The cult of Candice Wiggins is growing

For new fans of Minnesota Lynx guard Candice Wiggins, they’re learning what type of woman she is just now, but fans of her from her Stanford days have been waiting for you, according to Ann Killion of the San Jose Mercury News. (Give the assist to Rebkell via the Women’s Hoops Blog for the story.)

They first knew it in Wiggins’ hometown of San Diego. Then we learned it in the Bay Area. When she led Stanford to the Final Four in Tampa, Fla., last April Wiggins was discovered by the national media. It was swiftly engaged by Wiggins’ infectious enthusiasm and her joy at finally making her sport’s biggest stage.

And now, two months into her professional career, Wiggins is converting a whole new audience into the Cult of Candice.

“Professional basketball is a big adjustment,” Wiggins, recently said by phone from the Minneapolis airport. “I’m getting used to it.”

Apparently. The rookie sensation is averaging 17.3 points per game, seventh in the league and tops among rookies (the other Candace, Parker, the No. 1 draft pick of the Los Angeles Sparks is averaging 17.1 points while also averaging four more minutes per game). Wiggins is ninth in the league in assists.

One of the statements I’ve seen on other blogs or on message boards has been, “Why is Candice Wiggins not starting?” Honestly, I can agree that she certainly has the stats and game knowledge to do so (she got her first start of the season in a loss to the San Antonio Silver Stars on Saturday), but as she puts it and I’ve always been a firm believer in… it’s not who starts the game, but who’s on the court at the end, and that’s where she’s been.

“In the pro game it’s not so much how you start as how you finish,” (Lynx head coach Don Zierden) said. “For a rookie in the league it’s a bit of an adjustment. I felt it was better to bring her off the bench two or three minutes into the game.” Wiggins, 21, has embraced her role. She tries to provide the same things she looked for from her Stanford bench.

“You need that spark, that energy,” she said. “That’s how I am. I try to bring a lot of energy to the team.”

She’s definitely going to give Candace Parker a run for her money in the Rookie of the Year voting, especially if Minnesota can turn their season around and contend for the top spot in the West.

(Thanks to Newscom for the image.)