Two months after getting a shot at the WNBA, former University of Hawai‘i Wahine basketball player Christen Roper has signed a contract to play professionally in Europe.

The 6-5 center signed a one-year contract to play for the Universa BC Marburg Marlins, a team composed of European and American players. The Marlins are one of the top women’s basketball teams in the First Division of Germany’s Federal Basketball League. The club won the division last season and represented Germany in the Europe Cup.

Marburg, a city of approximately 80,000 people, is 60 miles north of Frankfurt. It will be Roper’s first time in Germany with her contract running from August 2003 to May 2004.

Roper signed a free-agent contract with the Sacramento Monarchs this past spring, competed in training camp, and suited up for two exhibition games, before being one of the last players released before the WNBA season started in late May.

Roper appeared in 117 career games in her four seasons as a Rainbow Wahine. The native of Ojai, Calif., was the most dominate defensive player ever at UH and is the school’s and Western Athletic Conference’s all-time leading shot blocker. She is also one of only three players to participate in postseason play in each her four seasons at Hawaii.

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