They were both Top 10 choices in the 2022 and '23 WNBA drafts, fresh off successful SEC basketball careers at storied programs. They then both became vital parts to the 2023 Los Angeles the frontcourt, it was second year little onward Rae Burrell. In the backcourt, it was novice shooting guard Zia Cooke. Both young gamers came on strong at the end of the 2023 season, yet they began as challengers long before they were colleagues. Cooke played under previous WNBA celebrity and current NCAA powerhouse head coach, Dawn Staley at South Carolina. Burell bet the legendary eight-time NCAA Champ Tennessee Lady Vols, bring about both challenging for three seasons in the highly objected to LA Triggers really felt Cooke's influence immediately as she racked up 14 factors against the Phoenix Mercury in her WNBA debut. Garnering herself the nickname 'The Cook' amongst followers, Cook transformed the heads of LA media members and followers alike. "The Triggers have something excellent in the 22-year-old out of South Carolina," The LA Times' composed on the rookie guard after opening up night. While numerous out west are simply obtaining a preference, ask any basketball follower in Columbia, SC about the novice guard, they will determine her with one word. Winning. Cooke played at South Carolina from 2019-23, a four-year span where her group lost just one home game and made three successive NCAA Final Four appearances. To cover it off, South Carolina won the 2022 NCAA National Champion Sparks Jersey. She had so much success, that when neighborhood television sporting activities press reporter Matt Dowell asked Cooke about the one home loss, she could not even recollect it, much to the irritation of her college instructor. Yet can anybody actually criticize her? In a similar way, Burrell led Tennessee to 3 NCAA Tournaments, the only year excluded being in 2020 when the NCAA canceled it as a result of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. She videotaped over 1,000 occupation points, was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll and shot 34 percent from the 3-point line over 4 years. She would utilize that strong capturing capacity in 2023. The 2 encountered off against each other 4 times in college, and have used that one-upmanship to gel in well with the Los Angeles dealt with injuries late in the period, Burrell and Cooke came to be 'spark plugs' to the team's success. Burrell averaged 9. 4 points and shot a blistering 54. 5 percent from the area the last five video games of the period. In three successive games, she damaged her own career-high in scoring, highlighted by 18 factors and 4 made threes when traveling against the New York Liberty. The WNBA is one of the most affordable professional organization in sporting activities. With just 144 active roster places, gamers are frequently jockeying for one. At the beginning of the season, Burrell battled to maintain her area, but took full advantage when her time concerned beam, something noticed by Triggers Head Train Curt Miller. "Rae prepared when her number was called," Train Miller said. "Her strong finish this season is a debt to her job values, positive character and allowing the game to reduce for her. " Cooke offered a similar intense offensive strike. When Los Angeles was down 19 points in the season finale versus the Seattle Storm, Cooke 'cheffed' up a masterpiece efficiency. Poetically, she tied her racking up career high from opening night with 14 factors, helping the Triggers complete the return triumph and finish the period with a win. "She's the future, it's uncommon ahead in and see a newbie that already knows exactly how to be a pro," seven-time All-Star Nneka Ogwumike stated of Cooke. "She had so much growth this season, and I can't wait to see just how much better she gets. " On draft evening, N. Ogwumike accepted Cooke with a hug moments after WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert called her name. After her very first of 3 successive career-high evenings, Burrell had her first meeting postgame with Triggers sideline reporter Nikki Kay. In comparable style, professionals excitedly accepted Burrell following her meeting. Both communications served as those notorious 'welcome to the league minutes'. From those 'minutes', to their late period on court success, one point has actually ended up being perfectly clear: these previous SEC challengers turned professional colleagues made a substantial impact on the 2023 Triggers.