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A WNBA trade has shaken things up for a Blue Devil veteran, while a recent soccer alumna finds international success. The Blue Zone is here to update on their performance:
Lexie Brown
Former Duke women’s basketball guard Lexie Brown was traded to the Seattle Storm after three seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks. Finishing at the bottom of the WNBA standings after the 2024 season, the Sparks have struggled to perform consistently during Brown’s tenure on the team. However, the former Blue Devil was a strong contributor to the squad. The Suwanee, Ga., native averaged 12.4 points and started 11 out of the 12 games she played during her 2023 season.
However, Brown’s season was cut short by a diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease. The severe autoimmune disorder required multiple gastrointestinal surgeries, and she needed to take a break from the WNBA to recover. During the subsequent 2024 season, she made sure to prioritize her health first, taking breaks when necessary. Recently, Brown has become an advocate for those with Crohn’s Disease online and shares her journey with others struggling with the disease.
The Storm offers her a chance for a fresh start with her renewed emphasis on wellness. The Seattle team, which finished fifth last season, is looking to draw on the veteran’s experience.
“Her tenacity to make plays on both sides of the ball and ability to stretch the defense with tremendous range are great additions to our roster,” Talisa Rhea, the Storm’s general manager, said in a press release. “We are thrilled to welcome her to Seattle.”
During her time at Duke, the 5-foot-9 player was a star that scored 1,263 points during only two seasons in Durham, ranking 22nd in program history. She was also the only player at the time to receive All-American honors at two different schools, having played at Maryland before becoming a Blue Devil her junior year.
Michelle Cooper
At the beginning of 2025, former Duke forward Michelle Cooper arrived ready to compete with the US Women’s National Team. The rookie has already begun to make her presence known on one of the world’s best women’s soccer teams. In the SheBelieves Cup, Cooper scored her first goal with the squad against Australia in a 2-1 win. This match was vital in securing America’s finish in the cup, coming second to Japan.
In addition to joining the American squad, the Clarkston, Mich., native is continuing her career with the Kansas City Current of the NWSL. Cooper joined in 2023 as the second-overall draft pick following her sophomore year of college. The Blue Devil has scored six goals across her two-year tenure, one of those making league history as the earliest goal scored — just 22 seconds into a match against the Washington Spirit. Cooper’s effort in the 2024 season helped the Current finish fourth in the team standings, a record high for the program.
From the beginning of her career as a Blue Devil, it was clear that Cooper was a star in the making. She set herself apart by scoring 12 goals her first season, the most in program history for a freshman. By the end of her rookie year, Cooper had earned herself ACC Freshman of the Year. Entering her sophomore season, the Michigan transplant sought, and succeeded, in competing with her rookie self. Cooper had the second-highest number of goals scored in the nation with 19, earning laurels as the 2022 ACC Offensive Player of the Year. The accolades did not end there — the forward continued to make history by becoming the first Duke soccer player to be awarded the Hermann Trophy, the highest award in the sport.
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