WNBA Draft Set for Apr. 8, Top Prospects Highlight the Bill

ESPN2 and ESPN360.com will provide live coverage and analysis of the first round of the draft beginning at 3 p.m. ET.  ESPNU and NBA TV will broadcast the second and third rounds.

After completing a trade with the Minnesota Lynx earlier this year, the Connecticut Sun hold the top pick in the draft for the first time in franchise history.  The Sun obtained the first overall pick and Renee Montgomery from the Lynx in exchange for Lindsay Whalen and the second overall pick.  It marked the first time in league history that a team had swapped the No. 1 pick in advance of the WNBA Draft.  Minnesota previously obtained the pick from the New York Liberty, which ultimately led to the Lynx winning the ninth annual WNBA Draft Lottery. 

The Lynx now have the second and third picks in the 2010 WNBA Draft followed by the Chicago Sky and the San Antonio Silver Stars to round out the top five selections.   

The players invited to attend the 2010 WNBA Draft include: 
Name             College/University        Position        Height        
Jayne Appel       Stanford                      Center       6’4”
Tina Charles       Connecticut               Center       6’4”
Alysha Clark       Middle Tenn. State        Forward        5’10”
Kalana Greene       Connecticut            Guard       5’10”
Kelsey Griffin       Nebraska              Forward       6’2”
Allison Hightower       Louisiana State        Guard        5’10”
Alison Lacey       Iowa State                  Guard       6’0”
Danielle McCray       Kansas              Guard/Forward       5’11”
Chanel Mokango       Mississippi State        Forward        6’5”
Jacinta Monroe       Florida State             Forward        6’5”
Jene Morris            San Diego State        Guard        5’9”
Andrea Riley           Oklahoma State        Guard       5’5”
Amanda Thompson       Oklahoma        Forward       6’1”        
Monica Wright             Virginia        Guard       5’11”
– more –
Top Prospects Invited to 2010 WNBA Draft 
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About the WNBA
The WNBA is a unique global sports property combining competition, sportsmanship, and entertainment value with its status as an icon for social change, achievement, and diversity.  Now preparing for its 14th season, the WNBA is the most successful women’s professional team sports league in the world.  The 2009 regular season featured increased attendance for the third consecutive year and increased viewership on ESPN2 for the second straight summer.  Average viewership on ESPN2 jumped 76 percent from a year ago for the 2009 WNBA Finals presented by adidas.  The five-game series also featured three sellouts plus the highest total attendance figure (82,018) in WNBA Finals history.