UNCASVILLE, Conn. (April 10, 2019) – The Connecticut Sun added four players, including three picks, in the 2019 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm on Wednesday evening.
The group was led by Kristine Anigwe, selected in the first round and ninth overall. The 2019 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, she led the nation in rebounding with 16.2 rebounds per game. The first four-time All-American in Cal history, Anigwe pulled down 533 rebounds as a senior, the highest single-season rebounding total ever by a Pac-12 player. The 6-foor-4 center was the first Division I women’s player in 30 years to average over 22 points and 16 rebounds per game with totals of 22.3 points and 16.2 rebounds per game this season. She is Cal’s all-time leader in career points (2,591), rebounds (1,404) and blocks (205).
“We’re ecstatic she dropped,” Sun head coach and general manager Curt Miller said about Anigwe. “We had her going at four. I have had Anigwe going to Chicago at four for the past six weeks, so when she didn’t go at four, we had hope.”
With the 21st overall pick, in the second round, the Sun selected Bridget Carleton from Iowa State. A native of Chatham, Ontario, she was the 2019 Cheryl Miller Award winner as the best small forward in Division I. She was the Big 12 Player of the Year and set school records for points scored (760), scoring average (21.7 ppg), field goals made (254) and field goal attempts (543) as a senior.
Sun general manager Curt Miller also made a trade on Wednesday night, receiving the draft rights to Natisha Hiedeman from the Minnesota Lynx for guard Lexie Brown. The Lynx had selected Hiedeman with the 18th overall pick earlier in the evening. An honorable mention WBCA All-American, the guard was the unanimous BIG EAST Player of the Year after averaging 17.6 points per game. She is Marquette’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals made with 301 and third on the all-time scoring list with 1,913 points.
With their third and final pick of the evening, the Sun selected Regan Magarity from Virginia Tech with the 33rd overall pick in the third round. In 133 career games, the 6-foot-3 Magarity averaged 12.5 points and 9.8 rebounds, including career-highs of 14.1 points and 12.8 rebounds as a senior.
“It was a fantastic evening for the franchise,” Miller said. “We are ecstatic with our picks while also getting the rights to a fourth dynamic player. We’re excited to get to camp. This will be the most competitive camp we’ve had since my arrival and hope to use the momentum from camp into the regular season.”
The Sun will open the 2019 WNBA season on Saturday, May 25 against the Washington Mystics. Game time at Mohegan Sun Arena is set for 7:30 p.m. Visit ConnecticutSun.com or call 1-877-SUN-TIXX for more information or to purchase tickets.