List of UConn Huskies in the WNBA draft
The University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies women's basketball team has had 24 players selected in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) Draft. Thirteen of those selections were in the first round of the draft; four players—Sue Bird in 2002, Diana Taurasi in 2004, Tina Charles in 2010, and Maya Moore in 2011—were picked first overall. A Connecticut women's basketball alumna has been selected in 13 of the last 15 WNBA Drafts.[1]
Each WNBA franchise seeks to add new players through their respective annual draft. The WNBA uses a draft lottery to determine the order of selection for the first picks of the draft; the teams that did not make the playoffs the previous year are eligible to participate. After the first picks are decided, the remaining teams select in reverse order of their win–loss record.[2] The WNBA requires that players be at least 22 years old during the calendar year of the applicable seasons, have either graduated from a four-year university or have completed their intercollegiate basketball eligibility, or have played at least two seasons for another professional basketball league.[3]
In addition to the 24 draftees, two UConn women's basketball players—Rebecca Lobo in 1997 and Nykesha Sales in 1999—were allocated to specific teams during the initial formation of the WNBA.[4][5] Lobo was assigned to the New York Liberty and is considered one of the WNBA's first players.[4] Sales was the first player for the expansion Orlando Miracle;[5] the team would later relocate and become the Connecticut Sun.[6][7]
Connecticut women's basketball alumni have had a significant impact on the WNBA. One, Taurasi, was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2009; three players—Taurasi, Charles, and Maya Moore—were named Rookie of the Year. Several other UConn alumni have been named All-WNBA or selected as WNBA All-Stars on multiple occasions. Nine Connecticut alumni have been part of WNBA championship teams, and one has been named WNBA Finals MVP (Moore in 2013).
Player selection
Allocations
Year | Player name | Position | WNBA team[Note 1] | Notes | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1997 | Rebecca Lobo | Center / Forward | New York Liberty | All-WNBA Second Team (1997) All-Star (1999) |
[4][8] |
1999 | Nykesha Sales | Guard / Forward | Orlando Miracle | All-WNBA Second Team (2004) All-Star (1999–2006) |
[5][7][9] |
Regular draft
Year | Rnd | Pick | Overall | Player name | Position | WNBA team[Note 1] | Notes | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | 2 | 3 | 13 | Rita Williams | Guard | Washington Mystics | All-Star (2001) | [10][11] |
1999 | 3 | 12 | 36 | Kara Wolters | Center | Houston Comets | WNBA champion (1999) | [12][13] |
1999 | 4 | 12 | 48 | Jennifer Rizzotti | Guard | Houston Comets | WNBA champion (1999, 2000) | [14][15] |
2000 | 2 | 15 | 31 | Paige Sauer | Center | Los Angeles Sparks | — | [16][17] |
2001 | 1 | 7 | 7 | Svetlana Abrosimova | Forward | Minnesota Lynx | WNBA champion (2010) | [18][19] |
2001 | 1 | 14 | 14 | Kelly Schumacher | Forward / Center | Indiana Fever | — | [20][21] |
2001 | 3 | 8 | 40 | Shea Ralph | Guard | Utah Starzz | [Note 2] | [22] |
2002 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Sue Bird | Guard | Seattle Storm | WNBA champion (2004, 2010) WNBA All-Decade Team (2006) All-WNBA First Team (2002–05) All-WNBA Second Team (2008, 2010, 2011) All-Star (2002, 2003, 2005–07, 2009, 2011) |
[23][24] |
2002 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Swin Cash | Forward | Detroit Shock | WNBA champion (2003, 2006, 2010) All-WNBA Second Team (2003, 2004) All-Star (2003, 2005, 2009, 2011) |
[25][26] |
2002 | 1 | 4 | 4 | Asjha Jones | Forward | Washington Mystics | All-WNBA Second Team (2008) All-Star (2007, 2009) |
[27][28] |
2002 | 1 | 6 | 6 | Tamika Williams | Forward | Minnesota Lynx | — | [29][30] |
2004 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Diana Taurasi | Guard | Phoenix Mercury | WNBA champion (2007, 2009) MVP (2009) Rookie of the Year (2004) All-WNBA First Team (2004, 2006–11, 2013) All-WNBA Second Team (2005) All-Star (2005–07, 2009, 2011, 2013) |
[31][32] |
2005 | 2 | 11 | 24 | Jessica Moore | Center | Charlotte Sting | — | [33][34] |
2005 | 2 | 12 | 25 | Ashley Battle | Forward | Seattle Storm | — | [35][36] |
2006 | 1 | 11 | 11 | Barbara Turner | Guard | Seattle Storm | — | [37][38] |
2006 | 2 | 1 | 15 | Ann Strother | Guard | Houston Comets | — | [39][40] |
2006 | 2 | 8 | 22 | Willnett Crockett | Forward | Los Angeles Sparks | — | [41][42] |
2008 | 1 | 12 | 12 | Ketia Swanier | Guard | Connecticut Sun | WNBA champion (2009) | [43][44] |
2008 | 3 | 2 | 30 | Charde Houston | Forward | Minnesota Lynx | WNBA champion (2011) All-Star (2009) |
[45][46] |
2009 | 1 | 4 | 4 | Renee Montgomery | Guard | Minnesota Lynx | All-Star (2011) | [47][48] |
2010 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Tina Charles | Center | Connecticut Sun | Rookie of the Year (2010) All-WNBA First Team (2011, 2012) All-WNBA Second Team (2010, 2013) All-Star (2011, 2013) |
[49][50] |
2010 | 3 | 1 | 27 | Kalana Greene | Guard | New York Liberty | — | [51][52] |
2011 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Maya Moore | Forward | Minnesota Lynx | WNBA champion (2011, 2013) Rookie of the Year (2011) All-WNBA First Team (2013) All-WNBA Second Team (2012) All-Star (2011, 2013) WNBA Finals MVP (2013) |
[53][54] |
2012 | 2 | 2 | 14 | Tiffany Hayes | Guard | Atlanta Dream | — | [55] |
2013 | 1 | 11 | 11 | Kelly Faris | Guard | Connecticut Sun | — | [56] |
Notes
- ^ a b This is the team that drafted the player, not the player's most recent team.
- ^ Despite being drafted, Shea Ralph would never play in the WNBA. After suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee in February 2002—the third ACL tear in her left knee and her fifth ACL tear overall—she opted to retire.[22]
References
- General
- "All-Time WNBA Draft List". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
- Specific
- ^ "Maya Moore Selected No. 1 Overall by Minnesota in 2011 WNBA Draft". www.uconnhuskies.com. University of Connecticut. April 11, 2011. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Atlanta Dream Win Top Pick in 2009 WNBA Draft". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. December 9, 2008. Archived from the original on November 18, 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Hoops 101: Reneé Brown". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on November 18, 2009. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c "WNBA.com: Rebecca Lobo Player Info". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Rose, Shannon (September 16, 1998). "Sales Now On Board". Orlando Sentinel. Tribune Corporation. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Riley, Lori (January 23, 2003). "Sales' Wnba Team Coming To State". Hartford Courant. Tribune Corporation. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b "WNBA.com: Nykesha Sales Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Rebecca Lobo WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Nykesha Sales WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Rita Williams Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Rita Williams WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Kara Wolters Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Kara Wolters WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Jennifer Rizzotti Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Jennifer Rizzotti WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Paige Sauer Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Paige Sauer WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Svetlana Abrosimova Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Svetlana Abrosimova WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Kelly Schumacher Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Kelly Schumacher WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b Goldberg, Jeff (August 2, 2002). "City Schools Hiring Ralph". Hartford Courant. Tribune Corporation. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Sue Bird Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Sue Bird WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Swin Cash Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Swin Cash WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Asjha Jones Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Asjha Jones WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Tamika Williams Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Tamika Raymond WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Diana Taurasi Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Diana Taurasi WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Jessica Moore Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Jessica Moore WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Ashley Battle Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Ashley Battle WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Barbara Turner Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Barbara Turner WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Ann Strother Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Ann Strother WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Willnett Crockett Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Willnett Crockett WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Ketia Swanier Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Ketia Swanier WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Ketia Swanier Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Ketia Swanier WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Renee Montgomery Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Renee Montgomery WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Renee Montgomery Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Renee Montgomery WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Kalana Greene Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Kalana Greene WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "WNBA.com: Maya Moore Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Maya Moore WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Draft Board". WNBA. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- ^ "Draft Board". WNBA. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
External links
- Connecticut Huskies official website
- WNBA official website