Atlanta Dream Selects Ta'shia Phillips in 2011 WNBA Draft

April 11, 2011 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Atlanta Dream News Release

ATLANTA, April 11, 2011 - The Atlanta Dream selected center Ta'Shia Phillips from Xavier University with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft. The Dream also added forward Felicia Chester from DePaul and guard Kelsey Bolte from Iowa State.

"Overall, I think we had a really good draft," said Dream General Manager & Head Coach Marynell Meadors. "We added depth and really got better on the boards and defensively. Ta'Shia Phillips is a tough rebounder and defender who will make a tremendous pro. Then we were able to add another great rebounder and defender in Felicia Chester, who I think will really fit into our system. And in Kelsey Bolte, we picked up a guard with height who can shoot the three and defend."

Phillips, a 6-6 center, finished her collegiate career as both the Atlantic 10's and Xavier's all-time leading rebounder (1,552 rebounds), ranks second in career blocks (209) and third in all-time scoring (1,895 points). A two-time A-10 Defensive Player of the Year winner and three-time A-10 All-Conference first team selection, Philips became only the third player in school history to surpass the 1,000 point and 1,000 rebound marks for her career. She averaged 15.9 points and 12.4 rebounds as a senior.

The Dream also acquired Felicia Chester, a 6-3 forward from DePaul University, in a draft day deal with the Minnesota Lynx as the two teams swapped second round selections. In exchange for Chester (the No. 14 pick), the Dream sent Australian forward Rachel Jarry (No. 18 pick) to Minnesota along with a 2012 second round draft pick.

An honorable mention All-BIG East selection, Chester finished her career with 1,129 points and 751 rebounds. She averaged 11.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and shot 58% from the field as a senior. Chester is DePaul's seventh WNBA draft pick and the highest selection by any former Blue Demon.

In the third round, the Dream selected guard Kelsey Bolte from Iowa State with the No. 32 overall pick. Bolte, a 6-1 guard, was a unanimous All-Big 12 first team selection and Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American in 2011. She averaged 16.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game as a senior.

The Atlanta Dream is the defending Women's National Basketball Association's (WNBA) Eastern Conference Champion. The team tips off the 2011 season at home on June 5 against the New York Liberty at Philips Arena. The Dream enters its fourth season this summer as part of the WNBA, the world's longest-running women's professional sports league. For ticket information, visit www.AtlantaDream.net or call (877) 977-7729.

Women's National Basketball Association Stories from April 11, 2011

• Lynx Add Two Local Products in Today's 2011 WNBA Draft - Minnesota Lynx
• Ta'Shia Phillips Traded to Mystics - Washington Mystics
• Atlanta Dream Acquires All-Star Guard Lindsey Harding from Washington Mystics - Atlanta Dream
• Trade for Kalana Greene Highlights Sun Draft - Connecticut Sun
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• Mercury Selects Brittany Spears in Second Round of the 2011 WNBA - Phoenix Mercury
• Washington Mystics Select Victoria Dunlap - Washington Mystics
• Atlanta Dream Selects Ta'shia Phillips in 2011 WNBA Draft - Atlanta Dream
• Moore, Cambage, Vandersloot Selected with Top Three Picks in 2011 WNBA Draft - WNBA
• Jantel Lavender Highlights Los Angeles Sparks' 2011 WNBA Draft - Los Angeles Sparks
• New York Liberty Selects Montgomery, Breland, Colson and Valentine in 2011 WNBA Draft - New York Liberty
• Stanford Point Guard Pohlen Highlight's Fever Draft - Indiana Fever
• Indiana Selects Jeanette Pohlen in First Round of WNBA Draft - Indiana Fever
• Lynx Select Two-Time Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Amber Harris with Fourth Overall Pick in the 201 - Minnesota Lynx
• Lynx Select Three-Time Wade Trophy Winner and Four-Time All-American Maya Moore - Minnesota Lynx

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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