Women's Basketball | Former UW player Jess McCormack will play at UConn

HARTFORD, Conn. — Former Washington center Jess McCormack says she will to transfer to Connecticut.

The 6-foot-5 freshman, currently playing for the New Zealand national team, confirmed a report in The Hartford Courant that she has accepted a scholarship offer from UConn.

"I am obviously very excited about this, as it is an amazing opportunity," she said in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Friday.

McCormack is one of four freshmen who left the Huskies last season. The others are Candice Nichols, Kali Bennett and Katelan Redmon. McCormack averaged 7.7 points and 4.5 rebounds in 19 games.

McCormack told coach Tia Jackson in February that she intended to quit at the end of the season. McCormack did not play in the team's final four games.

Redmon was the Huskies' leading scorer, averaging 11.8 points, starting all 31 games. Bennett averaged 4.9 points. Nichols left the team just before the season opener, after playing in two exhibition games.

McCormack would have to sit out the 2008-09 season at Connecticut, but would have three years of eligibility remaining.

Connecticut officials said they can't comment until McCormack enrolls.