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The Toronto Tempo made history Monday by selecting UCLA guard Kiki Rice with their first-ever WNBA draft pick. Rice went sixth overall in the opening round of the draft held in New York City, just 10 days after the Tempo added their initial players in the WNBA expansion draft.
Rice, a 22-year-old American, averaged 14.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists across 38 games last season at UCLA, helping lead the Bruins to a national championship. The first overall pick went to UConn star Azzi Fudd, who was selected by the Dallas Wings and is set to earn $500,000 US.
Last month, the Tempo won a coin toss against the Portland Fire, allowing them to pick sixth in the draft instead of seventh. In exchange, Portland received the first pick in the expansion draft.
Toronto also holds the 22nd, 26th, and 36th picks in this draft. They acquired the 26th pick from the Chicago Sky as part of a deal in which the Tempo agreed not to select any Sky players in the expansion draft.
The Tempo will launch their inaugural WNBA season on May 8 at Toronto’s Coca-Cola Coliseum, hosting the Washington team.
Among other top selections, Minnesota chose Olivia Miles of TCU with the second overall pick. Miles, who transferred from Notre Dame, helped the Horned Frogs reach the Elite Eight in consecutive seasons and decided this year to enter the draft. After being selected, Miles expressed her emotion about the moment, saying, “Deep breath that’s why I got emotional. It’s finally here, finally heard my name. This is what this was for.”
Seattle picked Spain’s center Awa Fam Thiam at No. 3, followed by Washington selecting 6-foot-7 Betts. The Chicago Sky then chose Jaquez, sister of Miami Heat player Jaime Jaquez Jr., who earns family bragging rights after going higher than her brother in drafts; Jaime was selected 18th in the 2023 NBA draft.
The Portland Fire made their first pick ever, taking Spanish guard Iyana Martin Carrion. Indiana selected South Carolina’s Raven Johnson with the 10th pick, and Washington followed by drafting Cotie McMahon from Ole Miss.
Connecticut added French player Nell Angloma at No. 12. Atlanta chose Madina Okot from South Carolina, and Seattle picked Duke’s Taina Mair at 14. The Sun rounded out the first round by selecting Kneepkens.
