Former WNBA player and four-time WNBL Champion Griffin to join Tornadoes

The Launceston Tornadoes have announced that former WNBA player and four-time WNBL Champion Kelsey Griffin will join the Launceston Tornadoes this weekend. 

Griffin will join the Tornadoes in Melbourne on their first road trip and then look to play a number of games with the club this season.

Tornadoes Head Coach Sarah Veale could not be more excited to have Griffin on the team.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have secured Kelsey this season," she said.

"Kelsey has a basketball CV that is one of the most impressive in the country.

"Along with her on-court attributes, Kelsey is well known for her outstanding personal qualities and inspirational leadership, which fits right into the heart of the culture of our club.

"Speaking to her WNBL teammate Keely Froling about Kelsey, she can’t speak highly enough of her.

"Kelsey brings her vast experience to our young group for the continual development of our local girls, which is a key focus to us.

"Having Kelsey as part of our team will be invaluable."

At this stage, after working around her schedule, Griffin will play the two games this weekend as the Tornadoes will have six players unavailable due to State team commitments. 

Local players Aishah Anis, Micah Simpson, Makala Bingley, Lauren Wise, Sharn Hayward and Emerson Wells will all miss the next two rounds of the NBL1 to represent Tasmania in the U20 National Basketball Championships in Mackay, Queensland.

From Anchorage, Alaska the American player become an Australian citizen in 2015 and played in the 2016 Rio Olympics for Australia. 

The 188cm forward has won four WNBL titles (2013, 2014, 2019 and 2020), was Championship Game MVP three times, is a two-time WNBL All-Star Five and WNBL Defensive Player in 2015. 

Griffin was drafted at #3 in the 2010 WNBA draft and played with the Connecticut Suns.

She was named in the all All-Rookie WNBA team in that same year.

Griffin works as a school teacher in Canberra and will fly into Melbourne this weekend to meet the team for the first time. 

She will have a familiar face to welcome her with Keely Froling playing with Griffin for the past three seasons with the Canberra Capitals in the WNBL. 

It was her connection with Froling and her love of mountain bike riding that has led to the chance for the Tornadoes to sign Griffin this season.

"I wasn’t planning on playing NBL1 this season," Griffin said.

"I found my plate incredibly full for the first time in an offseason, having just started a new teaching position in Canberra.

"Then Keely messaged me about how much she loved Tassie and how welcoming the Tornadoes had been.

"I congratulated her on such a great fit and mentioned how I loved Tasmania and really wanted to visit Derby and experience the bike tracks.

"Keely then said the Tornadoes are interested in having me join the team and would be happy to work around my schedule.

"The thought of getting to play with Keely and play for a team only one to two hours away from Derby all seemed too good to pass up.

"So needless to say I am very excited to be joining the team and I hope I can help them continue with their strong start to the season." 

Coach Veale said the team will continue to work around Griffin's busy schedule for the remainder of the season.

"We are working with Kelsey and her schedule for further games," she said.

"Some of Kelsey's games will help cover Keely while she is away for National duties with the 3x3 and Olympics squads.

"We also aim to have Kelsey on our home court so our community can be part of having such a quality person at the heart of our club.

"Our goal is to make this season work for both Kelsey and the Torns and to have her available for any finals campaign we qualify for."

The Launceston Tornadoes have a doubleheader road trip this weekend and play Frankston on Saturday night and then Sandringham on Sunday.

The Tornadoes next play at Elphin Stadium on Saturday 8 May against the ladder leading Eltham Wildcats which is already shaping up as a top-of-the-table clash.