(December 22, 2001)

 

NATIONAL WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LEAGUE (NWBL)

Holds Draft Today –  National Stars Join NWBL

SPRINGFIELD, MA (December 22, 2001) The National Women’s Basketball League (NWBL) held its 2002 draft today at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA.. The NWBL Pro League enters it’s second professional season this February 2002 expanding to six teams – Atlanta JUSTICE; Kansas City LEGACY; Chicago BLAZE; Birmingham POWER; Springfield SPIRIT and the Houston STEALTH.

The NWBL pro team franchises will play a 20-game season from February 5 to March 30, 2002, that culminates with the 2nd NWBL PRO CUP to be held on March 28,29, 30 in San Antonio, Texas (same city that week for the NCAA Women’s Final Four).

 

First-round draft choices were Rebecca Lobo (SPRINGFIELD SPIRIT) Tamika Catchings (CHICAGO BLAZE);  Trisha Stafford Odom (HOUSTON STEALTH);  Betty Lennox (BIRMINGHAM POWER);  Anna DeForge (KANSAS CITY LEGACY) and Tracy Henderson (ATLANTA JUSTICE)

 

“This was an unprecedented, outstanding draft for our young professional league and no doubt with the NWBL franchise teams drafting so many world-renowned players, we look forward to a very exciting second season in the NWBL this spring 2002!” stated President/Founder Patrick Alexander.

 

“The fact that teams drafted fifteen current WNBA players, former Olympians, and numerous players with foreign experience is a testimony to the overall-strength and talent the NWBL brings to professional women’s basketball in the spring here in the United States.” claimed Mike Walker – Director of  Player Personnel/Co-Founder.

 

Although every team was extremely pleased with their draft choices, Steven Fox, the owner of the Springfield SPIRIT, was elated knowing that he had just drafted the “Fab Five of UCONN” – Rebecca Lobo, Kara Wolters, Shea Ralph, Rita Williams and Christine Rigby as he went through the draft today at the Basketball Hall of Fame in his hometown of Springfield, MA.

 

The NWBL tips off the second season on February 5, 2002 and for more information about the NWBL see their website at – www.nwbl.com.

 

 

 

NWBL PRO DRAFT 2002

“Basketball Hall of Fame – Springfield, MA – December 22, 2001”

www.nwbl.com

 

 

NWBL SPRINGFIELD SPRIT

  1. Rebecca Lobo – UCONN
  2. Kara Wolters – UCONN
  3. Rita Williams – UCONN
  4. Shea Ralph – UCONN
  5. Christine Rigby – UCONN
  6. Jamie Cournoyer – BOSTON COLLEGE
  7. Liz Tucker – UNIVERSITY ALBANY
  8. Kristen McCory – UNIVERSITY SYRACUSE
  9. Meagan Leahy – NOTRE DAME
  10. Beth Kuzmeski –
  11. Kristen McCormick – UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
  12. Passed

 

NWBL CHICAGO BLAZE

  1. Tamika Catchings – TENNESEE
  2. E.C. Hill – NORTHERN ILLINOIS
  3. Camille Cooper – PURDUE
  4. Rhonda Smith – LONG BEACH STATE
  5. Kina Brown – WESTERN MICHIGAN
  6. Staci Carney – PURDUE
  7. Melissa Jo Clark – SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
  8. Elena Lovate – MISSOURI
  9. Kamellah Morgan – SOUTHERN INDIANA
  10. Roslyn Turner – CALUMET COLLEGE ST. JOSEPHS
  11. M-Fon Udoka – DE PAUL UNIVERSITY
  12. Felicity Willis – ARIZONA

NWBL HOUSTON STEALTH

  1. Trisha Stafford-Odom – CALIF0RNIA BERKLEY
  2. Tamicha Jackson – LOUISIANA TECH
  3. LaCharlotte Smith – MISSISSIPPI STATE
  4. Sharonda Lassiter – UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
  5. Anitra Davis – STEVEN F. AUSTIN
  6. Erica Routt – UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
  7. D-Dra Rucker – SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY
  8. Debra Williams – LOUISIANA TECH
  9. Pat Lucky – UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
  10. Darla Simpson – UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
  11. Katy Lida – UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
  12. Norma Noel -  UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

NWBL BIRMINGHAM POWER

  1. Betty Lennox – LOUISIANA TECH
  2. Kelly Miller -  UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
  3. Coco Miller – UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
  4. Jacqueline Enteminger – LANDER UNIVERSITY
  5. Shawnetta Stewart – RUTGERS
  6. Tara Williams – AUBURN
  7. Jennifer Holmes – VANDERBILT
  8. Karin Karlin – ARKANSAS
  9. Tequilla Allen – ALABAMA
  10. Yaleka Barnes – ALABAMA
  11. Shana Askew – AUBURN
  12. Carolyn Jones Young – AUBURN

NWBL KANSAS CITY LEGACY

  1. Anna DeForge – NEBRASKA
  2. Brooke Schwartz – NEBRASKA
  3. Keisha Bonds – MISSOURI
  4. Jenny Schmidt – ILLINOIS STATE
  5. Lauren Powers – UMKC
  6. Erica Bradford – COLORADO
  7. Anna Hull – UMKC
  8. Rae Ann West – NORTHERN ARIZONA
  9. Nicki Rouillard -  LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
  10. Katrisa  O’Neil – TEXAS TECH
  11. Cherlyn Morris – SOUTHERN NAZZARENE
  12. Andrea Jones – KANSAS STATE

NWBL ATLANTA JUSTICE

  1. Tracey Henderson – UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
  2. Keisha Ford – GEORGIA TECH
  3. Tamara Stocks - FLORIDA
  4. Maxann Reese – MICHIGAN STATE
  5. Denee Rivera – HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY
  6. Sherronda Mifflin – CLARK ATLANTA
  7. Leslie McElrath – GEORGIA STATE
  8. Safiyah Farrakan – VIRGINIA STATE
  9. Angie Williams – LIFE UNIVERSITY
  10. Katrina McClain – UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
  11. Chariysa Davis – CENTRAL FLORIDA
  12. Passed

[Source: NWBL, Patrick Alexander, J.D., President, Cell Phone – 858.829.2539, Email – leagueoffice@nwbl.com, Web Site – www.nwbl.com]

 


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