Sting re-sign Summer Erb and Caity Matter, add Tasha Butts to roster
March 15, 2006 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Charlotte Sting News Release
The Charlotte Sting have re-signed center Summer Erb and guard Caity Matter, it was announced today by General Manager Trudi Lacey. In addition, the Sting have signed guard Tasha Butts as a free agent.
Erb, a three-year WNBA veteran, has averaged 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 78 career games. Originally selected by Charlotte with the 11th overall pick in the 2000 WNBA Draft, Erb returns to the Sting after playing with the team from 2000-02. In 2002, the 6-6 center averaged 2.8 points on .565 shooting from the field along with 2.3 rebounds.
"We are happy for Summer's return to the Sting," said Lacey. "With her size and experience, she will add depth to our post position."
A native of Lakewood, Ohio, Erb posted 14.7 points and 7.4 rebounds on .563 (494-878) shooting in three seasons at North Carolina State. As a junior, she was named the ACC Player of the Year after averaging 21.5 points and 9.9 rebounds. She transferred to North Carolina State from Purdue, where she saw action in all 28 games as a freshman.
Matter returns for her second WNBA season in 2006. Originally signed by Charlotte as a free agent on April 19, 2005, she participated in Sting training camp before being released on May 20, 2005. The 5-9 guard returned to Charlotte on July 6, 2005 after being signed as a free agent and saw action in 10 games with the team during her rookie campaign. Matter tallied a season-high five points on August 25 at New York and recorded a season-high 17 minutes, three rebounds and four assists on August 18 at Connecticut.
The Bluffton, Ohio native averaged 13.2 points while shooting .473 (520-1099) from the field and .411 (270-657) from three-point range during her career at Ohio State. She finished her career ranked at the top of every three-point career list in the Buckeyes' record books - three-pointers made, attempted, and percentage.
"Caity possesses a unique ability to shoot the basketball," said Lacey. "With a year of experience under her belt, we anticipate her being able to make a valuable contribution to our team and we are happy to have her return to our team."
Butts, a 5-10 guard, was originally selected by the Minnesota with the 20th overall pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft. She averaged 2.5 points and 2.1 rebounds in 14.1 minutes with the Lynx in 2004. She spent training camp with Minnesota in 2005 before being released on May 20.
"Tasha will be another defensive presence on the perimeter as well as an offensive threat," said Lacey. "She's a fierce competitor who understands how to win having played under Pat Summitt at the University of Tennessee."
Butts averaged 6.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists and helped the Lady Vols advance to three Final Fours during her four-year college career. As a senior, she averaged 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists and was named to the All-SEC Second Team by the league's coaches. A native of Milledgeville, Georgia, Butts spent the 2004-05 season serving as a graduate assistant coach for the Lady Vols basketball team.
The Charlotte Sting's 10th anniversary season begins on May 20 at Charlotte Bobcats Arena as they host the Chicago Sky at 6 p.m. Season tickets are available for as low as $99 and are on sale now. For more information, please call 704-424-WNBA. Fans can also download a full season schedule and further ticket information at CharlotteSting.com.
Bobcats Sports & Entertainment owns and operates the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA), the Charlotte Sting (WNBA), and operates the widely-acclaimed Charlotte Bobcats Arena, which opened in the fall of 2005.
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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from March 15, 2006
- Sting re-sign Summer Erb and Caity Matter, add Tasha Butts to roster - Charlotte Sting
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