Last season the Minnesota Lynx finished with a disappointing 14-20 record. The franchise was victorious in the WNBA Draft Lottery however, and selected guard Seimone Augustus, touted by some as the top player ever to enter the league. This column will chronicle her WNBA baptism as Augustus begins what promises to be a standout professional career.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Lynx guard Seimone Augustus is used to pressure. After a legendary prep career at Baton Rouge's Capitol High School, she stayed home and saw her legend grow under a microscope at Louisiana State University. At every stop, Augustus has been expected to do big things and, so far, she hasn't disappointed.

"I expect her to bring an unbelievable level of excitement and interest (to the franchise)," WNBA commissioner Donna Orender said of the talented rookie. "She is a phenomenal player, it doesn't take many minutes of watching her play to know she is exceptional and I think she can galvanize a community behind the WNBA."

For her part, Augustus remains low key.

"There (haven't been) any surprises, nothing that really overwhelmed me," the quietly confident rookie said of her introduction to the WNBA. "The talent level night in and night out (is better), I guess. At the college level you may face one or two good players on a team, in this league you play against great players every night. Every team has 12 players that can come in and contribute."

The other major difference in the pros for Augustus is losing. After leading LSU to three straight Final Fours and winning every major individual award along the way, Augustus was chosen No. 1 overall by the Lynx in April's WNBA draft. Now she finds herself on young team struggling to tread water.

"It's an obstacle that you have to face," Augustus said of her team's mediocre start. "I didn't expect coming in that we would be an undefeated team, I knew we were going to have some losses, but it's just difficult to deal with."

She hasn't always been so diplomatic however. Following the Lynx third straight season opening loss on May 27, Augustus openly questioned her teammates' effort. A bold move for a rookie, but most on the team admitted it needed to be done.

"It's different from college -- I have to be more vocal, but at the same time you have to be a professional," the former All American explained. "You can't approach somebody in a way that you wouldn't want to be approached. You have to make sure you approach everybody with respect and try to motivate your team."

On May 31, Augustus finally enjoyed her first professional victory. The 22-year-old prodigy scored 26 points in just 24 minutes as Minnesota routed Los Angeles scoring a league record 114 points. "I enjoyed being on the bench watching my teammates go to work," she smiled, discussing the final 13 minutes of the 43 point route. "It's a rare opportunity to get to see every player get off the bench and get in there and show what they can do."

Thus far, Augustus has lived up to and even exceeded the hype. She ranks among the league's scoring leaders, averaging over 22 points per game and has carried herself with a poise and confidence seldom seen in a rookie. Perhaps most importantly, there is an air of electricity surrounding the eight-year-old Lynx franchise for the first time.