Kadiatou Sissoko transfers to Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 03: Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach Lindsay Whalen directs her players during a game between the Minnesota Gophers and Michigan State Spartan's on March 3rd, 2019 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis, MN.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 03: Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach Lindsay Whalen directs her players during a game between the Minnesota Gophers and Michigan State Spartan's on March 3rd, 2019 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis, MN.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Sissoko will join head coach Lindsay Whalen and the Gophers

Kadiatou Sissoko will have a new school and a new coach to play for next year, as the guard from France, has officially transferred to the University of Minnesota, where she will play for Lindsay Whalen, who is entering her second season as head coach in Minnesota.  Sissoko, who is transferring from Syracuse, will sit out the 2019-2020 season, due to transfer rules.

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Sissoko was a top-15 ranked prospect in the class of 2018, as she was ranked 11th overall and the 3rd ranked guard, according to ESPN. Sissoko averaged 3.8 points per game in 18 games played for Syracuse. Her season was disrupted with an early, minor knee injury.

Sissoko recorded a season-high 9 points against Pittsburgh on February 21.  She has significant international playing experience as well, competing on both the French U-18 and U-20 national teams.  Sissoko will join fellow international transfer, Maryia Adashchyk, as a part of a Gopher team that will also welcome a five-person recruiting class, and seven returners.

Minnesota finished 21-11 overall last season, and 9-9 in the Big Ten.  They received a bid to the WNIT, and lost in the second round to Cincinnati.

The Gophers lost Kenisha Bell to graduation. Bell led the team in scoring last season with 19.1 points per game, before becoming the eighth player in program history to be selected in the WNBA Draft, 30th overall by the Minnesota Lynx.

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