BOSTON — Seimone Augustus completed her LSU career as the most decorated women’s basketball player in school history, and on Wednesday, she was selected by the Minnesota Lynx with the first pick of the 2006 WNBA Draft.
“This is a dream come true for me,” Augustus said. “I am just happy to be able to continue playing basketball and I am grateful the WNBA has given me this opportunity.”
Scholanda Hoston was the second LSU player chosen in this year’s draft held in Boston Convention Center, going to the Sacramento Monarchs in the final pick of the first round.
Augustus, the two-time NCAA National Player of the Year, led the nation in scoring this past season and finished her LSU career with 2,702 points, 728 rebounds and 276 assists, while shooting over 54.0 percent from the floor during her 140 games. Augustus’ point total is second in LSU’s record book, while her 140 starts in the school record.
During her career at LSU, the Lady Tigers posted a 121-19 overall record, won back-to-back Southeastern Conference regular season championships and reach the Final Four three straight times.
LSU Players in the WNBA Draft
Year
Player
Team
2006
Seimone Augustus
Minnesota Lynx
Scholanda Hoston
Sacramento Monarchs
2005
Temeka Johnson
Washington Mystics
2004
Doneeka Hodges
Los Angeles Sparks
2003
Aiysha Smith
Washington Mystics
DeTrina White
Indiana Fever
Ke Ke Tardy
San Antonio Silver Stars
2001
Marie Ferdinand
Utah Starzz
April Brown
Indiana Fever
2000
Katrina Hibbert
Seattle Storm
1999
Elaine Powell
Orlando Miracle
The Lady Tigers finished this season 31-4 with a national semifinal loss to Duke in Boston on Sunday. “This week has been really crazy for me with the Final Four and all of this,” Augustus said. “Once we lost in the semifinals it was strait to USA Basketball and from there it was time to find an outfit for the draft and then once draft day got here it was crazy. I was up at 6:30 a.m. trying to get my thoughts together on what this day was going to be like.”
Augustus is the first LSU player to be selected with the first pick of the draft and the fourth player to be chosen in the first round. Last season Temeka Johnson was selected with the sixth pick by the Washington Mystics. Aiysha Smith went to the Mystics with the seventh pick in 2003 and Marie Ferdinand was the then Utah Starzz’ eighth pick in 2001.
Following a visit to Minneapolis on Wednesday night, Augustus will travel to Australia to join Team USA and former LSU teammate Sylvia Fowles on the United States’ World Championship Olympic Qualifying team.
Minnesota, one of 14 teams in the WNBA, plays its home games in Minneapolis’ Target Center. The Lynx finished in sixth place in the league’s Western Conference at 14-20 in 2005 after losing their last four games of the season.
Minnesota is coached by Suzie McConnell Serio, a former WNBA All-Star and 1998 Newcomer of the Year.
Hoston, a Miami, Fla., native finished her LSU career with 1,225 points 230 steals, 219 assists and 120 3-point field goals. The Miami native is 15th on LSU’s career scoring list, fifth in career 3-point field goals and seventh in career steals.
“This is a thrill to be selected by Sacramento,” Hoston said. “I am excited to be given this opportunity to continue my basketball career.”
Sacramento, the WNBA Champions last season, is coached by John Whisenant and plays in the ARCO Arena.
This year’s draft marks the third time LSU has had multiple players selected in the same year. April Brown joined Ferdinand in 2001 and Ke Ke Tardy and DeTrina White were also selected along with Smith in 2003.
LSU and Utah are the only two schools this year to have two players selected in the opening round.
The WNBA Draft features three-rounds and 42 players.
2006 WNBA DRAFT, ROUND 1
PICK
TEAM
SELECTION
1
Minnesota Lynx
Seimone Augustus, G, LSU
2
Phoenix Mercury
Cappie Pondexter, G, Rutgers
3
Charlotte Sting
Monique Currie, G, Duke
4
San Antonio Silver Stars
Sophia Young, F, Baylor
5
Los Angeles Sparks
Lisa Willis, G, UCLA
6
Chicago Sky
Candice Dupree, F, Temple
7
Minnesota Lynx
Shona Thorburn, G, Utah
8
Washington Mystics
Tamara James, G/F, Miami (Fla.)
9
Indiana Fever
La’Tangela Atkinson, G/F, North Carolina
10
Charlotte Sting
Tye’sha Fluker, C, Tennessee
11
Seattle Storm
Barbara Turner, G/F, Connecticut
12
New York Liberty
Sherill Baker, G, Georgia
13
Sacramento Monarchs
Kim Smith, F, Utah
14
Sacramento Monarchs
Scholanda Hoston, G, LSU
2006 WNBA DRAFT, ROUND 2
PICK
TEAM
SELECTION
15
Houston Comets
Ann Strother, G, Connecticut
16
San Antonio Silver Stars
Shanna Zolman, G, Tennessee
17
Detroit Shock
Ambrosia Anderson, F, BYU
18
Phoenix Mercury
Liz Shimek, F, Michigan St.
19
Washington Mystics
Nikki Blue, G, UCLA
20
Chicago Sky
Jennifer Harris, G/F, Washburn
21
Phoenix Mercury
Mistie Williams, F, Duke
22
Los Angeles Sparks
Willnett Crockett, F, Connecticut
23
New York Liberty
Brooke Queenan, F, Boston College
24
Houston Comets
Renae Camino, G, Australia
25
Seattle Storm
Dalila Eshe, F, Florida
26
Indiana Fever
Kasha Terry, F, Georgia Tech
27
Charlotte Sting
LaToya Bond, G, Missouri
28
Connecticut Sun
Debbie Merrill, F, Ohio St.
2006 WNBA DRAFT, ROUND 3
PICK
TEAM
SELECTION
29
Houston Comets
Tiffany Stansbury, N.C. State
30
San Antonio Silver Stars
Khara Smith, C, DePaul
31
Minnesota Lynx
Megan Duffy, G, Notre Dame
32
Phoenix Mercury
Crystal Smith, G, Iowa
33
Washington Mystics
Mariam Sy, C, Oklahoma City Univ.
34
Chicago Sky
Kerri Gardin, F, Virginia Tech
35
Detroit Shock
Zane Teilane, C, Western Illinois
36
Los Angeles Sparks
Tiffany Porter-Talbert, G, Western Kentucky
37
New York Liberty
Christelle N’Garsanet, C, Missouri
38
Indiana Fever
Jessica Foley, G, Duke
39
Seattle Storm
Erin Grant, G, Texas Tech
40
Indiana Fever
Marina Kuzina, C, Russia
41
Sacramento Monarchs
Lamisha Augustine, F, San Jose St.
42
Connecticut Sun
Marita Payne, C, Auburn