2020 WNBA Draft: Oregon's Big Three all go in first round; 5 Pac-12 stars selected overall
Check back as picks are made in Friday's WNBA Draft to see where your favorite Pac-12 stars land at the next level.
Sabrina Ionescu, No. 1 — New York Liberty
As was widely expected entering Friday's Draft, consensus Player of the Year Sabrina Ionescu went No. 1 overall, becoming the first in Oregon history to be taken in either the first round or with the first pick of the WNBA Draft. Ionescu becomes the fifth in Pac-12 history to be selected No. 1 overall, following Kelsey Plum (2017), Chiney Ogwumike (2014), Nnemkadi Ogwumike (2012) and Tina Thompson (1997). Ionescu will no doubt have an immediate impact with the Liberty after a record-setting career in Eugene.
The is NEW YORK BOUND!
Sabrina Ionescu is headed to the New York Liberty as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 #WNBADraft! #GoDucks@sabrina_i20 x @nyliberty pic.twitter.com/bba4ghPVBJ
— Oregon Women’s Basketball (@OregonWBB) April 17, 2020
Satou Sabally, No. 2 — Dallas Wings
Not only did the Ducks have the No. 1 overall pick, they remarkably had the No. 2 pick, too. Satou Sabally, a dynamic 6-foot-4 forward who averaged 16.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, was selected second by the Dallas Wings. The pick continued a historic day for the Ducks on Friday and makes Ionescu and Sabally the fourth pair of teammates to go 1-2 in the WNBA Draft.
With the second pick in the 2020 #WNBADraft, the Dallas Wings select @BallySatou!
Welcome to Dallas, Satou! #RISE pic.twitter.com/0vNl0lLQEY
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) April 17, 2020
Ruthy Hebard, No. 8 — Chicago Sky
With Ruthy Hebard going eighth to Chicago, the Ducks became the first team in Pac-12 history to have three first-round selections. Hebard will play alongside Kelly Graves' former point guard at Gonzaga, Courtney Vandersloot, to begin her professional career.
Get ready Chicago, you're getting a
Ruthy Hebard is going to the Chicago Sky with the eighth overall pick in the #WNBADraft! #GoDucks @RuthyHebard24 x @wnbachicagosky pic.twitter.com/E7V2jTqZvc
— Oregon Women’s Basketball (@OregonWBB) April 17, 2020
Mikayla Pivec, No. 25 — Atlanta Dream
The Beavers' dynamic senior guard was the first pick to open the third round, giving OSU a player selected in the WNBA Draft in four of the last five years. Remarkably, the 5-foot-10 prospect became the school's all-time leading rebounder this season (1,030) from the guard position.
Mikayla Pivec is headed to the @AtlantaDream with the No. 25 pick in the @WNBA Draft!#GoBeavs #MikWeek pic.twitter.com/kPzzFowi8c
— Oregon State WBB (@BeaverWBB) April 18, 2020
Japreece Drean, No. 30 — Chicago Sky
Like Pivec, Dean went in the third round to give her school a selection in four of the last five Drafts. As a senior, she was one of only seven D-1 student-athletes with at least 13 points and 5.5 assists per game.
.@japreece24 is heading to Chi-Town!
Japreece Dean is taken with the 30th overall pick in the #WNBADraft and becomes the newest member of the @wnbachicagosky! Congrats, JP!!!#GoBruins | #BruinsInThePros pic.twitter.com/7K5j5b3JvY
— UCLA W. Basketball (@UCLAWBB) April 18, 2020
Player | Position | Pac-12 School | WNBA team | Round / Pick |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sabrina Ionescu | G | 1st / 1st | ||
Satou Sabally | F | 1st / 2nd | ||
Ruthy Hebard | F | 1st / 8th | ||
Mikayla Pivec | G | 3rd / 25th | ||
Japreece Dean | G | 3rd / 30th |