GoUSFBulls.com Williams Invited to 2016 WNBA Draft Thursday

[Brad]

USF ATHLETICS

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WEB LINK: http://bit.ly/1VmgtgR

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: April 12, 2016

 

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Williams Invited to 2016 WNBA Draft Thursday
 

TAMPA, APRIL 12, 2016 – University of South Florida senior Courtney Williams is one of 12 prospects invited to attend the 2016 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm on Thursday, April 14 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

 

ESPN2 will televise the first round beginning at 7 p.m. ET, and ESPN3 will air the second and third rounds starting at 8 p.m. ET.

 

Williams is the second Bull ever invited to attend the WNBA Draft and hopes to be the first player in school history to be selected to the WNBA in the first round. Jessica Dickson (’07) was the first player to be invited in 2007.

 

“I’m very excited to attend the draft,” Williams said. “It is an honor to be chosen to participate in the event and I’m excited to be there with my family and friends.”

 

The Folkston, Ga. native earned WBCA All-America honors and was an AP All-America Honorable Mention. She was also a Wade Trophy Finalist and on the final ballot for the John R. Wooden Award. Williams was a unanimous American Athletic Conference First Team selection and earned a spot on the American Athletic Conference All-Tournament Team.

 

Williams ended her career shattering her own single-season points record with 763 points. She ends her career leaving her mark in the USF record books. In the single season ranks, Williams holds both the top (763) and second (710) spots in points, and she’s fifth in 3-point field percentage (.426). In the career books, Williams is second in points (2,304), just 100 points shy of Dickson. Williams finished with 931 rebounds, which rank third, 318 assists (sixth), 163 steals (12^th), 93 blocks (seventh), and a 3-pt field goal percentage of .353 (fifth) in the most games played by any player (138) and 98 starts, which rank 11^th in program history.

 

ESPN analyst Carolyn Peck commented on Williams transition to the WNBA after a successful career at USF.

 

“Because of her quickness and her ability to elevate,” noted Peck “I think that she also this season demonstrated not only is she a scorer, but she has the ability to pass, and I like the confidence that Courtney plays with, and I think you've got to have that in order to play in the WNBA.

 

Williams joins fellow American Athletic Conference seniors Breanna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson and Morgan Tuck on the prospect list. Also participating in the telecast of WNBA Draft 2016 presented by State Farm are guards Rachel Banham (Minnesota), Tiffany Mitchell (South Carolina), and Courtney Walker (Texas A&M); forwards Kahleah Copper (Rutgers), Jonquel Jones (George Washington), Aerial Powers (Michigan State) and Talia Walton (Washington); and center Imani Boyette (Texas).

 

The current order for first round of the WNBA Draft 2016 presented by State Farm is as follows:

 

1)  Seattle (10-24)

2)  San Antonio (8-26)

3)  Connecticut (15-9)

4)  Connecticut from Atlanta (15-19) (E. Williams, 2/3/16)

5)  Dallas from Los Angeles (14-20) (E. Phillips, R. Williams 3/1/16)

6)  Los Angeles from Dallas (18-16) (E. Phillips, R. Williams 3/1/16)

7)  Washington (18-16)

8)  Phoenix (20-14)

9)  Indiana (20-14)

10)  Chicago (21-13)

11)  Atlanta from Minnesota (22-12) (S. Fowles, E. DeSouza, D. Dantas, R. Gray, 7/26/15)

12)  New York (23-11)

 

About the WNBA

The WNBA, which features 12 teams, is a unique global sports property combining competition, sportsmanship, and entertainment with its status as an icon for social change, achievement, and diversity. The league, which counts Verizon as its leaguewide marquee partner, will begin its 20th season on May 14, 2016. 

Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, increase breast and women’s health awareness, support youth and family development, and focus on education. For more information on the WNBA, log on to www.wnba.com.

[raptorcj]

Hope she gets a solid place, take care of our girl!

[CousinRicky]

CJF will be there with her. Hope she goes first round.  

[Boomer]

Bumping this back to the top to remind anyone interested in watching it tonight on ESPN2.

[Azmodi]

I'll be watching with my 2 little girls. We're rooting for her.

[feardabull]

Courtney should go in the next two picks

[CPR]

2 minutes ago, feardabull said:

Courtney should go in the next two picks

Really? I had no idea she'd go that high. That would be awesome.

[CousinRicky]

5 picks in and she's still on the board.  Fingers crossed soon. Would hate to see a Johnny Manziel thing.

[feardabull]

Shows how much i know about womens basketball.  Shes still on the board seven picks in.  Only five left in the first round

[feardabull]

Phoenix mercury!!!   That roster is loaded!!!