Dallas Wings select Michigan State star, Oregon State center in WNBA Draft
The scene was electric Wednesday at College Park Center when the Dallas Wings took part in their inaugural WNBA Draft.
With all-star Skylar Diggins and Irving native Odyssey Sims in attendance, the Wings grabbed Michigan State’s Aerial Powers with the fifth overall pick.
“We went with Aerial because that was the player we wanted all along,” general manager Greg Bibb said. “We were thrilled to get the player that was at the very top of our draft board.
When Aerial declared for the draft, she became the player we wanted to get.
Dallas Wings general manager Greg Bibb
“When Aerial declared for the draft, she became the player we wanted to get and we are thrilled beyond belief that Aerial Powers is now a member of the Dallas Wings.”
In the second round, Dallas selected Oregon State senior Ruth Hamblin with the 18th pick. Hamblin, a 6-foot-6 post, ranked fourth nationally with 3.5 blocks per game and averaged 11.8 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Powers, a junior standout, this season became the first Michigan Statge player to be named first-team All-Big Ten three times.
The 6-foot forward finished with 21.9 points and nine rebounds per game.
“She can play multiple positions, great size, can score and penetrates,” Bibb said. “Twenty-two points per game, over nine rebounds per game, converts at the free throw line, 83 percent at the line which is important in our league, so really a player that we think fits exceptionally well with the type of system that coach [Fred] Williams runs.”
Powers helped lead Michigan State to a 25-9 record and the second round of the NCAA Tournament. She had 27 points and nine rebounds in a first-round win over Belmont.
Powers, like Diggins and Sims, is ready to start this journey.
“[Dallas] is athletic and I think I can bring a little more consistency and defensively be there and I can rebound the ball well so I think I can help there,” Powers said. “There’s a lot of emotion now, but I’m excited and to be able to play with [Skylar and Odyssey], it’s an honor and I’m blessed.”
The Wings open the preseason May 1 and the regular season May 14, visiting the Indiana Fever in both games. They’ll make their home debut May 21 against San Antonio.
Sims averaged 16 points per game last season while Diggins was sidelined with a knee ligament (ACL) injury, averaging 17.8 points in nine games. Both are excited to have Powers by their side.
She’s a very versatile player, just being 6-feet and very long. We need size ...
Wings guard and former Baylor star Odyssey Sims
on her new teammate, Aerial Powers“She’s a very versatile player, just being 6-feet and very long,” Sims said. “We need size and I think she’ll come in willing and wanting to learn and get better and try to help us with what we need.”
“When Aerial played at Michigan State, everyone knew where the ball was going and who was going to take the shot,” Diggins added. “I definitely think she will take advantage of some of the matchups.”
Hamblin, a two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, helped Oregon State to its best season and first Final Four appearance, beating Baylor in the Dallas regional final.
“With the 18th pick, we felt Ruth was the right fit. She’s a traditional big, a great player and a great kid,” Bibb said.
Dallas ended its draft night by selecting Seton Hall guard Shakena Richardson, who averaged 19 points and seven rebounds per game.
The team also revealed its new jerseys for the season. Its primary color is volt (neon yellow) with blue as alternate.
Dallas is one of nine teams this upcoming season to have special honorary jerseys for the 20th anniversary of the WNBA, going away from the traditional home whites and road colors in the past.
WNBA Draft
1. Seattle, Breanna Stewart, F, UConn
2. San Antonio, Moriah Jefferson, G, UConn
3. Connecticut, Morgan Tuck, F, UConn
4. Connecticut (from Atlanta), Rachel Banham, G, Minnesota
5. Dallas (from Los Angeles), Aerial Powers, F Michigan State
6. a-Los Angeles (from Dallas), Jonquel Jones, C, George Washington
7. Washington, Kahleah Copper, F, Rutgers
8. Phoenix, Courtney Williams, G, South Florida
9. Indiana, Tiffany Mitchell, G, South Carolina
10. Chicago, Imani Boyette, C, Texas
11. Atlanta (from Minnesota), Bria Holmes, G, West Virginia
12. New York, Adut Bulgak, C, Florida State
Second Round
13. Atlanta (from San Antonio), Rachel Hollivay, C, Rutgers
14. b-Minnesota (from Seattle), Jazmon Gwathmey, G, James Madison
15. Los Angeles (from Connecticut), Whitney Knight, G, Florida Gulf Coast
16. Atlanta, Courtney Walker, G, Texas A&M
17. Connecticut (from Los Angeles), Jamie Weisner, G, Oregon State
18. Dallas, Ruth Hamblin, C, Oregon State
19. Washington, Lia Galdeira, G, Washington State
20. Phoenix, Jillian Alleyne, F, Oregon
21. Indiana, Brene Moseley, G, Maryland
22. Minnesota (from Chicago), Bashaara Graves, F, Tennessee
23. Los Angeles (from Connecticut, from Minnesota), Brianna Butler, G, Syracuse
24. New York, Ameryst Alston, G, Ohio State
Third Round
25. San Antonio, Brittney Martin, G, Oklahoma State
26. Seattle, Lexi Eaton Rydalch, G, BYU
27. Connecticut, Aliyyah Handford, G, St. John’s
28. Atlanta, Niya Johnson, G, Baylor
29. Los Angeles, Talia Walton, F, Washington
30. Dallas, Shakena Richardson, G, Seton Hall
31. Washington, Danaejah Grant, G, St. John’s
32. Phoenix, Nirra Fields, G, UCLA
33. Indiana, Julie Allemand, G, Belgium
34. Chicago, Jordan Jones, G, Texas A&M
35. Minnesota, Temi Fagbenle, C, Southern Cal
36. New York, Shacobia Barbee, G-F, Georgia
a-traded to Connecticut along with the Sparks 2016 17th pick for G Chelsea Gray and the 2016 15th and 23rd picks plus Connecticut’s 2017 first-round pick.
b-Traded to San Antonio for G Jia Perkins.
This story was originally published April 14, 2016 at 10:01 PM with the headline "Dallas Wings select Michigan State star, Oregon State center in WNBA Draft."