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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Over the last 40 years of Purdue women's basketball numerous Boilermakers have gone on to continue their careers in the professional ranks, both in the United States and all over the globe. The most recent additions, 2013 graduates Drey Mingo and Sam Ostarello and 2014 graduate KK Houser, are set to start the 2014 professional seasons in Europe.
"It's fantastic to watch our ladies have the opportunity to continue playing the game they love and use it as a vehicle to see the world," said Purdue head coach Sharon Versyp. "Getting to play at the next level is great privilege and one I'm proud to see our graduates take advantage of."
After starring for Point Chaud Sprimont in Belgium last year, Mingo heads to Poland to play for Basket Row Rybnik in the Poland-BLK. She was one of the top scorers in the Belgian leagues last season, and looks to continue her success this fall and winter.
Ostarello missed the first half of the European season last year with an injury, but joined Alanya Belediye in the Turkish leagues and had a very successful stint with the team. Her performance has led to a spot with Kara Trutnov in the Czech Republic, where she will start her season next month.
Houser is the most recent addition to the professional leagues, quickly rebounding from last season's ACL injury to begin her career. She played briefly in Puerto Rico before shipping off yesterday to join Aanekosken Huima in Finland. Houser is the second Boilermaker to play for the Finnish squad, following 2008 Purdue graduate Kalika France.
Other recent players in Europe include Erin Lawless in Germany (Belfius Namur), Aya Traore in Spain (Conquero) and Erika Valek in Columbia (Popayan), while Katie Douglas remains active in the WNBA for the Connecticut Sun.