Karisma Penn isn’t finished playing basketball.

The Illinois women’s basketball forward signed a free agent contract with the WNBA’s New York Liberty on Saturday, just five days after going undrafted in the WNBA draft.

“I’m excited,” Penn said in a press release. “Coach Laimbeer is a great coach and he’s already won three WNBA championships with Detroit (in 2003, 2006 and 2008). Having the opportunity to go to New York and learn from him and his staff is exciting.”

Penn will join the Liberty for their training camp, which begins May 6. Unlike many teams, Illinois head coach Matt Bollant said, New York plans on keeping three or four rookies.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to make a team, where if I had been drafted by a lot of the teams, I would have just filled a training camp roster versus having a real chance to make a team,” Penn said.

The team’s first preseason game will be May 11, the day before Penn graduates from the University. New York’s first game is May 25 against the Connecticut Sun.

The Liberty finished 15-19 last season. The team selected five rookies in the three-round WNBA draft.

“Karisma will have a chance to make a roster, which is pretty rare for players right out of college,” Bollant said in the press release.

Penn was named First Team All-Big Ten and Illinois’ team MVP this season after averaging 19.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.2 blocks per game.

“She had a great senior year,” Bollant said. “Hopefully she can carry that momentum into training camp with the Liberty.”

Penn, a four-year starter and honorable mention All American, has led Illinois in scoring and rebounding each of the past three seasons. She leaves the program as the all-time leader in blocks (271), second all-time in rebounds (1,043) and double-doubles (42) and fourth all-time in points (1,965) and steals (242).

Johnathan can be reached at [email protected] and @jhett93.