LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — UNLV graduate Essence Booker has signed a training camp contract with the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, the team and her agent confirmed Wednesday.

"I'm excited and very grateful to the Mercury staff for an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming WNBA season among some of the league's legends," Booker said.

WNBA teams open training camps on April 30. Phoenix begins preseason competition with a game against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday, May 9.

"What a wonderful opportunity for Essence to start her professional career," UNLV Head Coach Lindy La Rocque said. "She's shown Lady Rebel fans how great her determination is when she sets a goal and this is another to check off as she continues the next stage of her development."

Booker commanded the Lady Rebels to back-to-back Mountain West regular-season and tournament championship sweeps. In her two seasons as point guard, UNLV appeared in consecutive NCAA Tournaments for the first time since going to three straight between 1989 and 1991. She was twice named to the Mountain West All-Conference Team and was the 2022 Mountain West Championship Most Valuable Player.

The Las Vegas native totaled 1,660 points, 405 assists and 169 steals in her collegiate career. In her final season at UNLV she averaged 13.2 points and 4.0 assists. The Lady Rebels set a program record for wins in a single season (31) and matched their longest winning streak at 22 games. UNLV also played its first-ever unbeaten season in the Cox Pavilion as it went undefeated at home for the first time since 1979. UNLV was one of only three teams (South Carolina and LSU) to finish the 2022-23 season winning 90 percent or more of their games.

With Booker at the helm, UNLV amassed a 57-10 overall record and 39-3 record against Mountain West teams the past two seasons. 

The last Lady Rebel to appear in a WNBA game was Sequoia Holmes (2005-08) who played in three games with the Las Vegas Aces in 2018.