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Stars Win First Overall Selection in 2017 WNBA Draft Lottery

September 28, 2016 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
San Antonio Stars News Release


SAN ANTONIO - The San Antonio Stars were awarded the first overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft tonight during the WNBA Draft Lottery that aired live on ESPN2 at halftime of Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals series between the Phoenix Mercury and the Minnesota Lynx. The 2017 WNBA Draft will be held in April.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to add the No. 1 pick in the 2017 Draft to our talented, young core," Stars General Manager Ruth Riley said. "The evolution of the WNBA over the last 20 years has been significantly impacted by the contributions of the top players in the draft. Without a doubt, having the top pick adds an element of excitement and anticipation for our team, organization and fans this offseason."

This is the first time the San Antonio Stars have held the first overall selection in the WNBA Draft since moving from Salt Lake City in 2003. The franchise previously selected Margo Dydek as the No. 1 pick in the 1998 WNBA Draft as the Utah Starzz.

Lottery odds were based on the cumulative records of the Connecticut Sun, Dallas Wings, Stars and Washington Mystics over the two most recent regular seasons (2015 and 2016). San Antonio held a 44.2 percent chance of winning the lottery after finishing the previous two seasons with a combined 15-53 record. Tonight's lottery established the first four picks of the 2017 Draft with the Stars choosing first, followed by the Mystics, Wings and Los Angeles Sparks, who participated in the lottery as a result of a 2016 WNBA Draft Day trade with Connecticut.

The following are results of the 2017 WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm:

2017 WNBA DRAFT LOTTERY ORDER

Team Combined Chances 2015-2016 Record (out of 1,000) 1. San Antonio 15-53 442 2. Washington 31-37 104 3. Dallas 29-39 227 4. Los Angeles (via Connecticut) 29-39 227

The order of selection for the remainder of the first round as well as the second and third round is in inverse order of the teams' respective regular-season records solely from 2016.

Following is the remaining order of the first round, as determined by 2016 regular-season records:

REMAINING ORDER FOR FIRST ROUND

Team Record 5. Phoenix 16-18 6. Seattle 16-18 7. Atlanta 17-17 8. Indiana 17-17 9. Chicago 18-16 10. Dallas from New York 21-13 (Trade of Zahui, B., 5/11/16) 11. Dallas from Los Angeles 26-8 (Trade of R. Williams. E. Phillips, 3/1/16) 12. Minnesota 28-6

About the San Antonio Stars The San Antonio Stars are one of five professional sports franchises owned and operated by Spurs Sports & Entertainment, along with the San Antonio Spurs (NBA), the Rampage (AHL), San Antonio FC (USL) and the Austin Spurs (NBA Development League). The 2017 season will mark the team's 15th year in San Antonio, as the Utah Starzz relocated to the Alamo City in 2003. In operation since 1997, the WNBA - which features 12 teams - is the most successful women's professional team sports league in the world.

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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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