Former West Virginia women’s basketball guard Jordan Harrison made the official roster for the WNBA Portland Fire on Thursday, May 7, and on Monday, May 11, she quickly learned the reality of playing in the pros. The Fire announced through their social media account that they have waived Harrison to activate guard Kamiah Smalls, who was coming off an injury.
Harrison went undrafted, so she already had an uphill battle to make the official roster. She played in two preseason games, totaling just under 40 minutes. She had nine points, seven assists and a steal in those two games. Harrison’s toughness landed her on the opening day roster.
“Jordan just earned her spot,” Portland’s head coach, Alex Sarama, said before the season started. “She was incredible from day one, in terms of the way we play, she couldn’t have been a better fit. … Really, really pleased for Jordan. She deserves this.”
In her short time on the team, she played in 11 minutes of one regular-season game. Harrison recorded four points in that short time. It wasn’t enough for Portland, who decided to move on from her this week.
Harrison earned a spot on a starting roster just by what she did in college, and especially towards the end of the season. She led the Mountaineers to a Big 12 Championship and won the player of the tournament. WVU hosted its first NCAA Tournament Regional, and she played a big role in helping win one of those games with her scrappy defense.
Harrison’s time in the pros isn’t completely over. There is a chance a team picks up Harrison off waivers.
