Some 1st pick trivia (who knows, maybe it could help y'all in your pub quizzes!) 1997 - Tina Thompson will always be remembered as the "1st pick," but she was actually the 33rd player signed to a WNBA team! Because the league was starting from scratch, the rosters were built in 3 stages. The first stage involved an April 1996 press conference in which Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoops, and Rebecca Lobo announced the creation of the league and their promised participation. They along with 13 other players were randomly assigned to the 8 WNBA teams. The second stage occurred in Feb 1997 and involved 2 draft rounds, selecting from a wider pool of professional players. And the third stage in April 1997 was the college draft round, which is what you see in this video. 1998 - Margo Dydek was the tallest ever female professional basketball player in the world (no surprise if you look at how she towers over Val Ackerman) at 7 ft 2 inches. She tragically passed away at the age of 37 from a heart attack. She is the only #1 pick who is no longer with us. 2000 - Ann Wauters is the only #1 pick currently coaching a WNBA team - She is the assistant coach of the Chicago Sky 2002 - Sue Bird retired in 2022 with the most career wins in W history, having won 333 games (all with the Seattle Storm). She currently is tied for longest W career at 20 seasons. However, next year she will be overtaken by... 2004 - Diana Taurasi is currently 41 years old and the oldest active player in either the NBA or WNBA. She ties Sue Bird's career this year with her 20th season, but has a contract through at least her 21st season in 2025. She is also the first W player to have more than 10,000 regular-season points. 2008 - Candace Parker is the only W player to have won championships for three different teams, having brought the trophy home to the Sparks (2016), the Sky (2021), and the Aces (2023). She also is one of 8 W players to have a brother playing in the NBA. 2011 - Maya Moore still holds the record for most NCAA basketball wins, male or female, having a 150-4 record while at UConn In 2020, she also was the first W player to be listed in the Time 100 (now joined by Candace Parker in 2022 and Brittney Griner in 2023) 2012 - Nneka Ogwumike is currently serving her third term as WNBA Players Association President. She is one of 7 sister pairs who have played in the W, but the Ogwumikes are the only sisters to have both gone #1 in the draft. And they're only the second sibling set to accomplish that feat in any professional American league (after the Manning brothers). 2013 - Brittney Griner is the only player in NCAA history, male or female, to both score 2,000 points and block 500 shots. She was the first ever WNBA player to dunk twice in one game. 2014 - Chiney Ogwumike shares the distinction with Nneka above, but she also is the first WNBA player to host a nationally broadcast ESPN show. 2016 - Breanna Stewart currently holds the W record for most points scored in a single season, with 885 points. 2020 - Sabrina Ionescu currently holds the W record for most 3-pointers in a single season (124). She is also the first W player to compete at an NBA All-Star game, going up against Steph Curry in a 3-point showdown. And of course, we all know the fun facts about this year's #1 pick!
Very good but I got one for you. Kelsey Plum was the 1st pick in the 2017 WNBA draft. Markelle Fultz was the 1st pick in the NBA draft. They both went to the University of Washington. The only time the 1st overall pick in the WNBA & NBA draft were drafted from the same school in the same season
It’s amazing how far the Women’s game has come and it’s doing nothing bt getting better and better now the only thing I hope for is equality in terms of money 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
The first games are in two days and a future HoF player has just retired and the wnba RUclips page hasn’t added anything in 11 days… good job wnba for pushing the sport.
Legend Tina Thompson looking like she’s about to run the league, but first win a court case as a district attorney. The power suit was awesome!
With the first pick in the 2025 draft, the (Insert team) select, Paige Bueckers, from the University of Connecticut
absolutely!!
Some 1st pick trivia (who knows, maybe it could help y'all in your pub quizzes!)
1997 - Tina Thompson will always be remembered as the "1st pick," but she was actually the 33rd player signed to a WNBA team! Because the league was starting from scratch, the rosters were built in 3 stages. The first stage involved an April 1996 press conference in which Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoops, and Rebecca Lobo announced the creation of the league and their promised participation. They along with 13 other players were randomly assigned to the 8 WNBA teams. The second stage occurred in Feb 1997 and involved 2 draft rounds, selecting from a wider pool of professional players. And the third stage in April 1997 was the college draft round, which is what you see in this video.
1998 - Margo Dydek was the tallest ever female professional basketball player in the world (no surprise if you look at how she towers over Val Ackerman) at 7 ft 2 inches. She tragically passed away at the age of 37 from a heart attack. She is the only #1 pick who is no longer with us.
2000 - Ann Wauters is the only #1 pick currently coaching a WNBA team - She is the assistant coach of the Chicago Sky
2002 - Sue Bird retired in 2022 with the most career wins in W history, having won 333 games (all with the Seattle Storm). She currently is tied for longest W career at 20 seasons. However, next year she will be overtaken by...
2004 - Diana Taurasi is currently 41 years old and the oldest active player in either the NBA or WNBA. She ties Sue Bird's career this year with her 20th season, but has a contract through at least her 21st season in 2025. She is also the first W player to have more than 10,000 regular-season points.
2008 - Candace Parker is the only W player to have won championships for three different teams, having brought the trophy home to the Sparks (2016), the Sky (2021), and the Aces (2023). She also is one of 8 W players to have a brother playing in the NBA.
2011 - Maya Moore still holds the record for most NCAA basketball wins, male or female, having a 150-4 record while at UConn In 2020, she also was the first W player to be listed in the Time 100 (now joined by Candace Parker in 2022 and Brittney Griner in 2023)
2012 - Nneka Ogwumike is currently serving her third term as WNBA Players Association President. She is one of 7 sister pairs who have played in the W, but the Ogwumikes are the only sisters to have both gone #1 in the draft. And they're only the second sibling set to accomplish that feat in any professional American league (after the Manning brothers).
2013 - Brittney Griner is the only player in NCAA history, male or female, to both score 2,000 points and block 500 shots. She was the first ever WNBA player to dunk twice in one game.
2014 - Chiney Ogwumike shares the distinction with Nneka above, but she also is the first WNBA player to host a nationally broadcast ESPN show.
2016 - Breanna Stewart currently holds the W record for most points scored in a single season, with 885 points.
2020 - Sabrina Ionescu currently holds the W record for most 3-pointers in a single season (124). She is also the first W player to compete at an NBA All-Star game, going up against Steph Curry in a 3-point showdown.
And of course, we all know the fun facts about this year's #1 pick!
I don't see any comments on this post so let me give you a big THANK YOU! for these little facts. A lot of these I did not know.
Hey that there Sue Bird pick turned out to be a pretty good pick by Seattle 😆 🤣 😂
Yeah. She could be in the HOF because of her accolades…
Some wonderful players here!! And nobody could block a shot like Margo Dydek!
Wasn't she like 7'2"
I want to watch Angel and Kamilla🔥🔥
Young Sue Bird was 🔥🔥🔥
Real
Tina Thompson and her iconic red lipsticks will forever scream Woman's basketball to me. Loved watching her as a teen.
RIP Margo Dydek
Bring back the Comets ☄️!!!!!
Houston comets ran the league early on. NY and LA were good too. Rebecca Lobo and Lisa leslie etc.
True, I haven’t watch much of the WNBA when Houston left
Jackie Young 💫
Is no one gonna talk about the commissioner’s Minecraft outfit in the 2023 draft?😂
💀💀😭😭😭
I miss the Cleveland Rockers. 😭😭😭😭❤️
This is Gangster.❤
Cleveland had the number 1 pick in the draft in both the NBA and WNBA in 2003
Very good but I got one for you. Kelsey Plum was the 1st pick in the 2017 WNBA draft. Markelle Fultz was the 1st pick in the NBA draft. They both went to the University of Washington. The only time the 1st overall pick in the WNBA & NBA draft were drafted from the same school in the same season
It’s amazing how far the Women’s game has come and it’s doing nothing bt getting better and better now the only thing I hope for is equality in terms of money 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
we miss Margo may she Rest In Peace
The one they did online because of covid😢
What happened to the Houston Comets, Cleveland Rockers, Utah Stars, Charlotte Stings. WNBA y’all have to do better!
Forgot the Portland Fire. Orlando had a team also. Forgot their nickname
lord the 2017 draft was ghetto 💀
All legends
Legit forgot about Charli Collier 😩
Yeah bc she's a forgettable player. Her game is garbage
C Clarke will have it rough as rookie,but once she learns WNBA look out.Same for Angel Reese,Kamilla Costello May 14th 2024 opening day will be nuts
NY LV LA INDY CHI in a shootout!
The first games are in two days and a future HoF player has just retired and the wnba RUclips page hasn’t added anything in 11 days… good job wnba for pushing the sport.
I Remember This Like It Was Yesterday
💯💫✨️🧡
Legends 💪
❤❤❤
#RegalRhyne!
Congratulations, ladies. You earned it. (And praise Allah for your trans male allies who have made this journey with you.)
Most of the first overall picks wore white
Te amo CC22 ❤
Lower the hoops