New York Liberty Selects Montgomery, Breland, Colson and Valentine in 2011 WNBA Draft
April 11, 2011 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
New York Liberty News Release
NEW YORK, NY - April 11, 2011 - The New York Liberty today selected guard/forward Alex Montgomery of Georgia Tech, forward Jessica Breland of North Carolina, Sydney Colson of Texas A&M, and Mekia Valentine of University of California at Santa Barbara with the No. 10, No. 13, No. 16 and No. 34 overall picks in the 2011 WNBA Draft respectively. The Liberty traded No. 22 pick Angel Robinson from Marquette, along with their 2012 second round pick to Minnesota for 2011 No. 13 pick Jessica Breland. In addition, the Liberty traded guard Kalana Greene to Connecticut for No. 16 pick Sydney Colson.
"We got exactly what we wanted in the draft today - quick, defensive-minded, athletic players that will serve as great complements to our already strong base of talented veterans," said Head Coach and General Manager John Whisenant. "We are very excited about the players acquired today, following an Eastern Conference Finals appearance last season, we believe we took another step forward in assembling a team that can challenge for the WNBA Championship."
Montgomery, a 6-1 guard/forward from Georgia Tech finished her four-year college career averaging 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists over 123 games. The Tacoma, WA native was named to the 2011 ACC All-Defensive Team and Second Team All-ACC. In 2010 she was named the ACC Sixth Player of the Year.
Breland, a 6-3 guard from North Carolina, finished her four-year college career averaging 10.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists over 140 games. The Brooklyn, NY native was named to the 2011 ACC All-Tournament First Team. In 2011 she was given the Bob Bradley Spirit and Courage Award, which is awarded by the ACC and Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association to a male or female basketball player, coach or team administrator who has overcome significant injury, illness or other adversity to become a valuable contributor to his or her program and institution.
Colson, a 5-8 guard from Texas A&M, finished her four-year college career averaging 6.1 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists over 132 games. The Houston, TX native posted 100-assists three straight seasons in college leading the Big 12 in 2011 in assists (6.4 apg), finishing second in assist-to-turnover ratio, and ranking in the top five nationally in assists. She was given 2011 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and ranks fifth all-time in A&M's career assists (474) and fourth in steals (239). Colson helped lead A&M to the 2011 women's basketball NCAA Championship.
Valentine, a 6-4 forward/center from University of California at Santa Barbara, was the Big West Defensive Player of the Year and led the conference in rebounding and blocks this past season, averaging 11 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks. The Greensboro, NC native transferred to UC Santa Barbara after two seasons at Wake Forest.
Liberty fans will be able to watch the team's newest additions in action at the regular season home-opener at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, June 11 at 7pm versus the Indiana Fever. Individual game tickets are available for purchase beginning today at the Prudential Center Box Office, Madison Square Garden Box Office, on-line at NYLiberty.com, through the WNBA Ticketmaster charge-by-phone number 877-WNBA-TIX, all Ticketmaster outlets and at Ticketmaster.com.
New York Liberty home games will be played at Prudential Center for the 2011, 2012, and 2013 seasons while Madison Square Garden undergoes a comprehensive, top-to-bottom Transformation. The Garden will close for the next three summers for work on the Transformation to be completed. Prudential Center is a convenient 15 minutes away from The Garden by train.
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
- Chicago Sky Selects Courtney Vandersloot Third Overall in 2011 WNBA Draft - Chicago Sky
- Storm Selects Thomas in First Round of 2011 WNBA Draft - Seattle Storm
- 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
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