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Wednesday, January 5
L.A. guard Grubin goes first

Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Her WNBA team doesn't have a name yet, but coach Lin Dunn had a clear strategy in the league's expansion draft.

WHO WENT WHERE

Indiana:
1. G Gordana Grubin, L.A.
8. G Sandy Brondello, Detroit
9. C Nyree Roberts, Wash
16. C Kara Wolters, Houston
17. G Rita Williams, Wash
24. G Chantel Tremitiere, Utah

Seattle:
2. G Edna Campbell, Phoenix
7. G Sonja Henning, Houston
10. G Angela Aycock, Minn
15. C Nina Bjedov, L.A.
18. F-C Toni Foster, Phoenix
23. G Charmin Smith, Minn

Miami:
3. G Kate Starbird, Sac*
6. G-F Stephanie McCarty, Char**
11. G Debbie Black, Utah
14. F-C Sharon Manning, Char
19. F Lesley Brown, Detroit
22. F-C Yolanda Moore, Orl

Portland:
4. F Alisa Burras, Cleveland
5. G Sophia Witherspoon, NY
12. F Tari Phillips, Orlando
13. G Coquese Washington, NY
20. G Molly Goodenbour, Sac
21. G Jamila Wideman, Cleve

* Starbird was traded with Miami's first-round pick in the 2000 draft to Utah for center Elena Baranova and Utah's second-round pick in the 2000 draft.
** Brondello and Indiana's first-round pick in the 2000 draft were traded to Miami for McCarty.

Picking second overall, she chose guards Edna Campbell of Phoenix and Sonja Henning of Houston, respectively, in the first two rounds Wednesday.

"I wanted to get my backcourt first," Dunn told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "It was tough to do with four teams picking, but I got who I wanted."

Dunn coached Henning with the ABL Portland Power, and Henning was the starting point guard for Houston's WNBA championship team this year.

"I look for her to lead this team," the coach said in a news release. "With Sonja and Edna in our backcourt, we are going to give some teams fits."

Gordana Grubin, a guard for the Los Angeles Sparks, was selected by Indiana with the first pick, one ahead of Campbell.

Guard Kate Starbird of Sacramento then went to Miami and Portland chose forward Alisa Burras from Cleveland.

Miami then traded Starbird and its first pick (eighth overall) in the 2000 WNBA draft to the Utah Starzz for center Elena Baranova and Utah's second-round pick (19th overall) in the draft.

Miami also traded its second-round pick, guard-forward Stephanie McCarty chosen from Charlotte, to Indiana for its second-round choice, guard Sandy Brondello of Detroit, and Indiana's first-round pick (10th overall) in the 2000 draft.

The other second-round expansion picks were guard Sophia Witherspoon, picked by Portland from New York, and Henning.

Seattle also selected guard-forward Angela Aycock, formerly of the ABL's Seattle Reign, as well as 6-foot-6 center Nina Bjedov, forward Toni Foster and guard Charmin Smith.

Stephanie McCarty
Former Purdue guard Stephanie McCarty will return to Indiana after a season in Charlotte.

The Seattle team begins its inaugural season at KeyArena in mid-May. The team already has 7,100 season-ticket pledges, best among expansion cities.

Portland also acquired center Michele VanGorp from New York as a payment for selecting Witherspoon in the second round and guard Coquese Washington in the fourth round.

Each of the 12 existing WNBA teams protected five players through the first three rounds of the draft, with each team losing one player.

For the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, the current teams protected three more players each and lost one additional player to the new teams.

The regular WNBA draft is April 25, with the first pick held by the Cleveland Rockers.

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