Dallas Wings Make History, Take Collier No. 1 Overall and Kuier No. 2
April 17, 2021 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Dallas Wings News Release
The Dallas Wings became the first team in WNBA history to take both the #1 and #2 overall pick after drafting Charli Collier from the University of Texas with the first overall pick, Awak Kuier from Finland with the second pick, Chelsea Dungee from Arkansas with the fifth pick and Dana Evans from Louisville with the 13th overall pick.
"I'm very excited about our 2021 draft class," Dallas Wings President and CEO Greg Bibb stated. "Tonight's result represented the second year of a multi-year strategy to revamp our roster as quickly as possible. I feel confident the addition of tonight's draft class, along with the trio of players who joined the organization last year, gives us a strong foundation moving forward. With this group joining our young and talented core roster, we are bullish on the future of the Dallas Wings organization."
Collier became the first player in WNBA history to be drafted first overall from the University of Texas and the second from the Lone Star State behind Brittney Griner out of Baylor in 2013. The native Houstonian declared for the draft as a junior after she led her team to the Elite Eight, averaging a double-double with 13.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. The Longhorn Center also proved to be a threat from beyond the three-point arc, shooting just a shade over 35% in almost 80 attempts. Collier was All-Big 12, an Academic All-Big 12 and a Lisa Leslie Award Top-10 finalist as well.
Kuier will be the first Finnish player to take the court for the WNBA and is just the sixth player in draft history to be taken in the top five without NCAA experience. She currently plays for Ragusa in Italy with fellow Wing's frontcourt member Isabelle Harrison, and the Finnish draftee is averaging 8.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
Dungee nearly eclipsed 2,000 points in her three years at the University of Arkansas while shooting an impressive 40% from the field and 35.4% from beyond the three-point arc. A WBCA All-American and Ann Meyer's Drysdale Award Finalist, the Razorback also shone on the defensive side of the ball, averaging 1.5 steals per game, and racking up 34 blocks in her three years in Fayetteville.
Evans continued to improve over her four years at Louisville, culminating in an impressive run to the Elite Eight averaging 20.1 points and 3.9 assists per game. The Cardinal also shot the ball extremely well from beyond the arc, making 37.7% of her threes and netting a total of 222 triples. During her four collegiate years, Evans was named a ESPNW and Sports Illustrated First Team All-American, twice the ACC Player of the Year and was a Naismith Trophy Semifinalist.
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