List of UConn Huskies in the WNBA draft information
Sue Bird was the first UConn Huskies alumna to be drafted first overall.
The UConn Huskies women's basketball team, representing the University of Connecticut in NCAA Division I college basketball, has had 45 players selected in the 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 Taurasi in 2004, Tina Charles in 2010, Maya Moore in 2011, and Breanna Stewart in 2016—were picked first overall. At least one UConn women's basketball alumna was selected or allocated in every WNBA Draft from 2009 to 2020, with the 2021 draft being only the third in which no Huskies player was chosen.[General]
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.[1] 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.[2]
In addition to the 45 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.[3][4] Lobo was assigned to the New York Liberty and is considered one of the WNBA's first players.[3] Sales was the first player for the expansion Orlando Miracle;[4] the team would later relocate and become the Connecticut Sun.[5][6]
UConn women's basketball alumni have had a significant impact on the WNBA. Six players—Taurasi, Charles, Moore, Stewart, Napheesa Collier, and Crystal Dangerfield—were named WNBA Rookie of the Year, and the first four named players were later named WNBA Most Valuable Player (MVP). Several other UConn alumni have been named to All-WNBA teams or selected as WNBA All-Stars on multiple occasions. Ten UConn players have been named to the All-Rookie Team, including five of the school's six Rookies of the Year (Taurasi's rookie season predated the 2005 establishment of the All-Rookie Team). Fourteen Huskies alumni have been part of WNBA championship teams, and three have been named WNBA Finals MVP: Maya Moore in 2013, Diana Taurasi in 2009 and 2014 and Breanna Stewart in 2018 and 2020. The current all time leader of assists in the WNBA is Sue Bird (drafted 1st in 2002) and the current all time scoring leader is Diana Taurasi (drafted first in 2004).
^Cite error: The named reference WNBA_Lottery was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference WNBA_Eligibility was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abCite error: The named reference WNBA_RebeccaLobo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abCite error: The named reference OrlandoSentinelNykeshaSales was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference CourantOrlandoMiracleMove was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference WNBA_NykeshaSales was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
and 21 Related for: List of UConn Huskies in the WNBA draft information
TheUConnHuskies women's basketball team, representing the University of Connecticut in NCAA Division I college basketball, has had 45 players selected...
TheUConnHuskies (or Connecticut Huskies) are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Connecticut, located in Storrs. The...
basketball player for the Indiana Fever ofthe Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for theUConnHuskies. Samuelson played...
ofthe year. Stewart was the first overall pick inthe 2016 WNBAdraft and was named the 2016 WNBA Rookie ofthe Year. She was named theWNBA MVP in 2018...
player for the Phoenix Mercury ofthe Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted by Phoenix first overall inthe 2004 WNBAdraft. Taurasi...
with the Seattle Storm ofthe Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Bird was drafted by the Storm first overall inthe 2002 WNBAdraft and is...
fellow UConn alums Kara Wolters, Swin Cash, Sue Bird, and Diana Taurasi on the elite listof female basketball players to have won NCAA titles, WNBA Championships...
for the University of Connecticut Huskies, Collier was drafted by the Lynx with the 6th overall pick inthe 2019 WNBAdraft. She participated inthe 2020...
player for the Washington Mystics ofthe Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted sixth overall inthe 2014 WNBAdraft. Dolson played...
player for the Las Vegas Aces ofthe Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Hayes played college basketball for the Connecticut Huskies, playing...
basketball player for theUConnHuskiesofthe Big East Conference. Nicknamed "Paige Buckets", Bueckers attended Hopkins High School in Hopkins, Minnesota...
basketball player for the Washington Mystics ofthe Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball at UConn. Edwards played high...
basketball at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut for theHuskies. In her time at UConn, Nurse played under head coach Geno Auriemma...
basketball for theUConnHuskies. Dangerfield was draftedinthe second round ofthe 2020 WNBAdraft by Minnesota, where she was named WNBA Rookie ofthe Year after...
for the Indiana Fever ofthe Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was named 2023 WNBA Rookie ofthe Year in a unanimous vote and the AP...
with the first overall pick inthe 2017 WNBAdraft by the San Antonio Stars. She was named theWNBA Sixth Player ofthe Year in 2021. Plum is the daughter...
(USBWA) in 2020. Following the conclusion ofthe 2019-2020 NCAA season with theUConnHuskies, Walker declared for the 2020 WNBAdraft. Walker was drafted 9th...
"Mosqueda-Lewis and Stokes Selected in First Round ofWNBADraft". UConn Athletics. April 16, 2015. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved...
Connecticut Sun ofthe Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Brown was the ninth overall pick by the Connecticut Sun inthe 2018 WNBAdraft. She was...
Global Information