Jackson Drafted By Detriot Shock In First Round

NORMAN, Okla. -- As the final pick in the first round senior Dionnah Jackson becomes the sixth Oklahoma women's basketball player to be selected in the WNBA Draft. Head coach Bill Laimbeer and the Detroit Shock took Jackson as the 13th overall pick Saturday. All three rounds of the 2005 WNBA draft took place at the NBA Entertainment Studios in Secaucus, N.J.

Going as the first overall selection of the 2005 draft and to the Charlotte String was Janel McCarville of Minnesota. The only other Big 12 Conference player drafted in the opening round was Kendra Wecker of Kansas State. Wecker was the fourth pick by the San Antonio Silver Stars.

After winning the WNBA title in 2003, the Shock slipped to 17-17 and lost to New York in an Eastern Conference semifinal series last year. Detroit has made the playoffs in three of the seven years, including the last two.

Jackson Photo Gallery

Jackson WNBA Photo Gallery

Jackson concluded her Sooner career by leading her team to a sixth-straight NCAA Tournament and a four-year record of 92-39. Jackson was a member of the 2002 NCAA Final Four squad and two Big 12 Conference Tournament teams. She was also named first team All-Big 12 this season, after earning second team honors as a sophomore and junior.

“Dionnah has had a remarkable career at the University of Oklahoma and is poised and prepared for a new challenge with the WNBA,” said Coale.

“She is so versatile that she can fit in a myriad of spots which makes her a hot commodity. Today, Di became the fourth player from our program to go in the first round. That speaks volumes about our players' development while they're here. We're so proud of Di.”

The Associated Press and Kodak All-American honorable mention pick led OU in rebounding (8.5), assists (5.8) and steals (2.2) per game, as well as ranking second in scoring with 14.6 ppg.

She has made her mark in the Oklahoma history books, ranking among the all-time top 15 in 17 of 22 career categories including second in assists (606), third in steals (265), fourth in rebounding (829) and ninth in scoring (1,491). Jackson didn't stop there, she also became one of the Big 12's all-time best at assists and steals per game, ranking third and seventh, respectively, on the leader boards.

In addition, Jackson set a high standard by becoming one of only two players in the Big 12 to have produced more than 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 400 assists and 200 steals in a career.

Former Sooners WNBA Draft Picks:
2005 - Dionnah Jackson, Detroit Shock (13th overall/first round)
2004 - Maria Villarroel, Phoenix Mercury (27th overall/third round)
2002 - Stacey Dales-Schuman, Washington Mystics (third overall/first round)
2002 - LaNeishea Caufield, Utah Starzz (13th overall/first round)
2002 - Rosalind Ross, Los Angeles Sparks (16th overall/first round)
2000 - Phylesha Whaley, Minnesota Lynx (38th overall/third round)

2005 WNBA DRAFTS
First Round
1. Charlotte Sting - Janel McCarville, C, Minnesota
2. Indiana Fever - Tan White, G, Mississippi State
3. Phoenix Mercury - Sandora Irvin, F, Texas Christian
4. San Antonio Silver Stars - Kendra Wecker, F, Kansas State
5. Houston Comets - Sancho Lyttle, C, Houston
6. Washington Mystics - Temeka Johnson, G, L.S.U.
7. Detroit Shock - Kara Braxton, F, Georgia
8. Connecticut Sun - Katie Feenstra, C, Liberty
9. Sacramento Monarchs - Kristin Haynie, G, Michigan State
10. New York Liberty - Loree Moore, G, Tennessee
11. Minnesota Lynx - Kristen Mann, F, UC-Santa Barbara
12. Seattle Storm - Tanisha Wright, G, Penn State
13. Detroit Shock - Dionnah Jackson, F, Oklahoma

Second Round
14. San Antonio Silver Stars - Shyra Ely, F, Tennessee
15. Houston Comets - Roneeka Hodges, G, Florida State
16. Indiana Fever - Yolanda Paige, G, West Virginia
17. Minnesota Lynx - Jacqueline Batteast, F, Notre Dame
18. Phoenix Mercury - Angelina Williams, F, Illinois
19. Washington Mystics - Erica Taylor, G, Louisiana Tech
20. Detroit Shock - Nikita Bell, F/G, North Carolina
21. Connecticut Sun - Erin Phillips, Australia
22. Sacramento Monarchs - Chelsea Newton, G, Rutgers
23. New York Liberty - Tabitha Pool, F, Michigan
24. Charlotte Sting - Jessica Moore, C, Connecticut
25. Seattle Storm - Ashley Battle, F, Connecticut
26. Los Angeles Sparks - DeeDee Wheeler, G, Arizona

Third Round
27. San Antonio Silver Stars - Catherine Kraayeveld, F, Oregon
28. Houston Comets - Jenni Dant, G, DePaul
29. Indiana Fever - Ashley Earley, G/F, Vanderbilt
30. Sacramento Monarchs - Anne O'Neil, G, Iowa State
31. Phoenix Mercury - Jamie Carey, G, Texas
32. Washington Mystics - Tashia Morehead, F, Florida
33. Detroit Shock - Jenni Lingor, G, Southwest Missouri St.
34. Connecticut Sun - Megan Mahoney, F, Kansas St.
35. Sacramento Monarchs - Cisti Greenwalt, C, Texas Tech
36. New York Liberty - Rebecca Richman, C, Rutgers
37. Minnesota Lynx - Monique Bivins, G, Alabama
38. Seattle Storm - Steffanie Blackmon, F, Baylor
39. Los Angeles Sparks - Heather Schreiber, F, Texas

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Jackson Drafted By Detriot Shock In First Round

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