This is an educational overview based on the Wikipedia article for the 2006 WNBA Draft. Read the full source article here. (opens in new tab)

WNBA Draft 2006

Charting the Future of Women's Basketball: A deep dive into the talent acquisition that shaped the league.

Discover the Draft 👇 View Selections 📊

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!


When you are ready...
🎮 Play the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge Game🎮

Event Overview

Date and Venue

The 2006 WNBA Draft convened on April 5, 2006, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Massachusetts. This marked a significant shift, being the first WNBA draft held outside of New Jersey.

Broadcast Coverage

The event garnered substantial viewership, with the first round televised on ESPN2. Subsequent rounds were broadcast on ESPNU and NBA TV, ensuring broad reach for the proceedings. Linda Cohn served as the host for the draft coverage.

Rookie Impact

A notable aspect of this draft class was the immediate impact of its top talent. Four players selected in the top six – Seimone Augustus, Cappie Pondexter, Sophia Young, and Candice Dupree – were recognized with All-Star selections in their inaugural seasons, highlighting the caliber of talent acquired.

Draft Context

Conjunction with NCAA

The 2006 WNBA Draft was strategically held in conjunction with the 2006 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament. The tournament's championship game took place the preceding night at the TD Banknorth Garden (now TD Garden) in Boston, creating a significant basketball hub and amplifying the draft's visibility.

Expansion Focus

The league welcomed a new franchise, the Chicago Sky, for the 2006 season. The process of building this new team began earlier with a separate expansion draft held on November 16, 2005, where the Sky selected their foundational players.

Draft Selections

Round 1 Highlights

The first round saw immediate impact players selected. Seimone Augustus was the top pick, heading to the Minnesota Lynx. The selections featured a mix of established collegiate stars and international talent, setting the stage for the upcoming season.

Pick Player Position Nationality Team School / Club Team
1 Seimone Augustus * ^ ! G United States Minnesota Lynx LSU
2 Cappie Pondexter * G United States Phoenix Mercury Rutgers
3 Monique Currie G United States Charlotte Sting Duke
4 Sophia Young * F Saint Vincent and the Grenadines San Antonio Silver Stars Baylor
5 Lisa Willis G United States Los Angeles Sparks (from Washington) UCLA
6 Candice Dupree + F/C United States Chicago Sky Temple
7 Shona Thorburn G Canada Minnesota Lynx (from Detroit) Utah
8 Tamara James G/F United States Washington Mystics (from Los Angeles) Miami (FL)
9 La'Tangela Atkinson G/F United States Indiana Fever North Carolina
10 Tye'sha Fluker C United States Charlotte Sting (from Houston) Tennessee
11 Barbara Turner G United States Seattle Storm Connecticut
12 Sherill Baker G United States New York Liberty Georgia
13 Kim Smith F Canada Sacramento Monarchs Utah
14 Scholanda Dorrell G United States Sacramento Monarchs (from Connecticut via San Antonio) LSU

Round 2 & 3 Insights

The subsequent rounds continued to fill team rosters with potential. Players like Ann Strother, Shanna Zolman, and Mistie Williams were selected in the second round, while the third round saw selections like Zane Teilane and Kerri Gardin.

Pick Player Position Nationality Team School / Club Team
15Ann Strother (traded to Phoenix)G United StatesHouston Comets (from Charlotte)Connecticut
16Shanna ZolmanG United StatesSan Antonio Silver StarsTennessee
17Ambrosia Anderson (traded to Minnesota)F United StatesDetroit Shock (from Minnesota)BYU
18Liz Shimek (traded to Houston)F United StatesPhoenix MercuryMichigan State
19Nikki BlueG United StatesWashington MysticsUCLA
20Jennifer Harris #G United StatesChicago SkyWashburn
21Mistie Williams (traded to Houston)F United StatesPhoenix Mercury (from Detroit)Duke
22Willnett CrockettF United StatesLos Angeles SparksConnecticut
23Brooke QueenanF United StatesNew York LibertyBoston College
24Renae Camino #G AustraliaHouston CometsAIS (Australia)
25Dalila Eshe #F United StatesSeattle StormFlorida
26Kasha TerryF United StatesChicago SkyGeorgia Tech
27LaToya BondG United StatesCharlotte Sting (from Sacramento)Missouri
28Debbie Merrill #F United StatesConnecticut SunOhio State
29Tiffany StansburyF/C United StatesHouston CometsNorth Carolina State
30Khara Smith #F United StatesSan Antonio Silver StarsDePaul
31Megan DuffyG United StatesMinnesota LynxNotre Dame
32Crystal SmithG United StatesPhoenix MercuryIowa
33Mariam Sy #C United StatesWashington MysticsOklahoma City
34Kerri GardinF United StatesChicago SkyVirginia Tech
35Zane TeilaneC LatviaDetroit ShockWestern Illinois
36Tiffany Porter-Talbert #G United StatesLos Angeles SparksWestern Kentucky
37Christelle N'GarsanetC Ivory CoastNew York LibertyMissouri
38Jessica Foley #G AustraliaIndiana Fever (from Houston)Duke
39Erin GrantG United StatesSeattle StormTexas Tech
40Marina Kuzina #C RussiaIndiana FeverNadezhda Orenburg (Russia)
41Lamisha Augustine #F United StatesSacramento MonarchsSan Jose State
42Marita Payne #C AustraliaConnecticut SunAuburn

Draft Key

Understanding the Symbols

The draft tables utilize specific markers to denote player achievements and status:

! Denotes player inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
^ Denotes player inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
* Denotes player selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-WNBA Team.
+ Denotes player selected for at least one All-Star Game.
# Denotes player who never played in the WNBA regular season or playoffs.
Bold Denotes player who won Rookie of the Year.

Expansion Draft

Building the Chicago Sky

Prior to the main draft, the newly formed Chicago Sky franchise participated in an expansion draft on November 16, 2005. This crucial event allowed the team to select its initial roster of players, laying the groundwork for their inaugural season.

Team Selections

Eastern Conference

Teams from the Eastern Conference actively participated, making key selections to bolster their rosters for the upcoming season.

  • Charlotte Sting
  • Chicago Sky
  • Connecticut Sun
  • Detroit Shock
  • Indiana Fever
  • New York Liberty
  • Washington Mystics

Western Conference

The Western Conference teams also made strategic picks, aiming to strengthen their competitive positions within the league.

  • Houston Comets
  • Los Angeles Sparks
  • Minnesota Lynx
  • Phoenix Mercury
  • Sacramento Monarchs
  • San Antonio Silver Stars
  • Seattle Storm

Teacher's Corner

Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

Edit and Print Materials from this study in the wiki2web studio
Click here to open the "2006 Wnba Draft" Wiki2Web Studio curriculum kit

Use the free Wiki2web Studio to generate printable flashcards, worksheets, exams, and export your materials as a web page or an interactive game.

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?

Learn about 2006_wnba_draft while playing the wiki2web Clarity Challenge game.
Unlock the mystery image and prove your knowledge by earning trophies. This simple game is addictively fun and is a great way to learn!

Play now

Explore More Topics

Discover other topics to study!

                                        

References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the 2006 WNBA draft Wikipedia page

Feedback & Support

To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.

Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional sports analysis or advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional sports journalism, scouting reports, or official league communications. Always refer to official WNBA sources and consult with qualified sports professionals for specific insights.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.