Rebounds often are routine plays in the WNBA. Except when Rebekkah Brunson is involved.
The 6-2 Lynx forward usually is outjumping or outwrestling opponents for the ball, drawing oohs and ahhs at Target Center.
And, as of Thursday, her fans will have three more seasons to applaud her. The Lynx announced Brunson signed a three-year contract extension. Terms were not disclosed, but it's probably safe to assume she will paid the league maximum per year -- which climbs to $105,500 in 2012 -- or close to it.
"We wanted to be the best rebounding team in the league," Lynx assistant coach Jim Petersen said. "And we are the best rebounding team and it's all about Brunson."
Brunson is averaging 9.3 rebounds per game, the third-most in the WNBA. As a team the Lynx average 36.5 rebounds, a whopping 6.4 more than opponents. Washington, second in rebounding differential, is only 1.41 better.
"I love the area, I love the team, I love the possibilities that this team has," said Brunson, who could have become an unrestricted free agent after this season. "It is a nice young group. There is a lot of room for growth, there is a lot of room for improvement outside of what we have already been able to accomplish."
Brunson, 29, played her first six seasons for Sacramento. When the Monarchs folded, the Lynx took her in the dispersal draft in December 2009.
In her first Lynx season, Brunson set a franchise record with 310 rebounds. She is on a pace to break it; she has 280 going into the Lynx's final four regular-season games.
Brunson averages only 10.7 points but is shooting an efficient 51.8 percent from the field.
"We needed our post players to be good scoring the basketball, not great, and we penciled [Brunson] in for 10 points a game and that's where she is at right now," Petersen said.
She said the Lynx are a lot like the 2005 WNBA championship team at Sacramento. "We have a lot of the same qualities," Brunson said, "on the court and outside of it."
More honors In the Lynx's first 12 seasons, they never had anyone named Western Conference player of the month. This season they are 3-for-3.
Point guard Lindsay Whalen was named August player of the month. Brunson won the award in June and Seimone Augustus won it in July.
Whalen averaged 14.2 points and 5.8 assists as the Lynx went 11-2 last month.
Also, Maya Moore was named rookie of the month, a leaguewide award she received in July, too. She averaged 12.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in August.
