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Grand Canyon University Athletics
GCU assistant coach Thomas signs with Seattle Storm
6/27/2016 11:19:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Photo Credit: Getty Images
PHOENIX – From player to coach and now back to player for a few months. Grand Canyon women's basketball assistant coach, Krystal Thomas, has been given the opportunity to continue her playing career signing with the Seattle Storm in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Once the season concludes In September Thomas will return to GCU to resume her coaching duties with the women's basketball team.
"Words cannot describe how great it feels to be back in the WNBA," Thomas said with joy. "I'm just so incredibly thankful and humbled to be back in the league competing against the best players in the world. It has been a long and hard uphill battle to get to this point so I couldn't be happier to be back with the Storm."
Thomas returns to the team that gave her the chance to live out her dream as the Storm drafted Thomas in the third round at 36th overall in the 2011 WNBA Draft. The former Duke standout also spent time with the Phoenix Mercury from 2011-13. GCU's assistant coach also played for the Indiana Fever in 2014 and earlier this year, Thomas was invited to Seattle's 2016 training camp before the season started and now 14 games into the season, Thomas will look to provide a spark for the Storm for the rest of the season.
In just her first season coaching at the Division I level, Thomas made an immediate impact on the coaching staff and on the players improving their craft as GCU ranked second in the WAC in points per game allowed (60.2) and third in defensive rebounds per game (36.5).
"Krystal has put herself in a position to still play at the highest level," GCU women's basketball head coach Trent May said. "She has stayed the course physically and above all she has kept the mental game of being ready and not letting negative obstacles stay in her path. We are proud of who she is, what she stands for and her relentless work ethic."
A star player in college, Thomas, in her senior season at Duke, was named the Full Court Press ACC Defensive Player of the Year and an All-ACC third team selection. She led the ACC in rebounding in the regular season (9.0) and, in conference games only, also led the league (10.3). As captain at Duke, the Blue Devils won back-to-back ACC regular season titles and tournament titles with two straight appearances in the Elite 8 in the NCAA tournament.
As she continues her playing career at the highest level, Thomas also looks at this as an opportunity to improve her coaching career showing her players to always pursue her dreams.
"It will help me tremendously with my coaching at GCU," Thomas added. "I want to be a role model for each of the young women I coach and they can look up to me."
PHOENIX – From player to coach and now back to player for a few months. Grand Canyon women's basketball assistant coach, Krystal Thomas, has been given the opportunity to continue her playing career signing with the Seattle Storm in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Once the season concludes In September Thomas will return to GCU to resume her coaching duties with the women's basketball team.
"Words cannot describe how great it feels to be back in the WNBA," Thomas said with joy. "I'm just so incredibly thankful and humbled to be back in the league competing against the best players in the world. It has been a long and hard uphill battle to get to this point so I couldn't be happier to be back with the Storm."
Thomas returns to the team that gave her the chance to live out her dream as the Storm drafted Thomas in the third round at 36th overall in the 2011 WNBA Draft. The former Duke standout also spent time with the Phoenix Mercury from 2011-13. GCU's assistant coach also played for the Indiana Fever in 2014 and earlier this year, Thomas was invited to Seattle's 2016 training camp before the season started and now 14 games into the season, Thomas will look to provide a spark for the Storm for the rest of the season.
In just her first season coaching at the Division I level, Thomas made an immediate impact on the coaching staff and on the players improving their craft as GCU ranked second in the WAC in points per game allowed (60.2) and third in defensive rebounds per game (36.5).
"Krystal has put herself in a position to still play at the highest level," GCU women's basketball head coach Trent May said. "She has stayed the course physically and above all she has kept the mental game of being ready and not letting negative obstacles stay in her path. We are proud of who she is, what she stands for and her relentless work ethic."
A star player in college, Thomas, in her senior season at Duke, was named the Full Court Press ACC Defensive Player of the Year and an All-ACC third team selection. She led the ACC in rebounding in the regular season (9.0) and, in conference games only, also led the league (10.3). As captain at Duke, the Blue Devils won back-to-back ACC regular season titles and tournament titles with two straight appearances in the Elite 8 in the NCAA tournament.
As she continues her playing career at the highest level, Thomas also looks at this as an opportunity to improve her coaching career showing her players to always pursue her dreams.
"It will help me tremendously with my coaching at GCU," Thomas added. "I want to be a role model for each of the young women I coach and they can look up to me."
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