University of North Carolina Athletics
Former Tar Heels LaToya Sanders (far left) and Jessica Breland (center) battled in the 2018 WNBA Playoffs. Photo by Brian Savage
Tar Heels in the WNBA
April 14, 2020 | Women's Basketball
As the women's basketball world looks ahead to the 2020 WNBA Draft on Friday, we're taking a look back at UNC's strong history and long list of Tar Heels in the pros. Carolina has had 20 players drafted into the WNBA, including eight who were first round picks.
WNBA Notes:
• UNC's most recent WNBA Draft pick was Paris Kea, who was selected with the 25th pick in the 2019 Draft, held on April 10th, 2019.
• UNC's highest pick of all time was Nikki Teasley, who was the fifth pick in the 2002 Draft. She was selected by Portland but then quickly traded to Los Angeles, where just a few months later she hit a three-pointer to seal the 2002 WNBA Championship for the Sparks.
• A Tar Heel hoisted the most recent WNBA Championship trophy, with LaToya (Pringle) Sanders helping the Washington Mystics to the 2019 crown. Sanders was the 13th pick in the 2008 Draft by Phoenix.
• After spending the past two years in Atlanta, Jessica Breland will suit up for Phoenix this year. The 13th pick in the 2011 Draft by Minnesota, she was quickly traded to New York. She played for the Liberty, the Connecticut Sun and the Chicago Sky before signing with the Dream in 2018.
• Tierra Ruffin-Pratt went undrafted in 2013, but was invited to camp and eventually signed by Washington. A starter in three of her five years with the Mystics, she signed with Los Angeles in February of 2019 and started for the Sparks last season.
Tar Heels in the WNBA, Spring 2020:
Jessica Breland, Phoenix
Paris Kea, Indiana
Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, Los Angeles
LaToya Sanders, Washington
UNC's All-Time WNBA Draft Picks:
1998: Tracy Reid, first round, 7th overall, Charlotte
1999: Charlotte Smith, third round, 33rd overall, Charlotte
2001: La'Quanda Barksdale, first round, 12th overall, Portland
2001: Juana Brown, fourth round, 49th overall, Seattle
2002: Nikki Teasley, first round, 5th overall, Portland (traded to LA)
2002: Jackie Higgins, second round, 32nd overall, Los Angeles
2003: Coretta Brown, first round, 11th overall, San Antonio
2003: Marion Jones, third round, 33rd overall, Phoenix
2005: Nikita Bell, second round, 20th, Detroit
2006: La'Tangela Atkinson, first round, 9th pick overall, Indiana
2007: Ivory Latta, first round, 11th overall, Detroit
2007: Camille Little, second round, 17th overall, San Antonio
2008: LaToya Pringle Sanders, first round, 13th overall, Phoenix
2008: Erlana Larkins, first round, 14th overall, New York
2009: Rashanda McCants, second round, 15th overall, Minnesota
2011: Jessica Breland, second round, 13th overall, Minnesota (traded to NY)
2011: Italee Lucas, second round, 21st overall, Tulsa
2012: Chay Shegog, second round, 21st overall, Connecticut
2013: Waltiea Rolle, third round, 36th overall, Minnesota
2019: Paris Kea, third round, 25th overall, Indiana
WNBA Notes:
• UNC's most recent WNBA Draft pick was Paris Kea, who was selected with the 25th pick in the 2019 Draft, held on April 10th, 2019.
• UNC's highest pick of all time was Nikki Teasley, who was the fifth pick in the 2002 Draft. She was selected by Portland but then quickly traded to Los Angeles, where just a few months later she hit a three-pointer to seal the 2002 WNBA Championship for the Sparks.
15 years ago today: Rookie Nikki Teasley's CLUTCH shot clinches the @LA_Sparks' second straight title -- the last #WNBA repeat! #WNBAvault pic.twitter.com/BteOXsfy9d
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 31, 2017
• A Tar Heel hoisted the most recent WNBA Championship trophy, with LaToya (Pringle) Sanders helping the Washington Mystics to the 2019 crown. Sanders was the 13th pick in the 2008 Draft by Phoenix.
• After spending the past two years in Atlanta, Jessica Breland will suit up for Phoenix this year. The 13th pick in the 2011 Draft by Minnesota, she was quickly traded to New York. She played for the Liberty, the Connecticut Sun and the Chicago Sky before signing with the Dream in 2018.
• Tierra Ruffin-Pratt went undrafted in 2013, but was invited to camp and eventually signed by Washington. A starter in three of her five years with the Mystics, she signed with Los Angeles in February of 2019 and started for the Sparks last season.
Tar Heels in the WNBA, Spring 2020:
Jessica Breland, Phoenix
Paris Kea, Indiana
Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, Los Angeles
LaToya Sanders, Washington
UNC's All-Time WNBA Draft Picks:
1998: Tracy Reid, first round, 7th overall, Charlotte
1999: Charlotte Smith, third round, 33rd overall, Charlotte
2001: La'Quanda Barksdale, first round, 12th overall, Portland
2001: Juana Brown, fourth round, 49th overall, Seattle
2002: Nikki Teasley, first round, 5th overall, Portland (traded to LA)
2002: Jackie Higgins, second round, 32nd overall, Los Angeles
2003: Coretta Brown, first round, 11th overall, San Antonio
2003: Marion Jones, third round, 33rd overall, Phoenix
2005: Nikita Bell, second round, 20th, Detroit
2006: La'Tangela Atkinson, first round, 9th pick overall, Indiana
2007: Ivory Latta, first round, 11th overall, Detroit
2007: Camille Little, second round, 17th overall, San Antonio
2008: LaToya Pringle Sanders, first round, 13th overall, Phoenix
2008: Erlana Larkins, first round, 14th overall, New York
2009: Rashanda McCants, second round, 15th overall, Minnesota
2011: Jessica Breland, second round, 13th overall, Minnesota (traded to NY)
2011: Italee Lucas, second round, 21st overall, Tulsa
2012: Chay Shegog, second round, 21st overall, Connecticut
2013: Waltiea Rolle, third round, 36th overall, Minnesota
2019: Paris Kea, third round, 25th overall, Indiana
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