The 1997 WNBA draft was the 1st draft held by the WNBA through which teams could select new players from a talent pool of college and professional women's basketball players. Unlike later drafts, this draft was unique because there were three different stages in which teams built their rosters.
First on January 22, 1997, the Initial Player Allocation draft took place in which 16 players were assigned to each team in no particular order.
The elite draft portion comprised professional women's basketball players who had competed in other leagues, usually international leagues. On February 27, 1997, an elite draft added two more players to each team.
On April 28, 1997, the four rounds of the regular WNBA draft took place.
Draftees Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, and Tina Thompson would become the core pieces of the Houston Comets dynasty.
Racquel Spurlock (3rd Round, 17th overall pick) is the only player selected in this draft that ended up never playing a game in the WNBA.
The 1997WNBAdraft was the 1st draft held by the WNBA through which teams could select new players from a talent pool of college and professional women's...
and professional women's basketball players. The first WNBAdraft was held in 1997. The WNBA "requires players to be at least 22, to have completed their...
WNBAdraft On January 27, 1998, a total of 4 players were assigned to two teams in no particular order. On February 18, 1998, a WNBA expansion draft took...
Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Salt Lake City. They began play in the 1997WNBA season as one of the league's eight original...
The 1997WNBA Season was the Women's National Basketball Association's inaugural season. It started off with 8 franchises: Charlotte Sting, Cleveland...
distinction of having the worst record in the WNBA in 1997 and were the first team to select in the 1998 WNBAdraft. With their selection, they picked 7 ft...
Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as part of the league's Eastern Conference. The team was founded in 1997 and is one of the eight original franchises...
Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft. The first pick is awarded to the team that wins the WNBAdraft lottery; in most cases, that team had...
picked in the 1997WNBA elite draft. After this draft, the normal collegiate draft took place. "WNBA, list". Idaho Spokesman-Review. March 1, 1997. pp. C4....
Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft. Of these selections, 27 were in the first round of the draft; five players—Sue Bird in 2002, Diana...
Association (WNBA), which started in 1997, previously had a team in northern California in the Sacramento Monarchs, which played from 1997 until folding...
The 1997WNBA season was the first season for the Houston Comets. The Comets won the inaugural WNBA Finals. Janeth Arcain ranked second in the WNBA in...
Association (WNBA). One of eight original franchises, it was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began. The Mercury have qualified for the WNBA Playoffs...
regarded as one of the greatest WNBA players of all time, she was selected as the first overall pick in the 2008 WNBAdraft by the Los Angeles Sparks. She...
Washington University and was the 31st draft pick in the 1997WNBAdraft. She played for Sacramento Monarchs in 1997 and Detroit Shock in 1998. Abraham took...
The 1997WNBA Championship was the championship game of the 1997WNBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Houston Comets, top-seeded...
player allocation of the 1997WNBAdraft by the Utah Starzz on January 22, 1997. Her debut game was played on June 21, 1997, in a 61–73 loss to the Sacramento...
The 2023 WNBA Finals, officially the WNBA Finals 2023 presented by YouTube TV for sponsorship reasons, was the best-of-five championship series for the...
Association (WNBA). She was drafted by Phoenix first overall in the 2004 WNBAdraft. Taurasi has won the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award (2004), three WNBA championships...
Association (WNBA). This includes ten players taken in the first round of the NBA Draft and six players in the first round of the WNBADraft. In 2009, Blake...
Association (WNBA). Witherspoon played college basketball for the University of Florida, and was selected in the second round of the 1997WNBAdraft. She played...
first college draft pick in WNBA history, Thompson was selected first by the Houston Comets. She helped lead the Comets to four consecutive WNBA Championships...
was drafted in the 1997WNBAdraft by the Sacramento Monarchs, and played for the Monarchs and Los Angeles Sparks. McGee is the first son of a WNBA player...
(WNBA) as a member club of the league's Western Conference. The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began. Like some other WNBA...
Basketball Association (WNBA). The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Utah Starzz before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; then moved...
four consecutive years. On April 1, 2023, Boston declared for the 2023 WNBAdraft. Boston chose to forgo her extra year of eligibility granted to college...
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