UNCASVILLE, Conn. (November 5, 2009) - Participating in the WNBA Draft
Lottery for the first time since relocating from Orlando in 2003, the
Connecticut Sun earned the highest draft pick in franchise history
Thursday, winning the right to choose third overall in the 2010 Draft.Minnesota won the ninth annual lottery, and will pick first in the 2010 WNBA Draft while Sacramento earned the second overall selection.
"Obviously we're very excited," Connecticut Sun General Manager Chris Sienko said Thursday from New York, where the lottery was held. "The first time in the lottery, walking out with a top three pick, it was great luck and it provides us with great opportunity. It gives us a clearer picture moving forward. We will have a chance to draft a talented college player or to trade the pick for other considerations."
After missing the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons with a 16-18 record, the Sun entered this Lottery sharing the longest odds for success with the Chicago Sky. Both teams had just 76 chances out of 1000 to win the top pick. By contrast, Minnesota had 428 chances out of 1000 - its own 167 and the 261 it owned as the result of trade with New York back in May of 2009. Sacramento, with a 12-22 record last year, had 420 chances. Minnesota will also have the fourth selection while Chicago picks fifth.
As it turned out, the Sun were able to beat the odds, and will now have their first top five pick since drafting Lindsay Whalen with the fourth overall selection in 2004.
"It gives us some options, and trading the pick is included in those options," Sun coach Mike Thibault said. "I don't think it's a really deep draft, but when you get to the top three, now you have a chance to get a really talented player. It opens possibilities. It allows us to focus on specific players going forward. I have no idea what the two teams ahead of us want to do. We're going to have to do our homework."
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