Last Monday the WNBA held their annual draft welcoming the big names of women’s college basketball to the pros, led by Connecticut’s Maya Moore several notable local talents were represented in the draft choices.
Kentucky’s Victoria Dunlap was one of the first to go, getting the eleventh pick of the first round. The Wildcat forward and Nashville native will suit up for her first pro game with the Washington Mystics, a play on the nation’s capital’s NBA team name the Washington Wizards, the Mystics used their first pick on the promising prospect.
Tennessee’s Angie Bjorklund went in the second round to the Chicago Sky. Originally from Spokane, Washington the Lady Vol guard/forward will shed her Tennesse orange, to lend a hand to the Sky who were in the market for a well-balanced player that Bjorklund has shown signs of being.
Jori Davis of Indiana meanwhile, will get to stay in state as she was selected in the third and final round to go to the Indiana Fever for next season.
Other prospects, who though not drafted might still have an opportunity to find their ways to the pros include Champaign, Illinois native and Indiana forward Hope Elam, Vanderbilt guard, Jence Rhoads, as well as West Virginia star Liz Repella.
Other notable locals who are currently in the league include Louisville’s Angel McCoughtry who entered the league in 2009 after having a standout career with the Cards McCoughtry warranted herself a first round, first pick selection, she currently plays in Georgia with the Atlanta Dream.
Former Notre Dame star, Ruth Riley celebrated her tenth season in the year with the San Antonio Silver Stars after having been drafted in the first round in 2001. Ohio State’s Jessica Davenport (Indiana Fever) and Katie Smith (Washington Mystics) are both representatives of the Buckeyes. While former Western Kentucky star Crystal Kelly is currently on the roster of San Antonio.
Vol Bjorklund is just the latest of a long line of Tennessee stars to join the WNBA, past notables include Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), Alexis Hornbuckle (Minnesota Lynx), and Shannon Bobbit (Indiana).
Image: WNBA
