DURHAM , N.C. – Duke University senior
Elizabeth Williams headlines a list of 12 prospects who will attend the WNBA Draft 2015, which will take place Thursday, April 16 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. It will be aired live on ESPN2 for the first round beginning at 7:00 p.m. and then moved to ESPN3 for the second and third rounds starting at 8 p.m.
Along with Williams receiving invites were Jewell Loyd (Notre Dame), Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (UConn), Brittany Boyd (California), Brittany Hrynko (DePaul), Samantha Logic (Iowa); Reshanda Gray (California), Dearica Hamby (Wake Forest), Aleighsa Welch (South Carolina); Isabelle Harrison (Tennessee), Kiah Stokes (Connecticut) and Amanda Zahui B. (Minnesota).
Williams, a native of Virginia Beach, Va., was the first four-time Associated Press All-America in ACC history, while earning WBCA All-America and WBCA National Defensive Player of the Year in her final year. The 6-3 center averaged 14.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.0 blocks per contest as the Blue Devils advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in Spokane, Wash. She posted a career-best 10 double-doubles on the season and scored 20 or more points five times. Williams led the ACC and tied for 12th nationally with her 3.0 blocks per game average.
The Seattle Storm holds the top pick in the draft for the third time in franchise history after winning the WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm. The rest of the top five includes the Tulsa Shock (second pick), Seattle (third, from the Connecticut Sun), Connecticut (fourth, from the New York Liberty), and the Chicago Sky (fifth).
One of the top shot-blockers in NCAA history, Williams finished her career with 426 swats to rank ninth all-time and was eight blocks away from tying the ACC career mark. A four-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Williams also finished her standout career with 44 NCAA Tournament blocks to rank fifth. She was a four-time First Team All-ACC honoree and received Capital One Academic All-America as a senior.
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Duke has featured 19 different student-athletes taken in the WNBA Draft, including nine first round selections. Last year,
Chelsea Gray (Connecticut Sun) and
Tricia Liston (Minnesota Lynx) were taken in the first rounds at No. 11 and No. 12, respectively. The Blue Devils have boasted three players selected in the top five picks over the years – Lindsey Harding (No. 1, Phoenix, 2007), Alana Beard (No. 2, Washington, 2004) and Monique Currie (No. 3, Charlotte, 2006).
WNBA.com, in addition to providing comprehensive draft-day coverage, will serve as the web destination for fans who want to track the top prospects before the draft. To view WNBA.com's photo gallery of all-time No. 1 overall picks, click here.
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