The WNBA draft was held Wednesday afternoon at the Renaissance Hotel in Cleveland's Public Square.
“It's like a dream come true,” Smith, who UD Head Coach Tina Martin called the best guard ever to wear the Delaware jersey, said. “I've wanted to play in the WNBA since I was a kid and now I have that opportunity. I'm so happy, I'm speechless.”
Joining Smith in Phoenix, which finished 18-16 last season, are Leah Rush of the University of Oklahoma, Chrissy Givens of Middle Tennessee State University and Emily Westerberg of Arizona State University, all selected in the third round.
Smith, a Kodak Women's Basketball Coaches Association Regional All-America, was a first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection and the conference defensive player of the year in each of the last two seasons. The senior led the CAA in scoring and ranked 18th in NCAA Division I by averaging 19.8 points per game.
“I am very happy for her and our program,” Martin said. “It's a proud day for the University, Tyresa, and the Delaware basketball family. We will all be pulling for her.”
Led by Smith, the 2006-2007 Hens finished 26-6 and were invited to participate in the NCAA Division I championship tournament, losing 69-58 to host Michigan State University in the opening round.
The WNBA will tip off its second decade of play in 2007 and will feature 91 national telecasts on ABC, ESPN2 and NBA TV. The season will begin on May 19 when the defending champion Detroit Shock hosts the Sacramento Monarchs in a rematch of last year's WNBA Finals. The Mercury will tip off their first game May 19 when they host the San Antonio Silver Stars.
