and Burke seems to fit into that perfectly.
“Defense is a big thing for me,” said Burke.
Choosing a number was one small problem when Burke signed with Indiana. Her college number 22 is taken by Erica McCall. She wore 44 in Dallas, but that’s taken by Betnijah Laney. So Burke chose to wear number 25, which is the number she wore when she first started playing basketball at the age of five.
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