Chicago Sky selects three players in WNBA rookie draft
April 5, 2006 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Chicago Sky News Release
CHICAGO - The Chicago Sky selected three players in the WNBA College Draft in Boston today, rounding out its team roster with Candice Dupree, Jennifer Harris and Kerri Gardin. The Chicago Sky coaching staff, including General Manager and Head Coach Dave Cowens, participated in the draft from Chicago via teleconference.
The Chicago Sky had the sixth draft pick and selected Dupree from Temple University in the first round. Dupree was named 2005-06 Atlantic 10 Player and Defensive Player of the Year and was a member of the All-Atlantic 10 First Team the last two years as well. The 6'2" forward/center averaged 17 points and 8.7 rebounds per game while playing for Coach Dawn Staley. Dupree finished her Temple career first on the schools field goal percentage list (.514%), third in rebounds (940) and tied for second in blocks (218). Dupree and Staley will be the first collegiate coach and player to be playing concurrently in the WNBA.
Selected in the second round was Jennifer Harris of Washburn University. Harris, a 5'10" guard, was the 2005-06 WBCA/State Farm Division II Player of the Year and led the Lady Blues in scoring this season with 24 points per game. Harris was named player of the year in both the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and the South Central Region.
Third-round pick Kerri Gardin is a 6'1" forward from Virginia Tech. Gardin shot 45 percent from the field this season and averaged 12.7 points and 10 rebounds per game.
ESPN2 provided exclusive first round coverage of the draft and continued coverage of the second and third rounds on ESPNU and NBA TV. Seimone Augustus of Louisiana State was the first draft pick overall and was selected by the Minnesota Lynx. Chicago's Cappy Pondexter of Rutgers went second to the Phoenix Mercury.
"We've scored excellent players in the draft that will make a strong contribution to our roster," Dave Cowens said. "These players follow in the aggressive up-tempo style we're looking for in our team. Most importantly, these women are athletes who have demonstrated discipline and a work ethic but know how to have fun, too."
Sky Training Camp begins on April 23rd at the Moody Bible Institute. The Sky will open camp with 15 players including those selected in the Rookie Draft today and Expansion Draft held in November. By Opening Day on May 20th, the active player roster will consist of 11 players.
The Chicago Sky is the 14th team in the WNBA and is led by Cowens, a member of the NBA Hall of Fame. Pre-season play begins May 9, the regular-season home opener is May 23rd against the Sacramento Monarch and the season runs through August with 17 regular-season.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from April 5, 2006
- Comets select four players in WNBA draft - Houston Comets
- Tar Heels' Atkinson highlights Fever draft picks - Indiana Fever
- Silver Stars draft Baylor standout Sophia Young and Tennessee guard Shanna Zolman - San Antonio Stars
- WNBA President Donna Orender - 2006 WNBA Draft Press Conference Q&A - WNBA
- Chicago Sky selects three players in WNBA rookie draft - Chicago Sky
- Shock Acquires Jacqueline Batteast in Draft-Day Trade - Detroit Shock
- Monarchs select Kim Smith and Scholanda Hoston in first round - Sacramento Monarchs
- Sting select three players in 2006 WNBA draft - Charlotte Sting
- Augustus Selected First in 2006 WNBA Draft - WNBA
- Storm Select Barbara Turner in 2006 WNBA Draft - Seattle Storm
- Mystics select Tamara James - Washington Mystics
- Sparks draft three California locals - Los Angeles Sparks
- Phoenix Mercury drafts Rutgers star Pondexter with second overall pick - Phoenix Mercury
- WNBA to premier new brand campaign during draft - WNBA
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.
