1
Sep
WNBL27
Key to the city: Lynx land Brondello's Toronto draftee
Teonni Key of the Toronto Tempo during a 106-96 win against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on May 18, 2026 (AEST). Photo: Harry How/Getty Images.
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Perth have signed a 196cm WNBA rookie drafted by the coach taking the Opals to Berlin this week.
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American forward Teonni Key has committed to the Perth Lynx for WNBL27, giving Ryan Petrik a 196cm rim protector barely four months after she was drafted into the WNBA.
Key, 23, was taken by Sandy Brondello's Toronto Tempo with pick No. 22 in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
"I'm incredibly excited to be joining the Perth Lynx for the upcoming season," Key said.
"I've heard great things about the organisation and the WNBL, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue growing my game in such a competitive league.
"I can't wait to get to Perth, meet my teammates and coaches, and play in front of the Lynx fans. I'm looking forward to bringing energy, defence and doing whatever I can to help the team be successful."
The defensive part of that is the part Perth were shopping for.
Key spent her last two college seasons at Kentucky after beginning at North Carolina, and finished inside the top 10 in the Southeastern Conference for blocks per game in each of them. Her final season also brought a career-high 11.4 points a game and a Sweet 16 run.
Petrik, who has spent the off-season assembling one of the deeper rosters in the competition, went to her size first.
"Teonni is an exciting young talent with a very bright future," Petrik said.
"At 6'5", she brings great size, mobility and rim protection, and we're excited about what she can add to our frontcourt.
"She's already gained valuable experience in a WNBA environment as a rookie with Toronto and we're excited about what she can bring to our group."
Key becomes the ninth player locked in for Perth's WNBL27 campaign, joining Georgia Amoore, Samantha Ashby, Alex Ciabattoni, Steph Gorman, Nya Lok, Anneli Maley, Teige Morrell and Haley Peters.
That list has changed shape quickly – almost a full rebuild.
Amoore, the No.6 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, signed on August 28 and played the best game of her WNBA career the same afternoon. Peters arrived on August 25. Maley is a WNBA rollercoaster rider who has been one of the WNBL's most productive rebounders for years. Perth have gone from a roster with questions in the frontcourt to one with a draft pick, a returning import and a WNBA rookie inside a fortnight.
WNBL27 tips off on Thursday, October 15.
Key details
- Player: Teonni Key
- Position: Forward
- Height: 196cm
- Age: 23
- Club: Perth Lynx, WNBL27, subject to WNBL review and approval
- Drafted: Toronto Tempo, pick No. 22, 2026 WNBA Draft
- College: North Carolina, then Kentucky
- Last college season: 11.4 points a game, a career high
- Two-season mark: top 10 in the SEC for blocks per game in each of her final two years
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