Caitlin Clark Selected 1st Overall In WNBA Draft

NEW YORK (AP) Caitlin Clark admitted she was a bit nervous before being chosen with the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever, even though it was no surprise.

I dreamed of this moment since I was in second grade, and its taken a lot of hard work, a lot of ups and downs, but more than anything, just trying to soak it in, Clark said.

The former Iowa star became a household name among basketball fans during her record-breaking college career, and she will now try and help revive the Indiana franchise along with last seasons No. 1 pick, Aliyah Boston.

The organization has one of the best post players in the entire world. My point guard eyes light up with that, she said.

The Fever taking Clark had been a foregone conclusion since she announced on Feb. 29  she would turn pro. Nearly 17,000 tickets were claimed to watch the draft at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home to the Fever and the NBAs Indiana Pacers.

Clark has helped bring millions  of fans to the womens game with her signature shots from the midcourt logo and passing ability. The NCAAs all-time scoring leader was a big reason why a record 18.9 million viewers tuned in to the national championship game, which Iowa lost to unbeaten South Carolina . The Hawkeyes were also the national runners-up to LSU a year earlier.

Clark, who wore a white Prada jacket and skirt , hugged her parents and brothers and Iowa coach Lisa Bluder after she was drafted.

The draft was held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in front of 1,000 fans, who bought all the tickets within 15 minutes of them going on sale a few months ago.

Los Angeles chose Stanfords Cameron Brink at No. 2. Shell get to stay in California and will give the Sparks a two-way player.

When they called my name, a huge wave of emotions hit me, Brink said. I saw my mom tearing up and my dad and it hit home.

A prolific scorer, Brink was also the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. The Sparks needed to replace franchise player Nneka Ogwumike, who left for Seattle in free agency. Brinks godmother, Sonya Curry, is the mother of Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.

I FaceTimed Steph five minutes before the show started and he said have fun with it, Brink said. He can share so much great advice since hes been through this. Make stuff like this fun as it can be stressed.

Chicago had the third pick and chose South Carolinas Kamilla Cardoso before the Sparks were on the clock again and and selected Tennessees Rickea Jackson.

Cardoso had a busy week, helping the Gamecocks win the national championship to complete an undefeated season. She took part in the teams championship parade on Sunday before traveling to New York.

Dallas took Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon with the fifth pick. Washington drafted Aaliyah Edwards of UConn sixth before Chicago took LSUs Angel Reese at No. 7, pairing her with Cardoso.

Shes a great player and Im a great player. Nobodys going to get no rebounds on us, the 6-foot-7 Cardoso said, laughing.

Minnesota, which had swapped picks with Chicago, drafted Alissa Pili of Utah eighth.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball