TAMPA, FLORIDA – APRIL 03: Aubrey Griffin #44 of the Connecticut Huskies speaks during a press conference ahead of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four at Amalie Arena on April 03, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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Aubrey Griffin was the second-to-last pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Her six years with UConn women’s basketball were filled with injury setbacks.
Still, the Minnesota Lynx saw something in Griffin. That’s why they not only drafted the former Husky but invested in her health recovery.
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And now, just about a year later, Griffin is finally getting her chance.
“I’ve been out for a while now, just eager to get back,” Griffin told the media Monday in Minnesota. “It just feels good being out there, being able to play and just be here in training camp. … I feel good. I’ve been doing rehab for, like, six months now. I’m ready to be out there. I’m ready to play and just give it all I have.”
After missing all of last season due to arthroscopic knee surgery, Griffin is back with the Lynx participating in her first WNBA training camp this spring.
UConn forward Aubrey Griffin (44) and her teammates cheer from the bench in No. 2 UConn’s 85-51 win over No. 1 UCLA in the Final Four matchup of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Friday, April 4, 2025.
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The year off from basketball helped Griffin not only regain her health and strengthen her knee – she tore the ACL in the same knee while playing for UConn in January 2024 – but also helped prepare her for what to expect now at the professional level.
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“I think when you’re out, you see a different perspective of the game,” she said. “And I was allowed to learn from the vets and everyone that was here in the past year, just like the plays and how they do things here in Minnesota.”
Griffin returned from her 2024 ACL injury in January 2025. Yet the guard-forward still struggled to stay healthy. She sat out the entire 2025 Big East Tournament due to knee soreness and was a limited participant throughout the NCAA Tournament. In the 16 games she played during her final collegiate season, she averaged career lows of 4.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
But Minnesota remained dedicated to helping Griffin. The franchise saw how athletic and impactful Griffin can be when healthy and took the risk of drafting her, knowing she likely wouldn’t be ready for the 2025 season.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 14: (R-L) Aubrey Griffin poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the 37th pick during the third round by the Minnesota Lynx during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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Griffin underwent knee surgery in late April last year and utilized Minnesota’s facility for her recovery and rehabilitation throughout the summer and offseason.
Since she wasn’t technically on the team, she wasn’t allowed to participate in team activities. But even through her recovery, she continued to learn by watching team practices and studying film with team staff. The Lynx staff and coaches poured into her, especially assistant coach and former four-time WNBA Champion Lindsay Whalen.
“She (Whalen) definitely helped me a lot just to get back on the court and help my shot too,” said Griffin. “We were here doing workouts after every practice or before every practice. So just thankful that she was able to do that with me, and just grateful for the system they have here and the support I had last year and still this year.”
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – APRIL 06: Aubrey Griffin #44 of the UConn Huskies celebrates with a piece of the net after beating the South Carolina Gamecocks 82-59 to win the National Championship of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on April 06, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
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Griffin begins camp this year as a full, healthy participant. She understands that the competition to make a roster spot (Minnesota will have to make at least seven cuts ahead of opening day) will be tough. The former Husky is one of 12 rookies at camp, along with Olivia Miles (whom the Lynx drafted No. 2 overall this month) and former Husky transfer Saylor Poffenbarger.
If Griffin does make the team, she’ll have familiar support alongside fellow former Huskies Napheesa Collier and Dorka Juhász. Despite being injured to begin the year, Collier will be in her eighth season in the league, while Juhász is expected to return to Minnesota after sitting out last year. Juhász and Griffin overlapped for two years in Storrs. The two were both starters for UConn during the 2022-23 season.
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“She was around all of last year, unfortunately, in a rehabilitation state,” said Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve of Griffin. “For her to actually be in practice and go in drills, it’s the first time she’s been able to do that. We were excited for her to be able to experience this. You know, we drafted her for a reason, and getting a chance to actually see her – No. 1, getting to see her so happy; I think that was the first thing she expressed. We’ll see how it goes.”