Stroman Signs Pro Contract in Finland
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Former University of Miami women’s basketball standout Morgan Stroman signed a professional contract with Honka Akatemia Espoo of the Finland SM-sarja league.
“I think the opportunity to play professionally is every girl’s dream,” Stroman said. “I grew up playing this game every day, and as you get older you learn to appreciate the opportunities that come out of it.”
Stroman averaged 12.9 ppg and 8.8 rebounds in her final season at Miami, tallying nine double-doubles en route to first team All-ACC honors. The Hopkins, S.C., native averaged more than 11 ppg over the course of her career, and ranks 12th in program history with 1,371 career points.
“I think this opportunity came about through a combination of a blessing, support, and flat out hard work and determination,” Stroman added.
Stroman becomes the 10th player to sign a professional contract under the tenure of head coach Katie Meier.
“Morgan’s career at Miami was just so successful—especially with the recovery from her Achilles injury,” Meier said. “It’s great to see her basically 12 months after injury having the opportunity to be a professional player. It’s a credit to her work ethic, and also our training staff and doctors and how they rehabbed. That’s a heck of a response to be first team All-ACC and sign a pro contract after an injury that can end your career. To bounce back from that and become another one of our University of Miami pros is an awesome accomplishment.”
Stroman burst onto the scene with an impressive sophomore campaign, starting all 33 games in 2010-11 and garnering third team All-ACC distinction. She ranked 11th in conference scoring at 13.6 points per game.
“I couldn’t love her more and the journey that we went on together, there was just so much depth to it,” Meier said. “She’s always going to be successful—she’s just been a bright light every second I’ve known her. I’m jealous of the coaches in Finland who will get to coach her, because I sure loved doing it for four years.”
Stroman will begin her professional career in Finland this coming fall.
