UConn in the WNBA: Anna Makurat signs rookie deal with Phoenix Mercury

Four years after departing UConn to pursue a professional career in Europe, Anna Makurat is getting a shot in the WNBA. On Friday, the Phoenix Mercury signed the Polish guard to a rookie scale contract, according to the league’s transactions page.

Makurat joined the Huskies as part of their 2019 recruiting class (alongside Aubrey Griffin, who’s still on the team) and made an immediate impact as a freshman. She started 14 games, averaging 7.9 points while shooting 41.0 percent from three. Makurat’s best game came when she put up 24 points on eight 3-pointers — which is tied for the third-most in a single game in UConn’s history.

As a sophomore during the Covid-shortened 2020-21 campaign, she missed 14 of 30 games due to a foot injury and never really found her groove. Makurat hit double-figures just once and only made 31.7 percent of her attempts from behind the arc.

She did still find a way to make an impact during the NCAA Tournament, though. In the Elite Eight, the Huskies trailed Baylor by nine with 2:51 left in the third quarter. As the team came to the bench during a timeout, Geno Auriemma sensed doubt among his players.

“There was a look on their face like ‘We don’t know that we can do this,’” he said afterwards.

Makurat quickly set them straight.

“When it started to get away from us, even [Makurat] said, ‘You guys need to change the look on your face, man,’” the coach relayed.

Shortly after, UConn ripped off a 19-0 run that ultimately proved to be the difference in a 68-67 win that sent the Huskies to a 13th straight Final Four.

Following the season, Makurat initially put her name in the transfer portal but then decided to return home to Europe and begin her pro career. Over the last four years, the 6-2 guard from Sierakowice, Poland has played for a few clubs while also earning a spot on the Polish National Team.

During the 2024 EuroCup with GEAS Basket, Makurat averaged 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists in eight games.

Now, she’ll try to make it in the WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury — the team that’s synonymous with favorite player, Diana Taurasi. The legendary guard hasn’t announced her intentions for the 2025 season yet, so it’s unclear whether Makurat will get a chance to play with her.

As it stands, Makurat is one of 16 Huskies currently on a WNBA roster (including cored players). The Atlanta Dream is the only team without one at the moment.

Charles returns to Connecticut

Tina Charles is coming back to Connecticut after signing a one-year deal with the Sun. A two-time national champion and 2010 national player of the year at UConn, Charles spent the first four years of her career with Connecticut, where she won rookie of the year in 2010 and MVP in 2012.

Since then, she’s been to every corner of the country in her WNBA career. She left the Sun for the New York Liberty in 2014, joined the Washington Mystics in 2020 (but sat out the bubble season), split the 2022 campaign between the Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm, then returned to the league in 2024 with the Atlanta Dream after a one-year hiatus.

Now, Charles is heading back to where it all began — and she couldn’t be more excited.

“For me personally, Connecticut is home. 860 is home. It’s where I started — UConn earlier days and then being drafted here, playing four years. But the fans, they’re second to none. They support you all the way. The nicest fans that cheer for everyone.”

“What I love about the state of Connecticut is just being able to get out,” she continued. “I’m very adventurous, so I look forward to fishing — I used to fish all the time out here. The wine trails, the breweries. I love beer, the wine, I’m a big foodie. Mystic is a beautiful place. I can go on about the different communities surrounding the state of Connecticut but everyone is very willing, very helpful. Again, it’s home… It’s just a special place for me personally and I hope I’m able to take my teammates on new adventures for them to really see the beauty of the state of Connecticut.”

Other moves

Kia Nurse signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Sky. She spent last season with the Los Angeles Sparks.
Tiffany Hayes is set to be the first Husky to play for the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA’s newest team.
Breanna Stewart and Gabby Williams were each given the core designation from the New York Liberty and Seattle Storm, respectively. Similar to the franchise tag in football, coring a player essentially means that a player can’t sign elsewhere as a free agent. Players receive a fully guaranteed one-year contract with a base salary equal to a supermax, though they can still be traded.