Sept. 5, 2008
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara's Tracey Walker '08 announced last week that she will head to Iceland this year after signing a professional contract to play basketball in Keflavik, Iceland.
"I'm really excited. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Walker. "I've heard great things about Iceland and this team in particular. A friend of mine from home used to play there and she loved it so much, she said it was like her second home."
Through the help of first-year Santa Clara head coach Jennifer Mountain, Walker was able to sign with the club.
"I was getting nervous trying to decide what to do if I didn't get picked up. Ashley Graham and few other former teammates reassured me that it would take some time."
A native of San Jose, Calif., Walker says its feels like she's a college freshman all over again.
"I don't know the teammates, but luckily English is pretty popular there, so I won't have to worry about quickly learning a new language. But I'm really looking forward to playing again and putting on a uniform. I miss it; being a part of a team."
Last season, Keflavik topped the Express League standings with a 20-4 overall record. The squad has compiled 12 Icelandic League Championships and nine Icelandic Cups. Last season, Keflavik reached the semifinals of the Icelandic Cup.
Walker, who played for the Broncos from 2004-08, became one of the great names in SCU women's basketball history. She became the 18th player in the program's 44 year history to reach 1,000 career points and is the all-time leader in games played (120). She accomplished both in the 2008 WCC Semifinals against San Diego, a game that eventually would become the last of her collegiate career. During her senior campaign, in which logged 1,097 minutes, she averaged 12.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while leading the Broncos in assists and steals. For her career, she compiled 8.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game. She ranks second all-time in minutes played and steals, and seventh in assists.