CHICO, Calif. – Audi Spencer, Chico State’s all-time 3-point shooter, is about to enter the world of professional basketball. Now fully healed from a knee injury that cut her final Wildcat season dramatically short, Spencer will head to central Europe to join the Union Kuenring Flames of Vienna, Austria, a First Division team in the Austrian Women’s Basketball League.

Spencer has spent the past 14 months rehabbing a torn ACL suffered in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) conference tournament semifinal game against Cal Poly Pomona March 7, 2008, effectively ending her Wildcat career. Chico State’s career leader in 3-pointers (196), 3-point percentage (.398) and games played (122) spent last season as an assistant under former Wildcat head coach Molly Goodenbour at UC Irvine, but played frequently during Anteaters’ practices and more recently in a Los Angeles summer league to strengthen her injured knee and prepare for her first foray into pro ball.  

Former Chico State assistant George Libbon, who coached overseas last summer, was the one who brought Spencer to the attention of Austrian pro clubs looking to infuse more American talent on their rosters. With the limited opportunities for women to play pro basketball in the United States, competing in Europe should give Spencer the chance for a longer and more successful pro career.