April 14, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Senior guard Kam Gissendanner (Clairton, Pa.) signed a free agent contract with the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks on Monday and will be participating in the team's rookie camp, which opens later this week. Gissendanner is the 12th Lady Lion to sign with a WNBA team joining the likes of former teammate Amanda Brown, Tanisha Wright, Jess Brungo, Kelly Mazzante, Helen Darling and Suzie McConnell Serio.
"I am so excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the Sparks organization," Gissendanner said. "I look forward to a fun and exciting experience."
Gissendanner was an All-Big Ten third team selection by the coaches this season after finishing in the Top 10 in the Big Ten in both scoring (13.4 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg). Gissendanner entered the season without a double-double in 72 career games, but posted six double-doubles this season, including a 24-point, 11-rebound performance against Indiana in the regular-season finale. In the Jan. 10 win over Northwestern, Gissendanner became the 30th Lady Lion to reach 1,000 career points and she finished her career 21st on the Penn State career scoring charts with 1,238 points in just three campaigns.
The Los Angeles Sparks and head coach Michael Cooper will open the 2008 season against former Lady Lion standout Kelly Mazzante and the defending WNBA Champions Phoenix Mercury on Saturday, May 17. The Sparks, who have Lisa Leslie and No. 1 draft pick Candace Parker on the roster, have won the Western Conference title six times in the 11-year history of the league.