Janell Burse
Encyclopedia
Janell Burse is a 6'5" women's basketball player who recently played center
for the Seattle Storm
of the WNBA.
After playing college ball at Tulane University
, Burse was drafted in the second round (28th overall) by the Minnesota Lynx
in 2001, and played her first three professional seasons with that team. As part of an ill-fated attempt by the Lynx to land hometown sensation Lindsay Whalen
in the 2004 WNBA Draft
, Burse was traded with Sheri Sam
to the Storm for Amanda Lassiter
and a high draft pick. Whalen was snatched up by the Connecticut Sun
, and Seattle gained two key players for its 2004 championship
run.
Burse backed up center Kamila Vodichkova
in 2004, and took over the starting role when Vodichkova left for the Phoenix Mercury
the next season. Fans expected Burse to lose this job to the highly-touted Suzy Batkovic
when the latter joined the team in mid-season, but Burse played so well that she started the entire year.
Burse, who had purchased a house in Slidell, Louisiana
in 2004, became the WNBA's face for relief in the wake of Hurricane Katrina
. At two playoff games at KeyArena
in September 2005, Burse's charity through the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church raised $25,000 for the relief efforts, which was matched by $75,000 from the team organization.
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
for the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm
The Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
of the WNBA.
After playing college ball at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
, Burse was drafted in the second round (28th overall) by the Minnesota Lynx
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season...
in 2001, and played her first three professional seasons with that team. As part of an ill-fated attempt by the Lynx to land hometown sensation Lindsay Whalen
Lindsay Whalen
Lindsay Marie Whalen is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA. She began her pro career as a point guard for the Connecticut Sun...
in the 2004 WNBA Draft
WNBA Draft
The WNBA Draft is an annual draft held by the WNBA through which WNBA teams can select new players from a talent pool of college and professional women's basketball players. The first WNBA draft was held in 1997...
, Burse was traded with Sheri Sam
Sheri Sam
Sheri Lynette Sam is an American professional basketball player currently playing in the WNBA. She was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana on May 5, 1974 as the youngest of eight siblings, and where she was a standout at Acadiana High School. She graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1996...
to the Storm for Amanda Lassiter
Amanda Lassiter
Amanda Lassiter is a professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association , currently with the Chicago Sky....
and a high draft pick. Whalen was snatched up by the Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
, and Seattle gained two key players for its 2004 championship
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
run.
Burse backed up center Kamila Vodichkova
Kamila Vodichkova
Kamila Vodičková is a Czech women's basketball player. She currently plays for the North American WNBA's Phoenix Mercury. She represented Czechoslovakia at the 1992 Summer Olympics.-WNBA career:...
in 2004, and took over the starting role when Vodichkova left for the Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
the next season. Fans expected Burse to lose this job to the highly-touted Suzy Batkovic
Suzy Batkovic
Suzy Batkovic-Brown is an Australian-Croatian women's basketball player who plays in Australia and the American WNBA. The 6'4", 195-pound Batkovic-Brown is a bruising center known for her physical play and dominance inside...
when the latter joined the team in mid-season, but Burse played so well that she started the entire year.
Burse, who had purchased a house in Slidell, Louisiana
Slidell, Louisiana
Slidell is a city situated on the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 25,695 at the 2000 census. The Greater Slidell Community has a population of about 90,000...
in 2004, became the WNBA's face for relief in the wake of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. At two playoff games at KeyArena
KeyArena
KeyArena at Seattle Center , is a multipurpose arena, in Seattle, Washington. It is located north of downtown in the entertainment complex known as Seattle Center, the site of the 1962 World's Fair, the Century 21 Exposition...
in September 2005, Burse's charity through the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church raised $25,000 for the relief efforts, which was matched by $75,000 from the team organization.