University of North Carolina Athletics
LaToya Sanders Joins Mystics
July 8, 2015 | Women's Basketball
"LaToya will bring us an experienced presence at both ends of the floor,” said Thibault. “She is an elite defender and rebounder, as well as a high percentage shooter. She has been one of the premier power forwards in Europe for the last several years and is coming off an excellent Eurobasket performance for Turkey the past month. LaToya will fit in extremely well with the team we have."
Sanders was selected in the first round (13th overall) by the Phoenix Mercury during the 2008 WNBA draft. She finished that season ranked fifth in block shots (1.52) and first in blocks per 40 minutes (4.66). Sanders spent the 2009 season on the roster of the Minnesota Lynx where she saw action in 17 games. In 2011, Sanders averaged career highs in field goal (.473) and free throw (.889) percentage as a member of the Los Angeles Sparks.
An alum of the University of North Carolina, Sanders has spent the last five years as a member of the Turkish team TED Keyseri, where she averaged 16.7 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game in Eurobasket play. She has also spent the last three years as a key member of the Turkish National Team.
Sanders joins two other former Carolina players on the Mystics roster - all-star Ivory Latta and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt. Sanders and Latta played three seasons together in Chapel Hill from 2005-07, winning ACC Tournament titles each season. The duo also led the Tar Heels to the NCAA Final Four in both 2006 and 2007.