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THE Bendigo Bank Spirit have added theire second American import, announcing the signing of WNBA point guard Blake Dietrick for the 2016-17 WNBL season.
Dietrick is currently playing with the Seattle Storm alongside Australians Abby Bishop and Jenna O'Hea and will join the Spirit at the end of her WNBA commitments.
The 180cm guard will be a replacement for former long-serving Spirit star Kelly Wilson, who has joined the Townsville Fire.
Dietrick, 22, has played a limited role so far in the WNBA season for the star-studded Storm, whose line-up includes nine-time WNBA All Star Sue Bird, 2015 rookie of the year Jewell Loyd and the 2016 number one overall draft pick Breanna Stewart.
She rejoined the WNBA recently after a season in the Italian premier league.
Also a star lacrosse player, Dietrick was the the 2014-15 Ivy League Player of the Year for her college Princeton, where she majored in English.
Second-year Spirit coach Simon Pritchard said Dietrick's lacrosse background made her a "very tough" player.
“Blake is a combo guard, a player who is just as happy carrying the ball as playing as a two attacking the D and creating for others," he said.
“Her three-point shooting is good and she will do anything to make her team better.
“As a Princeton graduate she will suit our transition system and I have no doubt she will be able to guard any perimeter player in the WNBL.”
Dietrick will join re-signed duo Kerryn Harrington and Heather Oliver in the Spirit guard.
The American said she was looking forward to the trip Down Under.
“I have spoken at length with Simon and Abby Bishop and I am excited to be coming to Bendigo,” she said.
“Aussie basketball is tough, and the Spirit is known for its toughness.
"That’s also something I pride myself on and I can’t wait to get in the Bendigo program.”
Dietrick comes highly recommended by Opals star and Storm teammate Bishop, who has spent the past three WNBL season with the University of Canberra Capitals.
“Blake is a really smart player who can come off pick and rolls and get her teammates the ball and can also score, which makes her tough to guard,” she said.
“She knows who to get the ball to at the right time, but can knock down the shot, too.
“She's positive, energetic and always wanting to learn, so I think she's going to fit right in with the Spirit.
Aussie basketball is tough, and the Spirit is known for its toughness. That’s also something I pride myself on.
- Blake Dietrick
Dietrick joins Canadian international Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe as the Spirit's two imports.
She is the third new player to join the Spirit, who have also signed former South East Queensland Stars forward Nadeen Payne.
The club's reigning MVP Kelsey Griffin, star centre Gabe Richards, Harrington and Oliver have all re-signed for 2016-17.