A LOOK BACK

As the Sky and coach James Wade prepare for the second virtual WNBA Draft, here’s a look back at the team’s first-round selections over the last five years.

2020: Ruthy Hebard

Pick: No. 8. Position: F.

College: Oregon.

Hebard was an instant contributor despite the challenges presented by the season. She averaged 5.7 points and 3.9 rebounds in 22 games.

2019: Katie Lou Samuelson

Pick: No. 4. Position: G/F. College: Connecticut. Samuelson averaged 2.4 points in 20 games. Wade traded her to the Dallas Wings for Azura Stevens before the 2020 season.

2018: Diamond DeShields, Gabby Williams

DeShields: Pick: No. 3. Position: G. College: Tennessee. Williams: Pick: No. 4. Position: F. College: Connecticut. Drafted by former coach Amber Stocks, the pair were instant contributors, and DeShields (top) has grown into a franchise player. Both are restricted free agents in 2022.

2017: Alaina Coates, Tori Jankoska

Coates: Pick: No. 2. Position: C. College: South Carolina. Jankoska: Pick: No. 9. Position: G. College: Michigan State. Coates officially signed with the Sky in 2018 after an ankle injury sidelined her and averaged 3.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in her rookie season. Coates was traded to the Minnesota Lynx in 2019 for a 2020 thirdround pick. Jankoska was waived by the Sky before the 2017 season and went on to play professionally in Poland.

2016: Imani Boyette

Pick: No. 10. Position: C.

College: Texas.

Boyette, now Imani McGeeStafford, averaged 6.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and

1.3 blocks during her rookie season and was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team. In the middle of the 2017 season, Boyette and Tamera Young were traded to the Atlanta Dream for Jordan Hooper and the Dream’s first-round pick in the 2017 draft.