The journey for former Oregon women’s basketball player Katelyn Loper has zigzagged across the country. Now she heads to Luxembourg for the next chapter.
Loper, a Post Falls, Idaho native who was with the UO program for three years, has signed an international professional contract with BC Musel Pikes in Luxembourg, a small country that borders Belgium, France and Germany. She inked the contract a few days ago, Loper said on Oct. 5.
“It’s definitely a life-long dream,” Loper said. “Just getting that contract in your hand and actually signing it, it’s all the hours and work you’ve put in. It comes down to that. I’m so thankful and happy.”
Loper hired Jeanne McNulty-King as her agent in April. McNulty-King also represents Oregon State graduate Ali Gibson. Loper, who flies out tomorrow morning, found out about the BC Musel Pikes offer on Oct. 3.
“It’s a cloud nine kind of feeling,” Loper said.
Her former teammate, Jillian Alleyne, took to Twitter on Oct. 5 to congratulate her close friend. Alleyne posted on Instagram: “Words cannot describe how excited and proud of you I am. Many people have counted you out, but it did not phase you.”
Loper said the last two months have been scary as she pondered her future in basketball. She said seeing her friends signing contracts of their own made the time more difficult. In the past two weeks, she moved back to Idaho, worked out with a local trainer and considered finding a different job outside of basketball.
“This came at a great time,” Loper said.
The BC Musel Pikes season runs from Oct. 6 through May 16. She signed a one-year contract and hopes her experience of playing for three head coaches in five years can help her adjust to the European style of play.
During her two seasons playing for the Ducks, Loper averaged 11.4 points and made 133 3-pointers. Between her time in Eugene and at Hofstra University, Loper reached the 1,000 career point milestone.
She’s tied for first in UO history with the most 3-pointers made in a game (nine against CSU Bakersfield in 2013). Loper is tied for eighth in Oregon career history in career 3-pointers (133).
“I have so many great people in my corner,” Loper said. “I’m especially proud to represent the University of Oregon and to make the community of Eugene proud. They were there for me all those years. I’ve been getting calls from all my teammates. It’s so nice to know that people support you and want what’s best for you.”
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Katelyn Loper inks first international contract in Luxembourg
Jonathan Hawthorne
October 4, 2015
The journey for former Oregon women’s basketball player Katelyn Loper has zigzagged across the country. Now she heads to Luxembourg for the next chapter. Loper, a Post Falls, Idaho native who was with the UO program for three years, has signed an international professional contract with BC Musel Pikes in Luxembourg, a small country that …
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