MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL — Columbia's Camille Zimmerman has signed a professional contract with the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), as announced by the team on Tuesday. Zimmerman will join the reigning WNBA champions at the team's training camp. The Lynx will announce their training camp plans at a later date.
"We're thrilled for Camille," Columbia head coach Megan Griffith '07CC said. "She has earned every ounce of this opportunity with her dedication and work ethic. Her love for the game will continue to take her miles. Our Lion family wishes her the very best with the WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx."
A 6-1, guard-forward from Tempe, Arizona, Zimmerman wrapped up her illustrious collegiate career as Columbia's all-time leader in points (1,973), rebounds (940), field goals made (728), field goals attempted (1,707), free throw percentage (.826), games played (113) and games started (112). She owns top-five marks in blocks (100), free throws made (443) and free throws attempted (536), while ranking inside the top-10 in assists (255). Among Ivy League legends, she is fourth in total points and sits top-10 in scoring average (17.5), field goals, attempts and free throws.
"This is something I have been working towards my entire life and I am so thankful the Lynx are giving me an opportunity to be at their training camp," said Zimmerman, who was a top-10 finalist for the Katrina McClain Award. "It honestly feels like a bit of a dream. It will be amazing to learn from the reigning WNBA champions and be a part of their organization. I know there is still a lot of work to be done to make the final roster, but I am excited to work hard and be there for the camp."
After leading the Ivy League in scoring and rebounding for a second consecutive season, Zimmerman earned her second straight First Team All-Ivy League selection. She averaged 19.5 points and 10.2 rebounds through the 2017-18 season, including a conference-best 18.9 points and 11.6 rebounds across the 14-game league schedule. Zimmerman also led the Ancient Eight with 565 total points, 295 rebounds, 17 double-doubles, 204 field goals, 142 free throws and 112 offensive rebounds. Her .866 mark at the free throw line and 36.0 minutes per game were second in the league, while her .445 percentage from the field was fifth. Zimmerman also ranked among the Ivy's top-10 in assists (3.3) and blocks (0.8).
Zimmerman became the second player in program history to earn multiple All-Ivy League First Team honors in a career, joining Columbia Hall of Famer Judie Lomax '10BC. Lomax was the last Lion to sign a WNBA contract, signing with Connecticut Sun in 2010 before moving on to play overseas in Finland and Germany.
Zimmerman is a three-time All-Ivy selection, earning second-team honors as a sophomore. Zimmerman's career also includes 10 Ivy League Player of the Week selections, tying for the most in program history with Judie Lomax '10BC. Zimmerman is the ninth Ivy to earn 10-plus selections in a career.
Among her many highlights this past season, Zimmerman posted the first 20-20 game by a Lion in nearly eight years when she scored 22 points and grabbed a career-high 24 rebounds in mid-February against Brown. Her 24 rebounds were the most in a game by an Ivy League player this season and tie for the fourth-most in the NCAA. A week earlier, she scored a season-high 31 points on 10-of-19 shooting, 3-of-3 from deep and 8-of-8 from the free throw line at Harvard. The Katrina McClain Award Top-10 Finalist also went for 26 points and 12 rebounds against reigning national runner-up Mississippi State at the Cancun Challenge.
