15 Years, 15 Draft Picks, 15 Universities
Photo by Vegas Sports Today
There have been many stellar WNBA players in the program’s history, but the last fifteen years alone have had some insane picks from the draft. Specifically, looking at each first-round, first-pick player, there is a wide range of Universities that trained these women to perform at the top level. Here is a compiled list from the past fifteen years containing some of the best WNBA first-round picks and what universities each woman came from…
2023, Indiana Fever, Aliyah Boston, University of South Carolina
2022, Atlanta Dream, Rhyne Howard, University of Kentucky
2021, Dallas Wings, Charli Collier, University of Texas
2020, New York Liberty, Sabrina Ionescu, University of Oregon
2019, Las Vegas Aces, Jackie Young, University of Notre Dame
2018, Las Vegas Aces, A’ja Wilson, University of South Carolina 2017
2016, Seattle Storm, Breanna Stewart, University of Connecticut
2015, Seattle Storm, Jewell Loyd, University of Notre Dame
2014, Connecticut Sun, Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford University
2013, Phoenix Mercury, Brittney Griner, Baylor University
2012, Los Angeles Sparks, Nneka Ogwumike, Stanford University
2011, Minnesota Lynx, Maya Moore, University of Connecticut
2010, Connecticut Sun, Tina Charles, University of Connecticut
2009, Atlanta Dream, Angel McCoughtry, University of Louisville
There are multiple schools that have had two or more players be the first pick in the draft within the past fifteen years. Specifically looking at UConn, Stanford, Notre Dame, and South Carolina. As whole programs, these are the top schools any division one college player should aspire to go to, as they have a program that can push and train players to perform at the next level.
The University of South Carolina and the University of Connecticut will always stand out for me personally as they have produced stars in Aliyah Boston, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore, and Tina Charles who are historically some of the biggest names in the WNBA.
Overall, the collegiate level of basketball has pumped out some insanely talented women, not just in their ability to play the game but also in their ability to lead young girls to the goals they have.
