Even with no season, as we know, WNBA players stay busy in the offseason – and not only with partaking in overseas hoops.
As we love to spotlight here at Beyond The W, many have business ventures they are partaking in, modeling opportunities they are pursuing or are taking jobs as coaches or executives with other teams.
Jessica Breland of the Phoenix Mercury is one of those as it was announced this week that she has taken a gig as an operations intern under Kara Lawson with the women’s basketball program at Duke.
Breland will assume the role for the next three months. Her taking the Duke role is ironic given Breland’s alma mater is Duke’s arch rival North Carolina.
Her story is incredible. One of perseverance and focus. I was one of her vets when she came into the WNBA and I am proud of how her game continues to grow. She will be a powerful presence that our players can learn from differently.
–Kara Lawson, Duke coach (release)
Breland earned a medical exemption from playing the 2020 season. Her first season was in 2011 with the Connecticut Sun with the veteran Lawson as a teammate. Connecticut finished 21-13 that season – including posting a 15-2 mark at Mohegan Sun Arena.
I’m honored and excited to once again be under her historic leadership and experience for a second time!
–Jessica Breland (Duke release)
