Connecticut produces top three picks in WNBA draft

The Connecticut women's basketball team made more history Thursday, just over a week after capturing its fourth consecutive NCAA championship.

Huskies players were selected No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 overall in the WNBA draft, the first time players from the same school were chosen with each of the top three picks.

The Seattle Storm made center Breanna Stewart, the National Player of the Year, the top selection. The San Antonio Stars chose guard Moriah Jefferson second, and the Connecticut Sun picked forward Morgan Tuck third.

"When you look at our senior class, it speaks for itself going one, two, three," Stewart said. "Lots of comparisons between past UConn teams and this one, when we do things that make history, that's saying it all."

Stewart joins a line of Connecticut players who were the top overall selection, following Sue Bird (2002), Diana Taurasi (2004), Tina Charles (2010) and Maya Moore (2011).

Stewart, the only four-time Final Four Most Outstanding Player in NCAA history, averaged 19.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.4 blocks this season.

Jefferson produced 12.6 points, 5.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds. Tuck contributed 13.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists as the Huskies completed a 38-0 season.

Rounding out the top 10 in the WNBA draft were: No. 4, Connecticut Sun, Minnesota guard Rachel Banham; No. 5, Dallas Wings, Michigan State forward Aerial Powers; No. 6, Los Angeles Stars, George Washington forward Jonquel Jones; No. 7, Washington Mystics, Rutgers guard/forward Kahleah Copper; No. 8, Phoenix Mercury, South Florida guard Courtney Williams; No. 9, Indiana Fever, South Carolina guard Tiffany Mitchell; and No. 10, Chicago Sky, Texas center Imani Boyette.