UConn graduates on the Connecticut Sun, that is.

Veteran forward Svetlana Abrosimova, who played the last seven seasons with Minnesota, was signed by the first-place team in the WNBA's Eastern Conference on Wednesday.

Abrosimova will make her debut with the WNBA team Friday when Connecticut plays at Atlanta.

Abrosimova averaged 7.4 points and 6.6 rebounds in helping Russia win the bronze medal at the Olympics earlier this month. Connecticut Sun coach Mike Thibault, an assistant on the gold-medal winning U.S. team, got to see Abrosimova in person during the Olympics in Beijing.

Abrosimova was the seventh overall pick of the 2001 draft by Minnesota and averaged 10 points and 4.4 rebounds in seven seasons with the Lynx.

Abrosimova, teammates with Sun teammates Asjha Jones and Tamika Raymond on UConn's 2000 national championship team, will add a veteran presence at both forward positions.

Abrosimova, one of the most popular players in UConn history, joins Jones, Raymond, Barbara Turner and Ketia Swanier to give the Sun five former Huskies on the roster. However, it was Abrosimova's on-court ability and not her appeal to the fans which led the team to sign Abrosimova for the rest of the season.

"When it comes to acquiring players, our only goal is to sign people who can help us win games," Connecticut Sun general manager Chris Sienko said. "Svetlana's popularity in Connecticut is a great bonus, but our reason for
signing her is to improve our chances of winning a title."

The Sun waived rookie guard Jolene Anderson to make room for Abrosimova.

The Eastern Conference leading Sun return from the Olympic break when it plays at Indiana Thursday night.