Williams Goes In Second Round Of WNBA Draft
April 16, 2005 | Women's Basketball
April 16, 2005
SECAUCUS, N.J. - Illinois senior forward Angelina Williams was selected by the Phoenix Mercury with the fifth pick in the second round (18th overall) of the 2005 WNBA Draft, held Saturday in Secaucus, N.J. Williams becomes the highest draft pick in Illinois history and is the third Illini selected in the nine year history of the WNBA Draft. Williams joins Tauja Catchings, who was selected in the third round by Phoenix in 2000 (37th overall), and Cindy Dallas, who was picked by San Antonio in the second round in 2004 (21st overall).
"It was a great feeling to hear that I got picked," said Williams after she heard the news. "Now it's up to me to go to Phoenix and show them I can help their team. It's always been a dream of mine to play in the WNBA and now I'm excited to have the opportunity."
Williams was a first team All-Big Ten pick by the media this year after averaging 17.8 points per game, third best in the Big Ten, while leading the Illini to a WNIT appearance. She finished her Illinois career as the fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,639 points, but was also an accomplished all-around player, ranking in the Top-15 in the Big Ten in eight different statistical categories during her senior campaign (scoring, FG percentage, steals, blocked shots, assists, FT percentage, 3FG made and 3FG percentage).
The Chicago, Ill. native led the Illini in scoring on 18 occasions and hit double figures in 26 of 30 games in 2004-05. She also came up big for the Orange and Blue in key situations, hitting a game winning shot in the finals seconds of a 65-63 win at Michigan and a game-tying three to send the game to OT in a win at Louisiana Tech.
Williams was one of five Big Ten players selected in the draft and was the fourth Big Ten player picked. Minnesota's Janel McCarville was the first overall pick by the Charlotte Sting. The other conference players taken were Michigan State point guard Kristin Haynie (ninth overall by Sacramento), Penn State guard Tanisha Wright (12th overall by Seattle) and Michigan's Tabitha Pool (23rd overall by New York).
Williams will join fellow Mercury draft picks Sondora Irvin, a forward from Texas Tech (first round, third overall), and guard Jamie Carey of Texas (third round, 31st overall) when she reports to Phoenix next week. Phoenix opens its exhibition season on May 10 at Indiana and kicks-off the regular season on May 21 vs. Sacramento.
