NRHEG, Gophers standout Carlie Wagner drafted by the Lynx

Published 8:29 pm Thursday, April 12, 2018

: Carlie Wagner goes up for a shot during Minnesota's loss to Ohio State on March 3 during the Big Ten semifinals in Indianapolis. - Photo courtesy University of Minnesota

NRHEG graduate and University of Minnesota senior Carlie Wagner is headed to the show — with the reigning WNBA champions, no less.

The New Richland native was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx as the 36th and final pick in Thursday’s WNBA draft.

Wagner averaged 18.7 points while shooting career-highs from the field (43.2 percent) and from three-point range (41.2 percent) during her senior year with the Gophers. The standout guard started all 33 of Minnesota’s games this season, averaging 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

Carlie Wagner, a NRHEG senior at the time, attempts a basket during the Class AA state final in 2014 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. NRHEG defeated Kenyon Wanamingo to win the state title for the second consecutive year. Wagner would play in the same arena months later as a freshman starter for the Gophers. – Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

In her four years at the collegiate level, Wagner played in 129 games, starting in all but five of them. Over those four years, she averaged 17.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and one steal per game while shooting 38.9 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from beyond the three-point line.

She finished her college career as the Gophers’ third all-time leading scorer (2,215 points) and second in three-pointers made (307).

The 2014 Minnesota Ms. Basketball won two Class 2A basketball state titles with NRHEG in 2013 and 2014. She finished her high school career with 3,957 points, second all-time in the state.

In a March interview with the Tribune, Wagner attributed her strong work ethic and drive to her southern Minnesota roots.

“Growing up in New Richland definitely laid a foundation down for me as I started my basketball career at the U of M. My hometown is the reason I even had the opportunity to play basketball at the D-1 level,” she said. “My hometown is my foundation; they are the foundation of who I am, and made me the person I am today.”

Now, the New Richland hometown hero will remain close to home as she enters the pro arena as a Minnesota Lynx.