50 Huskies. That’s how many have been drafted in the WNBA so far. But that number hardly seemed like a possibility this year. We had got Paige, we had got Kaitin Chen, fate a little predictable. But the last of the three UConn draftees, the one that took the evening from special to tear-jerking in Storrs? That was the pleasant surprise. “She’s gonna rise to the occasion,” assured an emotional high school coach, Dan Ricci, speaking of Aubrey Griffin. But a few days in, all the celebrations have been replaced with heartbreak, frustration, and quiet hope.

You see, Griffin had come to draft merely in support of her fellow teammate, Paige Bueckers. After an injury-plagued run she had had, hearing her name called seemed like a distant possibility. But there it was, as the evening neared its end, the Minnesota Lynx acted on what they had hinted– picked the UConn star as the No.37 overall.

The Huskies erupted in cheers, tears welled up, and the Griffins were seeing a third baller from the family making it to the big league. Bueckers was as proud as she could get. “I think two teams, one team, would be genius to add Kaitlyn Chen and Aubrey Griffin to their teams. I think they should get drafted tonight,” she had called, and the teams responded. Ms. Buckets also walked and posed around with all three of their caps representing their franchises. But as aforementioned, the happiness was momentary. 

When the training camp neared and it was time to reveal the roster, Griffin’s name was glaringly missing. According to Emily Adams of the Hartford Courant, the “Lynx will hold on to Griffin’s rights for a year as an unsigned draftee, so she could presumably opt to report to training camp in 2026.”

While not all hope is lost, future still in her hands, fans could not digest the news. This was their UConn star of 6 years we are talking about. One who had battled through adversities time and again, and had returned to the court each time. “She never lost hope. She never lost focus… A lot of kids would have given up,” Ricci’s words sum up Griffin’s resilience. But clearly, Lynx did not want to risk uncertainty. Not when they have a good chance at clinching that title.

Since the 2022 WNBA season, the franchise has gone from a playoff team to the lottery, then back to a playoff– or rather, a Championship contender. With the entire starting 5 from last year’s Finals returning, you know why the odds are in their favor. So while Minnesota is thinking of the whole picture, some are not on board. For them, the Lynx had just dangled the carrot and taken it away.

Fans share the same sentiment over Griffin’s fate

On Wednesday, the Lynx released a 20-player roster for the training camp starting Sunday, April 27. It would have 7 rookies, including Anastasiia Olairi Kosu and Dalayah Daniels, who were drafted right alongside Aubrey Griffin at The Shade. So when the UConn forward’s name was nowhere to be seen, fans were left confused. “Where is Aubrey Griffin???” one questioned. 

While the reason hasn’t been confirmed by either Griffin or the franchise valued at $85 million, it is an easy guess. The forward wasn’t a 100% healthy in wrapping up her career at UConn. Just in March she was dealing with knee soreness, obliging Geno Auriemma to sit her out. But the problem for a few fans is that the Lynx knew about it and still went ahead.

“So why did she not make the training camp roster?? Smh the only issue I have with this is they could have selected another player that they would have actually signed.. drafting players because the #1 overall pick said to is crazy!” one vented. Adding fuel to the fire, the Lynx have, in fact, signed Diamond Johnson on a training camp contract. She was neither drafted this year, nor was she on the roster the franchise announced. This leaves no less than 9 fighting for a spot on the WNBA mandated 12-player roster. Griffin not even having a chance at that, has left the fans breatbroken.

“This hurts my heart,” added a fan while a few more flooded the comments with broken heart emoji. Coming off the draft night, Griffin was as excited as she could get, having waited years for that moment. “I still can’t wrap my head around it even though it’s been a minute. But just super happy, grateful, and just trying to stay present in each momen,” she had said. It is easy to see why the fans are now left in a bitter taste.

“what the helly,” expressed one user. But fans are not losing all hopes. She finished her collegiate run with 986 points, 680 boards, 135 dimes, 161 steals, and 73 blocks. Her stats after coming from an injury in January? 7.8 points, 5.4 boards.

Hence, fans voice this as yet another “domestic draft and stash,” letting the forward develop over the next year, while holding on to her rights. We do not know how that is going to pan out for either of the parties. Lynx may even sign her by the end of the training camp. Or it could be a Liz Kitley situation where the Virginia Tech star sat out the first year due to injury troubles and will be joining the roster this year.

But for now, the uncertainty is a tough sight for the fans. Griffin, though, has kept fighting to reach where she did. We cannot expect her to stop now.