Building for more
Sun select Baylor’s Carrington, Central Michigan’s Kelly, Oregon State’s Goodman
The Connecticut Sun took a step toward solidifying their 2021 championship-minded squad Thursday night when they selected Baylor’s DiJoinai Carrington, Central Michigan’s Micaela Kelly and Oregon State’s Aleah Goodman in the 2021 WNBAdraft.
Earlier in the draft, the Dallas Wings took Charli Collier (Texas) and Awak Kuier (Finland) with the first two overall picks. The top five was rounded out by Arizona’s
Aari McDonald (Atlanta), West Virginia’s Kysre Gondrezick (Indiana) and Arkansas’ Chelsea Dungee (Dallas).
Carrington (No. 20 overall), Kelly (No. 21) and Goodman (No. 30) have a chance to fight for the Sun’s expected two open roster spots in training camp alongside five other players currently signed to training camp contracts.
The Sun are looking for an offensive spark off the bench — preferably a backcourt piece who can create her own shot and/or poses a threat from the arc. Their picks Thursday night certainly reflected their efforts in finding someone who can fill those needs.
Carrington, a 5-foot-11 guard, spent four years at Stanford where she was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection before finishing her college career at Baylor as a graduate transfer this past season.
Off the bench for the Lady Bears, Carrington averaged a career-high 14.1 points on 42.6% shooting, as well as 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals per game. Her perfor
mance earned her recognition as Big 12 Newcomer and Sixth Woman of the Year. Baylor would fall to UConn in the Elite Eight of the NCAATournament.
“DiJonai is one of the best two-way wings in the draft,” Sun head coach/general manager Curt Miller said in a statement. “A physical guard that scores at multiple levels and defends with physicality. She has played under two legendary coaches in our coaching profession .”
Kelly, a 5-6 guard, shined at Central Michigan, coming off a senior season where she averaged 23.9 points — eighth-best in the country — on 48.8% shooting (35.7% on 3s) to go along with 4.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.2 steals per game.
She was the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year in 2020 and helped Central Michigan toward three regular-season conference titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
“An athletic and dynamic guard that stuffs the stat sheet,” Miller said. “She can play on and off the ball offensively and is a proven rebounding guard.”
Goodman, a 5-9 guard and All-Pac-12 first-team selection in 2021, averaged 16.4 points per game on 47.6% shooting and 4.8 assists per game her senior year at Oregon State. She was one of the best 3-point shooters in the nation with a 48.9% clip and is the Beavers’ all-time leader in 3-point-shooting percentage.
The Sun return to action May 14 when they take on the Atlanta Dream on the road before hosting their home opener May 16 versus the Phoenix Mercury.