With the deadline looming to reduce their roster to 12 players, the Minnesota Lynx released a couple of young forwards on Tuesday.
The team announced it had waived Shae Kelley and Asia Taylor in advance of Thursday's official league cut-down date. The Lynx's current training-camp roster now lists seven forwards and five guards. Among the notable frontcourt players are Maya Moore, the reigning league MVP, veteran Rebekkah Brunson and newly acquired Asjha Jones.
Kelley, a 6-foot-1 former University of Minnesota star and WNBA rookie, was selected in the third round (No. 35) by the Lynx in April after a draft-day trade with the New York Liberty. In college, she was named to the All-Big Ten First Team in 2015 and led the Gophers in steals (56), while ranking second on the team in points scored (578).
Taylor, drafted at No. 36 by Minnesota in 2014, appeared in 22 games for the Lynx last year as a rookie. The 6-1 Louisville product averaged 2.7 points, 1.4 rebounds and 7.9 minutes per game, shooting 52.5 percent from the field.
The Lynx tip off their regular season at home on Friday against Tulsa.
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