Photo: Twitter
Sudanese-Finnish basketball star Awak Kuier is expected to be a high pick in Thursday’s WNBA draft and many expect her to be a dominant force in the league.
When Awak Kuier was growing up in Finland, she would watch highlights of WNBA star Candace Parker on YouTube.
Kuier loved Parker’s versatility – her ability to handle the ball, run the floor, post up, shoot from 3, even dunk. As an aspiring hooper since she was 11 who couldn’t access WNBA games, Kuier modeled her game after Parker’s.
Turns out, Parker has been watching Kuier as well.
In March, Parker posted a collection of videos on Instagram that included a nod to the next generation of players. Swipe left and you’ll see a video of the now-19-year-old Kuier dunking a basketball – something she’s been able to do since she was 14.
The 6-foot-5 Kuier currently plays professionally in Italy and is part of a group ready to take the baton from veteran players such as Parker. Which is quite the feat for the daughter of South Sudanese immigrants who grew up in the small city of Kotka in southeastern Finland.
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