1997_WNBA_Draft

1997 WNBA draft

1997 WNBA draft

First player selection draft in league history

The 1997 WNBA draft was the 1st draft held by the WNBA through which teams could select new players from a talent pool of college and professional women's basketball players. Unlike later drafts, this draft was unique because there were three different stages in which teams built their rosters.

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First on January 22, 1997, the Initial Player Allocation draft took place in which 16 players were assigned to each team in no particular order.

The elite draft portion comprised professional women's basketball players who had competed in other leagues, usually international leagues. On February 27, 1997, an elite draft added two more players to each team.

On April 28, 1997, the four rounds of the regular WNBA draft took place.

Draftees Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, and Tina Thompson would become the core pieces of the Houston Comets dynasty.

Racquel Spurlock (3rd Round, 17th overall pick) is the only player selected in this draft that ended up never playing a game in the WNBA.

Initial player allocation

* Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-WNBA Team
+ Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game
Bold Denotes player who won Rookie of the Year
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Note: 16 players assigned in no particular order.

Elite draft

Main article: WNBA elite draft

The elite draft portion was composed of professional women's basketball players who had competed in other leagues, usually international leagues. It was the first time where the teams could draft the players out of a talent pool.

Round 1

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Round 2

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College draft

Round 1

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Round 2

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Round 3

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Round 4

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Notable undrafted players

These players were not selected in the 1997 WNBA draft but played at least one game for the WNBA.

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See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Jenny Boucek Player File". wnba.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  2. [2]
    "Janice Braxton Player File: Rockers". wnba.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  3. [3]
    "Rushia Brown Player File: Rockers". wnba.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  4. [4]
    "Linda Burgess Player File: Monarchs". wnba.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  5. [5]
    "Comets Player File: Pietra Gay". www.wnba.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 1998. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  6. [6]
    "Sparks Player File: Kim Gessig". www.wnba.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2001. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
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