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2002 WNBA draft
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| 2002 WNBA draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Date | April 19, 2002 |
| Overview | |
| League | WNBA |
| First selection | Sue Bird Seattle Storm |
The 2002 WNBA draft was the first to implement a lottery that arranges the order of the first four overall picks. The lottery gave four teams with the identically worst record of 10–22 from the 2001 season an equal chance to own the first overall selection, which the Seattle Storm did.[1]
Four of the top six draft picks, Sue Bird (#1), Swin Cash (#2), Asjha Jones (#4) and Tamika (Williams) Raymond (#6) were from the same team, the 2002 NCAA champion University of Connecticut.
Key
[edit]| ! | Denotes player who has been inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| ^ | Denotes player who has been inducted to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame |
| * | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-WNBA Team |
| + | Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game |
| # | Denotes player who never played in the WNBA regular season or playoffs |
| Bold | Denotes player who won Rookie of the Year |
Draft
[edit]Round 1
[edit]
Round 2
[edit]
Round 3
[edit]Round 4
[edit]UConn Fab Four
[edit]Connecticut Huskies players Tamika Williams, Sue Bird, Asjha Jones and Swin Cash were all selected in the first round of the draft. Each player had immediate impacts with their 2002 WNBA Teams. Cash, Bird and Williams accounted for 21.3, 19.9 and 17.3 percent, respectively, of their teams’ total points, rebounds and assists. Jones, a reserve, posted 8.8 percent of the Mystics' total output in those three key categories.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "History of the WNBA Draft Lottery". wnba.com.
- ^ "Connecticut's Fab Four Makes Pro Basketball History". wnba.com. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
- "All-Time WNBA Draft List". WNBA. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved June 4, 2008.
- WNBA Draft: Pick-by-pick at ESPN.com
2002 WNBA draft
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background
Eligibility Rules
The eligibility rules for the 2002 WNBA draft were governed by the league's collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which had been in effect since 1999 and outlined strict criteria to ensure players met age and educational benchmarks before entering the professional ranks.[5] For U.S. players, eligibility required that an individual be at least 22 years old during the calendar year of the draft, or have graduated from a four-year college or university (or be expected to graduate within three months after the draft), or attended college with their original class graduating in the draft year and renounce any remaining intercollegiate eligibility at least 10 days prior to the draft; this effectively meant most domestic prospects were college seniors or graduates who had exhausted their NCAA eligibility.[6] International players faced a lower threshold, needing only to be at least 20 years old in the draft year, with no mandatory college attendance or U.S. high school graduation required, allowing for the inclusion of overseas amateurs and professionals who met the age criterion.[6] College athletes formed the core of the eligible pool, with the option to declare for the draft upon completion of their junior year by renouncing any remaining intercollegiate eligibility, provided their original class meets the graduation timeline, though the majority entered after their senior season. For the 2002 draft, this encompassed seniors from the 2001-02 NCAA season who were graduating or had no remaining eligibility, a group that included standout talents from top programs and provided a deep talent base for teams.[5] Exceptions for non-college domestic amateurs were limited, typically requiring the same age or graduation standards, while international prospects like those from European leagues could declare if they satisfied the 20-year-old rule, though such entries were less common in 2002 compared to college graduates.[6] The 2002 eligible pool was particularly notable for its strength, highlighted by the dominant senior class from the University of Connecticut, which produced multiple high-impact prospects ready for immediate professional transition and underscored the league's reliance on NCAA pipelines for talent development.[1] These rules, unchanged from the prior CBA, aimed to balance player maturity with league growth by prioritizing experienced entrants.[5]Pre-Draft Landscape
The 2002 WNBA draft class was bolstered by an exceptionally strong pool of college talent, particularly from the University of Connecticut, whose women's basketball team achieved a perfect 39-0 season and captured the NCAA championship on March 31, 2002, with an 82-70 victory over Oklahoma in San Antonio, Texas.[7] This undefeated run, led by a senior class featuring multiple projected top prospects, generated significant pre-draft excitement and positioned UConn as the focal point of scouting discussions, with analysts emphasizing the team's depth and versatility as a pipeline for professional talent.[8] Among the consensus top prospects were UConn's Sue Bird and Swin Cash, whose college performances highlighted their readiness for the WNBA. Bird, the 2002 Naismith Player of the Year[9], three-time Nancy Lieberman Award winner[10], and UConn's first-ever No. 1 WNBA Draft pick[11] whose No. 10 jersey was retired in 2025[12], averaged 14.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and a team-high 5.9 assists per game during the 2001-02 season, earning praise for her elite floor-general skills, court vision, and leadership in orchestrating UConn's offense.[13] Cash, a versatile senior forward, contributed 14.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, drawing scouting buzz for her athleticism, rebounding prowess, and ability to score from multiple positions, making her a projected high-impact addition to any roster.[13] Entering the draft, teams like the Seattle Storm, who finished the 2001 season with a 10-22 record and struggled with backcourt stability, were actively seeking a point guard to anchor their lineup.[14] The Detroit Shock, also posting a 10-22 mark after a disappointing campaign, aimed to rebuild with versatile frontcourt talent to address defensive and scoring deficiencies.[15] The Washington Mystics held back-to-back first-round selections at Nos. 3 and 4, a result of their standing and prior draft maneuvers, positioning them to target immediate contributors amid a 10-22 finish in 2001.[16] Media previews, including those from ESPN, widely predicted a UConn sweep of the top picks, with Bird forecasted as the No. 1 selection by the Storm due to her prototypical point guard attributes, and Cash expected to follow closely as a foundational forward.[1] These mock drafts underscored the anticipation surrounding the Huskies' talent infusion into the league, framing the event as a potential turning point for several franchises.[17]Draft Event
Date and Location
The 2002 WNBA draft took place on April 19, 2002, at the NBA Entertainment Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.[18][19] This marked the third consecutive year the league hosted its annual draft in the New York metropolitan area, a tradition that began with the 2000 event and continued in 2001, selected for the region's robust media infrastructure and proximity to the WNBA's headquarters in New York City.[20][21][22] The event featured pre-draft interviews with eligible players and a green room where top prospects, including several from the University of Connecticut, gathered to await team selections during the live broadcast.[23][24]Broadcast and Attendance
The first round of the 2002 WNBA Draft was broadcast live on ESPN2 from the NBA Entertainment Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.[24] The telecast featured studio host Matt Devlin alongside analysts Ann Meyers, Doris Burke, and Vera Jones, who offered insights into team selections and player potential.[24][1] All rounds were televised on NBA TV, providing comprehensive coverage of all 64 picks.[24] Online coverage was available through WNBA.com, which offered real-time updates, team-by-team results, and post-draft analysis to supplement the television broadcast.[25] The event underscored the rising visibility of women's basketball, particularly amid the excitement surrounding the University of Connecticut's undefeated 2001-02 NCAA season, as four UConn seniors were selected in the first six picks.[1] In-person attendance at the Secaucus studios included family members of prospective draftees, league executives, scouts, and media personnel, creating an intimate setting for the proceedings.[26]Selection Process
Draft Format
The 2002 WNBA draft was structured into four rounds, with each of the league's 16 teams allocated one pick per round for a total of 64 selections. The first round was broadcast live on ESPN2 from Secaucus, New Jersey, while the remaining rounds were conducted via conference call among team representatives and league officials.[27][4] Selection order was established primarily by the reverse finishing positions from the 2001 regular-season standings, awarding the earliest picks to the worst-performing teams. An inaugural draft lottery determined the exact order among the four teams tied for the league's poorest records for the top three overall selections, with odds weighted by record; additional ties in standings were resolved through a separate lottery process. For instance, the Seattle Storm, who posted a 10-22 record in 2001, won the lottery to claim the No. 1 pick.[28][2][14] Trades of draft picks and players were permitted both prior to and during the event, enabling teams to adjust their positions. A key pre-draft transaction saw the Washington Mystics acquire the No. 4 overall pick from the Indiana Fever in exchange for guard Nikki McCray.[29][30] League President Val Ackerman announced the selections during the televised portion, and the draft did not incorporate territorial picks, consistent with WNBA procedures that prioritized standings-based ordering over geographic preferences.[31]Team Selection Order
The team selection order for the 2002 WNBA draft was established based on the reverse order of the 2001 regular season records, with ties among the four teams that finished 10–22 (Seattle Storm, Detroit Shock, Washington Mystics, and Indiana Fever) resolved through an inaugural draft lottery held on November 13, 2001.[2] The Seattle Storm won the lottery, securing the first overall pick for the second consecutive year, while the remaining order followed performance, adjusted for trades.[32] No further lottery was used beyond the top three picks; subsequent positions reflected the prior season's finish, with the Portland Fire (11–21) picking fifth, Minnesota Lynx (12–20) sixth, and so on through the league's 16 teams.[33] A key adjustment occurred when the Washington Mystics acquired the Indiana Fever's fourth pick in a December 5, 2001, trade that sent guard Nikki McCray and Washington's 17th and 49th overall picks to Indiana, granting Washington consecutive selections at Nos. 3 and 4.[30] No other team held multiple first-round picks. Several other trades affected the order, including the Charlotte Sting obtaining the seventh pick from the Orlando Miracle and the Cleveland Rockers receiving the eighth from the Phoenix Mercury, but these did not result in duplicate selections for any franchise.[34] The first-round order is as follows:| Pick | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle Storm | Lottery winner |
| 2 | Detroit Shock | - |
| 3 | Washington Mystics | - |
| 4 | Washington Mystics | From Indiana Fever (McCray trade, 12/5/01) |
| 5 | Portland Fire | - |
| 6 | Minnesota Lynx | - |
| 7 | Charlotte Sting | From Orlando Miracle (Machanguana trade, 4/18/02) |
| 8 | Cleveland Rockers | From Phoenix Mercury (Johns Kimbrough trade, 3/4/02) |
| 9 | Charlotte Sting | From Minnesota Lynx (Gortman/Buescher/Martin trade) |
| 10 | Houston Comets | - |
| 11 | Utah Starzz | - |
| 12 | Sacramento Monarchs | - |
| 13 | Indiana Fever | From Phoenix Mercury (via Miami Sol, 3/4/02) |
| 14 | Utah Starzz | From New York Liberty (Hlede trade, 4/18/02) |
| 15 | Miami Sol | From Phoenix Mercury (via Cleveland Rockers, 3/4/02) |
| 16 | Los Angeles Sparks | - |
Draft Picks
First Round
The first round of the 2002 WNBA Draft, held on April 19, 2002, in Secaucus, New Jersey, featured 16 selections and was dominated by players from the University of Connecticut, whose undefeated national championship team contributed four of the top six picks. This influx highlighted the Huskies' exceptional senior class, known collectively as the "Fab Four," and underscored the league's growing emphasis on elite college talent. The round also included international representation and immediate post-draft trades that reshaped team rosters.[1][4] The selections are summarized in the following table:| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College/Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle Storm | Sue Bird | G | Connecticut |
| 2 | Detroit Shock | Swin Cash | F | Connecticut |
| 3 | Washington Mystics | Stacey Dales | G | Oklahoma |
| 4 | Washington Mystics | Asjha Jones | F | Connecticut |
| 5 | Portland Fire | Nikki Teasley | G | North Carolina |
| 6 | Minnesota Lynx | Tamika Williams | F | Connecticut |
| 7 | Charlotte Sting | Sheila Lambert | G | Baylor |
| 8 | Cleveland Rockers | Deanna Jackson | F | UAB |
| 9 | Charlotte Sting | Shaunzinski Gortman | G | South Carolina |
| 10 | Houston Comets | Michelle Snow | C | Tennessee |
| 11 | Utah Starzz | Danielle Crockrom | F | Baylor |
| 12 | Sacramento Monarchs | Hamchétou Maïga-Ba | G/F | Old Dominion (Mali) |
| 13 | Indiana Fever | Tawana McDonald | C | Georgia |
| 14 | Utah Starzz | LaNeishea Caufield | G | Oklahoma |
| 15 | Miami Sol | Tamara Moore | G/F | Wisconsin |
| 16 | Los Angeles Sparks | Rosalind Ross | G | Oklahoma |
Second Round
The second round of the 2002 WNBA Draft, consisting of picks 17 through 32, focused on teams bolstering bench depth with versatile role players, particularly post players and guards who could provide immediate rotational support or long-term development potential. Unlike the first round, which featured high-profile lottery selections, this round emphasized prospects from a mix of mid-major and smaller colleges, alongside several international talents who had adapted to American college basketball or entered directly from overseas leagues. The Detroit Shock dominated the round with four selections (picks 18, 20, 21, and 22), using their picks to add frontcourt and perimeter depth following their acquisition of Swin Cash in the first round.[3][4] No trades occurred during the second round itself, allowing teams to select according to their pre-draft order without interruptions, though some picks like Gergana Slavtcheva (No. 30, Los Angeles Sparks) were part of post-draft transactions. International selections were prominent, with five players of non-U.S. origin: Zuzi Klimesova (Czech Republic, Vanderbilt), Lucienne Berthieu (France, Old Dominion), Kathy Wambe (Belgium, no U.S. college), Linda Fröhlich (Germany, UNLV), and Slavtcheva (Bulgaria, Florida International). These picks reflected teams' growing interest in global talent to diversify rosters and address positional needs in the post and backcourt.[3][4] The following table lists all second-round selections:| Pick | Team | Player | College/Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Indiana Fever | Zuzi Klimesova | Vanderbilt |
| 18 | Detroit Shock | Lenae Williams | DePaul |
| 19 | Seattle Storm | Lucienne Berthieu | Old Dominion |
| 20 | Detroit Shock | Ayana Walker | Louisiana Tech |
| 21 | Detroit Shock | Jill Chapman | Indiana |
| 22 | Detroit Shock | Kathy Wambe | Belgium |
| 23 | Orlando Miracle | Davalyn Cunningham | Rutgers |
| 24 | Cleveland Rockers | Brandi McCain | Florida |
| 25 | Phoenix Mercury | Tootie Shaw | Wichita State |
| 26 | New York Liberty | Linda Fröhlich | UNLV |
| 27 | Utah Starzz | Andrea Gardner | Howard |
| 28 | Seattle Storm | Felicia Ragland | Oregon State |
| 29 | Miami Sol | Lindsey Yamasaki | Stanford |
| 30 | Los Angeles Sparks | Gergana Slavtcheva | Florida International |
| 31 | Cleveland Rockers | Angie Welle | Iowa State |
| 32 | Los Angeles Sparks | Jackie Higgins | North Carolina |
Third Round
The third round of the 2002 WNBA draft encompassed picks 33 through 48, where teams primarily targeted developmental prospects from NCAA Division I programs, focusing on players with potential for future contributions as role players, specialists, or depth options rather than immediate starters.[4] This round emphasized lesser-known talents from mid-major and power conferences, with selections reflecting teams' needs for versatile guards, forwards, and bigs to bolster bench production.[17] The snake draft order continued from prior rounds, resulting in a straightforward progression with few disruptions from trades—only one noted exchange affected pick 34.[17]| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College/University |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Washington Mystics | LaNisha Cartwell | C | Alabama |
| 34 | Indiana Fever (from Detroit) | Kelly Komara | G | Purdue |
| 35 | Seattle Storm | Takeisha Lewis | F/C | Louisiana Tech |
| 36 | Washington Mystics | Teresa Geter | F | South Carolina |
| 37 | Portland Fire | Mandy Nightingale | G | Colorado |
| 38 | Minnesota Lynx | Lindsey Meder | G | Iowa |
| 39 | Orlando Miracle | Saundra Jackson | F | Ole Miss |
| 40 | Phoenix Mercury | Kayte Christensen | F | UC Santa Barbara |
| 41 | Charlotte Sting | Edniesha Curry | G | Oregon |
| 42 | Houston Comets | Shondra Johnson | G/F | Alabama |
| 43 | Utah Starzz | Edmarie Lumbsley | F | Mobile |
| 44 | Sacramento Monarchs | Alayne Ingram | G | Michigan |
| 45 | Miami Sol | Jerica Watson | G | Iowa |
| 46 | New York Liberty | Tracy Gahan | F | Iowa State |
| 47 | Detroit Shock | Ericka Haney | G | Notre Dame |
| 48 | Los Angeles Sparks | Rashana Barnes | F | Penn State |
Fourth Round
The fourth round of the 2002 WNBA Draft encompassed picks 49 through 64, where teams primarily targeted players for roster depth and to secure territorial or developmental rights to emerging talents.[3] Unlike the star-studded early rounds, these selections emphasized prospects from mid-major and major college programs, with a subtle international element amid the predominantly domestic pool.[4] The complete list of fourth-round picks is presented below:| Pick | Team | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | Indiana Fever | LaKeisha Taylor | G | Arizona |
| 50 | Portland Fire | Melody Johnson | G | Arizona State |
| 51 | Sacramento Monarchs | Jermisha Dosty | F | Saint Mary's |
| 52 | Indiana Fever | Jillian Danker | G | Vanderbilt |
| 53 | Portland Fire | Monique Cardenas | G | Florida |
| 54 | Minnesota Lynx | Sharron Francis | F | Old Dominion |
| 55 | Orlando Miracle | Tomeka Brown | G | Ohio State |
| 56 | Phoenix Mercury | Amba Kongolo | F | NC Central |
| 57 | Charlotte Sting | Jessie Stomski | F | Wisconsin |
| 58 | Houston Comets | Cori Enghusen | F | Stanford |
| 59 | Utah Starzz | Jacklyn Winfield | F | Southern University |
| 60 | Sacramento Monarchs | Elizabeth Pickney | F | Arizona |
| 61 | Miami Sol | Jerkisha Dosty | F | Saint Mary's |
| 62 | New York Liberty | Deedee Warley | F | Maryland |
| 63 | Cleveland Rockers | Marche Strickland | F | Maryland |
| 64 | Los Angeles Sparks | Tiffany Thompson | F | Old Dominion |