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Phoenix Mercury

2012 WNBA Draft Presented by Boost Mobile to be Conducted at ESPN Studios April 16

April 2, 2012 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Phoenix Mercury News Release


PHOENIX - The 2012 WNBA Draft presented by Boost Mobile will be held on Monday, April 16 at ESPN in Bristol, Conn. ESPN2 will provide coverage and analysis of the first round beginning at 11 a.m. Phoenix Time, in addition, ESPN3 will simulcast the entire draft. The second and third rounds will be broadcast on ESPNU and NBA TV.

The Phoenix Mercury owns the sixth overall pick in this year's draft after finishing with a record of 19-15 in 2011 and in third place in the Western Conference. The Mercury also owns the 24th overall selection (second round) and two third round picks (30th and 33rd overall) and will be making its selections from the war room inside US Airways Center.

The No. 6 pick is the highest for the Mercury since drafting DeWanna Bonner fifth overall in the 2009 WNBA Draft. Bonner has since won three consecutive WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year awards. Other notable WNBA players to be drafted with the sixth pick include current and former Mercury players Candice Dupree (2006, Chicago), Temeka Johnson (2005, Washington) and Nicole Ohlde (2004, Minnesota). Also, Briann January (2009, Indiana), Crystal Langhorne (2008, Washington), Deanna Nolan (2001, Detroit) and Betty Lennox (2000, Minnesota) were selected sixth in their respective drafts.

After winning the WNBA's Draft Lottery, the Los Angeles Sparks hold the first overall pick for the second time in team history. The last time was in 2008 when the Sparks made Candace Parker the top overall selection. Parker went on to win both Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year awards in her first WNBA campaign. The Seattle Storm will have the second pick in the Draft followed by the Minnesota Lynx. Minnesota, which, after winning the Lottery last year used the No. 1 overall pick to select Maya Moore and went on to earn its first WNBA championship. The Tulsa Shock will select fourth.

Among the top prospects eligible for this year's WNBA Draft are the following players: Nnemkadi Ogwumike from Stanford, Samantha Prahalis from Ohio State, Natalie Novosel and Devereaux Peters from Notre Dame and Shekinna Stricklen from the University of Tennessee.

The Mercury will tipoff its 2012 season on Sunday, May 20 when it visits the defending champion Minnesota Lynx in a nationally televised game on ABC. The Mercury's home opener is on Saturday, May 26 against Candace Parker and the Los Angeles Sparks, who own the first overall pick in this year's draft. Flexible ticket packages are available for the entire 2012 season starting as low as $10 by calling 602-252-WNBA or visiting phoenixmercury.com.

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