Shaneice Swain’s rise to the WNBA has been given the seal of approval by Magic Johnson after {the teenager} was drafted by his Los Angeles Sparks.
The LA Lakers NBA nice and Sparks co-owner welcomed the 19-year-old Cairns expertise on Twitter after she was taken at choose No.14 of the 2023 draft on Tuesday (AEST).
The Indigenous level guard surged into calculations with a team-high 19 factors, 4 rebounds and two assists in simply 21 minutes for Team World in entrance of scouts at Saturday’s inaugural Nike Hoops Summit in Portland.
That got here after a breakout WNBL season for the Capitals, Swain averaging 14.5 factors, 3.4 rebounds, and a couple of.1 assists per recreation whereas taking pictures 40.9 per cent from the sector and 36.2 per cent from lengthy vary.
She’ll be part of countrywoman Steph Talbot on the Sparks and a bunch of different Australians within the WNBA together with Anneli Maley and Alanna Smith (Chicago Sky), Bec Allen (Connecticut Sun), Kristy Wallace (Indiana Fever), Cayla George (Las Vegas Aces), and Ezi Magbegor, Sami Whitcomb and Jade Melbourne (Seattle Storm).
Opals coach Sandy Brondello additionally leads the New York Liberty and can get a more in-depth take a look at the newest WNBL graduate, who she’s included in her prolonged squad forward of subsequent yr’s Olympics.
Swain was the one Australian drafted, with 111 gamers nominating for the 35 obtainable spots.
Indiana Fever, final season’s worst-performing workforce, made the many of the first No.1 draft choose in franchise historical past, deciding on Aliyah Boston.
The South Carolina star had a stellar faculty profession, main the Gamecocks to a nationwide championship in her junior yr, shedding solely 9 video games.
Minnesota took Diamond Miller of Maryland with the No.2 choose and Dallas drafted Maddy Siegrist of Villanova with the third.
The WNBA season will begin on May 19.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
