Imani Boyette Prepares for the WNBA Draft
AUSTIN, Texas — Imani Boyette, one of the most accomplished players in University of Texas women's basketball history, will be on hand in Uncasville, Conn., on Thursday, looking to have her name called as part of the 2016 WNBA Draft. ESPN2 will provide coverage and analysis of the first round beginning at 6 p.m. CT, and ESPNU will air coverage of the second and third rounds starting at 7 p.m. CT.
The Seattle Storm holds the top pick in the draft for the second consecutive year and the fourth time in franchise history after winning the WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm last Sept. 24. The San Antonio Stars will select second, followed by two selections for the Connecticut Sun, which has its own pick at No. 3 and a pick acquired from the Atlanta Dream at No. 4. The fifth pick belongs to the Dallas Wings.
Eight players in Texas women's basketball history have been selected in the WNBA Draft, including three first-round picks (Edna Campbell, Edwina Brown and Tiffany Jackson). Texas' most recent WNBA Draft selection was Nneka Enemkpali, who last season was selected with the 26th pick (third round) by the Seattle Storm.
Boyette became the first player in the history of the Texas women's basketball program to reach the combined milestone of 1,000 career points, 1,000 career rebounds and 200 career blocks.
She finished her decorated career 22nd on UT's all-time career scoring list with 1,361 career points, fifth on UT's all-time career rebounding list with 1,036 career rebounds and second on UT's all-time career blocks list with 303. Boyette's 104 blocks this past season ranks second on the school's all-time career single-season blocks list.
Boyette made the All-Big 12 First Team as a junior and senior with the Longhorns. The three-time Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection was the conference's co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2015-16 after leading the league in blocked shots (3.6 bpg) and ranking second in defensive rebounding (6.8 drpg).
Boyette, a senior accounting major at the University of Texas, has an incredible story of overcoming significant obstacles to achieve great success on the basketball court, in the classroom and within the community. She has been recognized with the Honda Inspiration Award and was named the 2014-15 Big 12 Conference Female Sportsperson of the Year. She was selected as a 2015 recipient of the prestigious Texas Exes President's Leadership Award, which is presented to undergraduate students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership within the student community at the University of Texas.
All-Time Longhorns In WNBA Draft
Year - Name - Round (Overall Pick) - Team
1999 - Edna Campbell - 1st (10) - Phoenix Mercury
2000 - Edwina Brown - 1st (3) - Detroit Shock (first collegian taken in 2000 WNBA Draft)
2004 - Stacy Stephens - 3rd (37) - Houston Comets (later traded to Detroit Shock)
2005 - Heather Schreiber - 3rd (39) - Los Angeles Sparks
2005 - Jamie Carey - 3rd (31) - Phoenix Mercury (later signed with Connecticut Sun)
2007 - Tiffany Jackson - 1st (5) - New York Liberty
2010 - Brittainey Raven - 3rd (33) - Atlanta Dream
2015 - Nneka Enemkpali - 3rd (26) - Seattle Storm
