SECAUCUS, N.J. – Angel McCoughtry found a way to become No. 1 – in the WNBA draft.
Two days after her Louisville Cardinals were beaten by Connecticut in the national title game, the All-American forward was chosen by the Atlanta Dream with the No. 1 overall pick.
It’s been quite an emotional few days for McCoughtry.
“I have no complaints,” she said Thursday. “This is the best thing in the world. This is the best position to be in.”
The 6-foot-1 McCoughtry averaged 22.8 points and 9.5 rebounds her last three years and led the Cardinals to an upset of Oklahoma in the Final Four before losing to undefeated UConn in Tuesday night’s title game.
UConn’s Renee Montgomery was the No. 4 pick by the Minnesota Lynx.
Washington took Maryland’s Marissa Coleman with the No. 2 pick. The 6-foot-1 forward averaged 18.1 points and 8.6 rebounds while helping the Terrapins reach the NCAA regional semifinals.
Maryland teammate Kristi Toliver was selected next by Chicago. Auburn’s DeWanna Bonner was taken by Phoenix at No. 5 and Arizona State’s Briann January went to Indiana with the sixth pick. Sacramento selected Oklahoma center Courtney Paris, the first four-time AP All-American, at No. 7.