NEW YORK – UCLA Women’s Basketball – fresh off its first-ever NCAA national championship – broke two WNBA draft records in New York City Monday night.
Six Bruins were selected by professional women’s basketball organizations, breaking the record for most players selected from a single institution in one WNBA draft. UCLA also had five student-athletes selected in the first round, surpassing the previous record set by UConn in 2002 (4).
Lauren Betts was picked fourth overall and was the first Bruin off the board; the center lands with the Washington Mystics. Gabriela Jaquez was directly behind her at number five and heads to the Chicago Sky. Kiki Rice was the third-consecutive Bruin to be selected and makes history as the Toronto Tempo’s first-ever pick in their young WNBA history.
Angela Dugalić was the fourth Bruin to be selected in the top ten; she joined Lauren Betts out east with the Washington Mystics. Gianna Kneepkens was the final pick of the first round, marking a historic draft for UCLA. She was selected by the Connecticut Sun.
Charlisse Leger-Walker joins Kneepkens with the Sun; the Kiwi guard was selected 18th overall as the sixth and final Bruin off the board.
