List of Connecticut Huskies in the WNBA Draft

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Sue Bird was the first Connecticut Huskies alumna to be drafted first overall.

The University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies women's basketball team has had 32 players selected in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) Draft. Twenty of those selections 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. A Connecticut women's basketball alumna has been selected in 17 of the last 19 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 32 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. Three players have been named both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player (MVP) in their careers—Taurasi was Rookie of the Year in 2004 and MVP in 2009, while Moore was Rookie of the Year in 2011 and MVP in 2014, and Tina Charles being Rookie of the year in 2010 and MVP in 2012. In addition, Breanna Stewart was the 2016 MVP. Several other UConn alumni have been named All-WNBA or selected as WNBA All-Stars on multiple occasions. Seven UConn players have been named to the All-Rookie Team, including two of the school's three Rookies of the Year (Taurasi's rookie season predated the 2005 establishment of the All-Rookie Team). Twelve Connecticut alumni have been part of WNBA championship teams, and one has been named WNBA Finals MVP (Moore in 2013).

Player selection

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First-overall selection and UConn women's basketball alumna Diana Taurasi was named WNBA Most Valuable Player in 2009.
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Tina Charles was the third Connecticut player to be selected first overall, in 2010.
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Brenna Stewart is the most recent UConn women's basketball player (as of 2016) to be drafted first overall.

Allocations

Year Player name Position WNBA team[Note 1] Notes Refs
1997 Lobo, RebeccaRebecca Lobo Center / Forward New York Liberty All-WNBA Second Team (1997)
All-Star (1999)		 [4][8]
1999 Sales, NykeshaNykesha 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 Williams, RitaRita Williams Guard Washington Mystics All-Star (2001) [10][11]
1999 3 12 36 Wolters, KaraKara Wolters Center Houston Comets WNBA champion (1999) [12][13]
1999 4 12 48 Rizzotti, JenniferJennifer Rizzotti Guard Houston Comets WNBA champion (1999, 2000) [14][15]
2000 2 15 31 Sauer, PaigePaige Sauer Center Los Angeles Sparks — [16][17]
2001 1 7 7 Abrosimova, SvetlanaSvetlana Abrosimova Forward Minnesota Lynx WNBA champion (2010) [18][19]
2001 1 14 14 Schumacher, KellyKelly Schumacher Forward / Center Indiana Fever — [20][21]
2001 3 8 40 Ralph, SheaShea Ralph Guard Utah Starzz [Note 2] [22]
2002 1 1 1 Bird, SueSue 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, 2014, 2015)		 [23][24]
2002 1 2 2 Cash, SwinSwin 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 Jones, AsjhaAsjha Jones Forward Washington Mystics WNBA champion (2015)
All-WNBA Second Team (2008)
All-Star (2007, 2009)		 [27][28]
2002 1 6 6 Williams, TamikaTamika Williams Forward Minnesota Lynx — [29][30]
2004 1 1 1 Taurasi, DianaDiana Taurasi Guard Phoenix Mercury WNBA champion (2007, 2009, 2014)
MVP (2009)
Rookie of the Year (2004)
All-WNBA First Team (2004, 2006–11, 2013, 2014)
All-WNBA Second Team (2005)
All-Star (2005–07, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014)		 [31][32]
2005 2 11 24 Moore, JessicaJessica Moore Center Charlotte Sting — [33][34]
2005 2 12 25 Battle, AshleyAshley Battle Forward Seattle Storm — [35][36]
2006 1 11 11 Turner, BarbaraBarbara Turner Guard Seattle Storm — [37][38]
2006 2 1 15 Strother, AnnAnn Strother Guard Houston Comets — [39][40]
2006 2 8 22 Crockett, WillnettWillnett Crockett Forward Los Angeles Sparks — [41][42]
2008 1 12 12 Swanier, KetiaKetia Swanier Guard Connecticut Sun WNBA champion (2009) [43][44]
2008 3 2 30 Houston, ChardeCharde Houston Forward Minnesota Lynx WNBA champion (2011)
All-Star (2009)		 [45][46]
2009 1 4 4 Montgomery, ReneeRenee Montgomery Guard Minnesota Lynx WNBA champion (2015)
All-Star (2011)
All-Rookie Team (2009)		 [47][48]
2010 1 1 1 Charles, TinaTina Charles Center Connecticut Sun Rookie of the Year (2010)
All-WNBA First Team (2011, 2012, 2015)
All-WNBA Second Team (2010, 2013, 2014)
All-Star (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015)		 [49][50]
2010 3 1 27 Greene, KalanaKalana Greene Guard New York Liberty WNBA champion (2015)
All-Rookie Team (2010)		 [51][52]
2011 1 1 1 Moore, MayaMaya Moore Forward Minnesota Lynx WNBA champion (2011, 2013, 2015)
MVP (2014)
Rookie of the Year (2011)
All-WNBA First Team (2013, 2014, 2015)
All-WNBA Second Team (2012)
All-Star (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015)
WNBA Finals MVP (2013)
All-Star Game MVP (2015)		 [53][54]
2012 2 2 14 Hayes, TiffanyTiffany Hayes Guard Atlanta Dream All-Rookie Team (2012) [55]
2013 1 11 11 Faris, KellyKelly Faris Guard Connecticut Sun — [56]
2014 1 6 6 Dolson, StefanieStefanie Dolson Forward Washington Mystics All-Star (2015) [57]
2014 1 7 7 Hartley, BriaBria Hartley Guard Seattle Storm All-Rookie Team (2014) [57]
2015 1 3 3 Mosqueda-Lewis, KaleenaKaleena Mosqueda-Lewis Forward Seattle Storm — [58]
2015 1 11 11 Stokes, KiahKiah Stokes Center New York Liberty All-Rookie Team (2015) [58]
2016 1 1 1 Stewart, BreannaBreanna Stewart Center Seattle Storm Rookie of the Year (2016)
All-Rookie Team (2016)		 [59]
2016 1 2 2 Jefferson, MoriahMoriah Jefferson Guard San Antonio Stars — [59]
2016 1 3 3 Tuck, MorganMorgan Tuck Forward Connecticut Sun — [59]

Notes

  1. 1 2 This is the team that drafted the player, not the player's most recent team.
  2. ↑ 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
Specific
  1. ↑ "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.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ "Hoops 101: Reneé Brown". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on November 18, 2009. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 "WNBA.com: Rebecca Lobo Player Info". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 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.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. 1 2 "WNBA.com: Nykesha Sales Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Rebecca Lobo WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Nykesha Sales WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  10. ↑ "WNBA.com: Rita Williams Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Rita Williams WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  12. ↑ "WNBA.com: Kara Wolters Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Kara Wolters WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
  14. ↑ "WNBA.com: Jennifer Rizzotti Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Jennifer Rizzotti WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  16. ↑ "WNBA.com: Paige Sauer Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Paige Sauer WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  18. ↑ "WNBA.com: Svetlana Abrosimova Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Svetlana Abrosimova WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  20. ↑ "WNBA.com: Kelly Schumacher Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Kelly Schumacher WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  22. 1 2 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.
  23. ↑ "WNBA.com: Sue Bird Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  24. ↑ "Sue Bird WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  25. ↑ "WNBA.com: Swin Cash Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Swin Cash WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  27. ↑ "WNBA.com: Asjha Jones Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  28. ↑ "Asjha Jones WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  29. ↑ "WNBA.com: Tamika Williams Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Tamika Raymond WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  31. ↑ "WNBA.com: Diana Taurasi Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Diana Taurasi WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  33. ↑ "WNBA.com: Jessica Moore Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Jessica Moore WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  35. ↑ "WNBA.com: Ashley Battle Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  36. ↑ "Ashley Battle WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  37. ↑ "WNBA.com: Barbara Turner Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  38. ↑ "Barbara Turner WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  39. ↑ "WNBA.com: Ann Strother Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  40. ↑ "Ann Strother WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  41. ↑ "WNBA.com: Willnett Crockett Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  42. ↑ "Willnett Crockett WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  43. ↑ "WNBA.com: Ketia Swanier Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
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  45. ↑ "WNBA.com: Charde Houston Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
  46. ↑ "Charde Houston WNBA Statistics". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 13, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  47. ↑ "WNBA.com: Renee Montgomery Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on September 13, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
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  49. ↑ "WNBA.com: Tina Charles Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on September 13, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
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  51. ↑ "WNBA.com: Kalana Greene Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on September 13, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
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  53. ↑ "WNBA.com: Maya Moore Playerfile". WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Archived from the original on September 13, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
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  55. ↑ "Draft Board". WNBA. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  56. ↑ "Draft Board". WNBA. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  57. 1 2 "WNBA Draft Board 2014". WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  58. 1 2 "2015 WNBA Draft Board". WNBA Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  59. 1 2 3
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