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WNBA Connecticut Sun

Sun Select Four Players in 2007 WNBA Draft

April 4, 2007 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Connecticut Sun News Release


UNCASVILLE, CT. (April 4, 2007) - With consecutive picks in the first round of the 2007 WNBA Draft Wednesday, the Connecticut Sun chose Temple forward Kamesha Hairston (12th overall) and French center Sandrine Gruda (13th).

The Sun completed their day by taking Georgia guard Cori Chambers in the second round (26th overall) and Nebraska guard Kiera Hardy in the third round with the 39th overall pick.

"The players that we had zeroed in on for our picks were there," Sun coach Mike Thibault said Wednesday. "We had a couple of choices to make, hard choices, but I am very happy with what we did in the first round."

The 6-foot-0 Hairston averaged 19.3 points and 8.8 rebounds as a senior at Temple, where she played for former WNBA star Dawn Staley. She was named Atlantic-10 Player of the Year this past season.

"She is very athletic, and she will be able to create her own shot," Staley said. "She will be able to pull up, will be able to get to the bucket."

Gruda, a 6-4 center from France, is currently averaging 17.3 points and 5.8 rebounds in 12 games for US Valenciennes Olympic in the FIBA Euroleague. The 19-year-old, who is the starting center for the French National Team, has played professionally overseas for the last four years.

Chambers is a 5-9 shooting guard who averaged 11.1 points and 3.4 rebounds in four seasons for the Bulldogs. The durable guard appeared in a school-record 135 games over her college career.

Hardy is a 5-6 guard who was the final player selected in the WNBA Draft. She averaged 15.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists during her collegiate career.

The Connecticut Sun tip off their fifth season at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday, May 26th. Season ticket plans and mini-plans are on sale now and can be reserved by calling a Sun Season Ticket Sales Representative at 1.877.SUN.TIXX, e-mailing the Sun at tickets@connecticutsun.com or visiting www.connecticutsun.com.

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