Headlining the 2017 WNBA Draft at Samsung 837 in New York City on Thursday night was Washington Huskie guard Kelsey Plum, who was selected no. 1 overall by the San Antonio Stars. Plum became the first Huskie to be selected in the first round, and the first player, male or female, from Washington to be drafted no. 1 overall.
Plum finished her college career as the all-time NCAA scoring leader with 3,527 points. She’s one of only five women’s college basketball players to ever sweep the five National Player of the Year awards in the same year – Associated Press Player of the Year, the Drysdale Award, Naismith Award, the Wade Award and the Wooden Trophy.
Following Plum was South Carolina’s Alaina Coates, picked no. 2 overall by the Chicago Sky. Coates injured her ankle in the SEC Tournament and didn’t play during South Carolina’s national championship run. She had surgery a few weeks ago and was making her way around the venue on a scooter. She hopes to be ready to play for Chicago this season.
The Dallas Wings took Kentucky forward Evelyn Akhator and South Carolina’s Allisha Gray with the third and fourth picks. With the fifth pick, San Antonio came back and drafted Northwestern’s Nia Coffey, and the Washington Mystics selected Shatori Walker-Kimbrough with the sixth pick.
Brittney Sykes of Syracuse was drafted to the Atlanta Dream with the seventh pick. Connecticut drafted Brionna Jones with the eighth pick. Chicago used its second pick in the first round to select Tori Jankoska at No. 9.
Kaela Davis, the third South Carolina player drafted in the first round, went to Dallas with the tenth pick.
The 21st WNBA season tips off in May.
