Smith Picked 27th Overall In The 2008 WNBA Draft

DURHAM, N.C. ? Duke University senior Wanisha Smith became the 11th Blue Devil in school history to be selected in the WNBA Draft, which was held on Wednesday at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Fla.

Smith, a native of Upper Marlboro, Md., was selected by the New York Liberty with the 13th pick in the second round. She was the overall 27th overall player drafted in 2008.

“It was so exciting and I don't even know how to put it into words,” said Smith about hearing her name called in the WNBA Draft. “It is so good to be drafted. Now I don't to have to look for a team or try to go through a team's training camp. It is just so exciting. I am just ready to go and to start a new chapter in my life.”

A four-year starter for the Blue Devils, Smith appeared in 135 career games for Duke while starting 119. The 5-11 guard concluded her career ranking fourth on the Blue Devil career charts with 496 assists, 14th on the all-time scoring list with 1,256 points, fourth with 119 starts and ninth with 336 three-point field goals attempted. She led Duke to the 2006 National Championship game, the 2005 NCAA Elite Eight and to the 2007 and 2008 NCAA Regionals, while winning 117 games.

As a senior, Smith averaged 9.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 0.9 steals, while totaling a 1.1 assist/turnover ratio. She earned All-ACC Tournament accolades after guiding Duke to the ACC Championship game, which included matching a career high with 22 points in an upset victory over fourth-ranked Maryland. Smith nailed 30 three-pointers, which ranked second on the Blue Devil squad. She also became the 22nd player in Duke history to reach the 1,000-point mark of her career.

Smith came in as a freshman and started 35 of 36 games, while seeing action at the point guard slot. She totaled one of the best freshman seasons in Duke history as she dished out 154 assists to rank tied for third all-time on the Blue Devil charts, while breaking the Duke freshman record. She also tied a Blue Devil freshman record with 41 three-pointers made, while totaling 34 points in her first two games of her career to rank as the third-best output for a Duke freshman in the opening two games of her career. In the Duke freshman charts, she also ranks fifth in points (394), third in steals (61), fifth in three-point field goal percentage (41.0) and fifth in double-figure scoring games (22).

Smith joins Lindsey Harding (Phoenix Mercury, No. 1 overall pick in 2007), Alana Beard (Washington Mystics, No. 2 overall pick in 2004), Monique Currie (Charlotte Sting, No. 3 overall pick in 2006), Alison Bales (Indiana Fever, No. 9 overall pick in 2007), Iciss Tillis (Detroit Shock, No. 11 overall pick in 2004), Michele Van Gorp (New York Liberty, No. 18 overall pick), Georgia Schweitzer (Miami Sol, No. 21 overall pick in 2001), Mistie Williams (Phoenix Mercury, No. 21 overall pick in 2006), Jessica Foley (Indiana Fever, No. 38 overall pick in 2006) and Peppi Browne (Charlotte Sting, No. 43 overall pick in 2000) as other Blue Devils who have been drafted by the WNBA.

“New York was one of my teams that I thought I would go to,” said Smith. “When you look at it, all of my hard work has paid off. It is a great feeling to know that -- because I have brothers and sisters -- now they can really look up to me and try to follow their dreams and do what they want to do.”

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