Bonner And Boddie Drafted Into WNBA

SECAUCUS, N.J. - Two Auburn players were selected in the WNBA Draft for the first time ever Thursday as DeWanna Bonner and Whitney Boddie heard their names called. Bonner, the 2009 SEC Player of the Year, was selected fifth overall by the Phoenix Mercury while Boddie was taken with the seventh pick of the second round, 20th overall, by the Sacramento Monarchs.

Auburn was one of eight teams to have multiple players taken in the draft. Others were Duke, Florida State, Louisville, Maryland, Oklahoma, Purdue and Vanderbilt.

“I was so excited, it is a dream come true,“ said Bonner. “You can hear Carolyn Peck and the announcers in the studio talking about who they think is going to be a pick. I was kind of preparing myself when they were talking about me, but I was so excited when I heard my name called. I’m really excited to play with the players on the team and I’m ready to go to Phoenix.“

Bonner, a native of Fairfield, Ala., was the highest-ever selection of an Auburn player, becoming the first Tiger ever to go in the first round of the WNBA Draft.

She was also one of 15 players selected by the WNBA to attend the draft in-person and nearly spoiled the surprise for Boddie, who watched with Auburn coaching staff members in Auburn, when her name came up.

“It really caught me off-guard, and DeWanna already knew and she had called and had (AU Director of Basketball Operations) Melissa Maines on the phone. She said `Congratulations!‘ and I was like, `what are you talking about?‘ and then I saw what it was,“ said Boddie. “Then, a lot of people started calling me and texting me and stuff. It still has not hit me, not until I talk to the coach, then it will be official.“

Bonner, a First Team State Farm/WBCA All-American, joins a Phoenix Mercury squad that went 16-18 last season, finishing sixth in the seven-team Western Conference. The Mercury are known for a fast-paced style of play, something Bonner is used to and looking forward to playing in.

“We play a fast-paced style at Auburn, and to go over and play the same kind of ball is like I am not changing anything,“ said Bonner. “I don’t have to change anything, I just have to do what I do.“

She will join a squad that includes WNBA All-Stars Cappie Pondexter and Diana Taurasi. Also on the team is former Auburn player Le’Coe Willingham.

“I know Le’Coe, she came down to visit some last year. It will be great to have two Auburn players in Phoenix and help put Auburn back on the map,“ said Bonner. “There are also some great players on the team like Cappie Pondexter and Diana Taurasi, veteran players and I am just going to go out there and see what I can learn from them. I will give it everything I have because I know they are playing hard every time they get on the court, so already I’m excited.“

Boddie, a native of Florence, Ala., will join a Monarchs team that went 18-16 last season, snagging the fourth and final playoff spot out of the Western Conference. Sacramento has made the playoffs each of the last six seasons, winning the WNBA title in 2005 and advancing to the finals in 2006.

Having an Auburn player on the roster is nothing new for Sacramento as Ruthie Bolton-Holifield played her entire WNBA career with the team. Former Tiger Chantel Tremitiere was also the first Auburn player ever drafted into the WNBA, taken by the Monarchs with the 18th overall pick in the 1997 draft.

The Monarchs were led last season by All-Stars Kara Lawson and Ticha Penicheiro. Penicheiro, the Monarchs point guard is someone Boddie is looking forward to working with.

“I had no idea Sacramento was interested in me. But, I know they have a great point guard in Ticha Penicheiro, and she is probably getting toward the end of her career, so it would be great if I could make the team, first, get developed under her and then make my mark in that organization,“ said Boddie. “They also have Kara Lawson, who played at Tennessee, she has been commentating our games all year. They also have Nicole Powell, a great shooter who played at Stanford a few years ago.“

Bonner and Boddie are the second and third Auburn players drafted to the WNBA under head coach Nell Fortner. The first was Marita Payne, who was selected by the Connecticut Sun in the third round of the 2006 WNBA draft.

Bonner put together one of the most impressive careers ever at Auburn. The SEC Player of the Year and National Player of the Year finalist, she broke the Auburn career scoring record during the Ole Miss game at the SEC Tournament. She finished her career with 2,162 points, nearly 100 more than the former school record.

She also finished her career as one of Auburn’s top rebounders, taking second all-time with 1,047 rebounds, placing her in an exclusive club of only three Tigers to ever finish their career with more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Listed in the top 10 in every major statistical category at Auburn, she also ranks sixth in blocks, seventh in steals, first in free throws, fourth in field goals and 10th in 3-pointers.

Bonner led the SEC in scoring in scoring this season, becoming the first Auburn player to ever earn the honor. She also ranked 10th in the country in scoring while setting the Auburn single-season scoring record with 716 points, 21.1 per game.

For her efforts as a senior, Bonner became the first State Farm/WBCA First-Team All-American for the Tigers since Lauretta Freeman in 1993. She was also named a USBWA First-Team All-American, ESPN.com First-Team All-American and an AP Second-Team All-American.

Boddie earned All-SEC First Team honors after averaging 11.2 points and 7.9 assists as a senior. She was also an honorable mention AP and State Farm/WBCA All-American. One of the best point guards in the country, she finished the season leading the nation in both assists and assist-to-turnover ratio.

She put together an impressive season that included eight double-doubles and just the second triple double ever at Auburn. She owns eight of the top 24 single-game assist performances all-time at Auburn and her career assist record is even more impressive as she accomplished that feat in three-and-a-half seasons after sitting out the spring semester of her junior year.

She ranks 29th all-time at Auburn with 951 career points and is 10th all-time in career steals with 183. Boddie’s 262 assists as a senior rank second all-time at Auburn in single-season assists.

With 951 career points and 603 career assists, Boddie finished her Auburn career responsible for no fewer than 2,157 points.

It will not take long for Boddie and Bonner to meet in the WNBA as Phoenix and Sacramento are slated to play a preseason game on May 27. The season-opener for the Mercury is Saturday, June 6 at home against the San Antonio Silver Stars. The Monarchs also open the season on June 6, playing at home against the Seattle Storm.

Auburn Women’s Basketball WNBA Draft History

1997 WNBA Draft
Chantel Tremitiere - Sacramento Monarchs - 3rd Round, 2nd Pick (18th overall)

1999 WNBA Draft
Carolyn Jones - New York Liberty - 4th Round, 2nd Pick (42nd overall)

2000 WNBA Draft
Monique Morehouse - Cleveland Rockers - 3rd Round, 1st Pick (33rd overall)

2006 WNBA Draft
Marita Payne - Connecticut Sun - 3rd Round, 14th Pick (42nd overall)

2008 WNBA Draft
DeWanna Bonner - Phoenix Mercury - 1st Round, 5th Pick (5th overall)
Whitney Boddie - Sacramento Monarchs - 2nd Round, 7th Pick (20th overall)

2009 WNBA DRAFT
Round 1
1 - Atlanta Dream - Angel McCoughtry (Louisville)
2 - Washington Mystics - Marissa Coleman (Maryland)
3 - Chicago Sky - Kristi Toliver (Maryland)
4 - Minnesota Lynx - Renee Montgomery (Connecticut)
5 - Phoenix Mercury - DeWanna Bonner (Auburn)
6 - Indiana Fever - Briann January (Arizona State)
7 - Sacramento Monarchs - Courtney Paris (Oklahoma)
8 - New York Liberty - Kia Vaughn (Rutgers)
9 - Minnesota Lynx - Quanitra Hollingsworth (Virginia Commonwealth)
10 - Connecticut Sun - Chante Black (Duke)
11 - Detroit Shock - Shavonte Zellous (Pittsburgh)
12 - Seattle Storm - Ashley Walker (California)
13 - Los Angeles Sparks - Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton (Purdue)

Round 2 1 - San Antonio Silver Stars - Megan Frazee (Liberty)
2 - Minnesota Lynx - Rashanda McCants (North Carolina)
3 - Chicago Sky - Danielle Gant (Texas A&M)
4 - Connecticut Sun - Lyndra Littles (Virginia)
5 - Detroit Shock (via draft-day trade with Atlanta) - Brittany Miller (Florida State / Valsoun, Czech Republic)
6 - Indiana Fever - Christina Wirth (Vanderbilt)
7 - Sacramento Monarchs - Whitney Boddie (Auburn)
8 - New York Liberty - Abby Waner (Duke)
9 - Los Angeles Sparks - Ashley Paris (Oklahoma)
10 - Washington Mystics - Camille Lenoir (Southern California)
11 - Washington Mystics - Jelena Milovanovic (Serbia)
12 - Atlanta Dream - Shalee Lehning (Kansas State)
13 - San Antonio Silver Stars - Sonja Petrovic (Serbia)

Round 3
1 - Atlanta Dream - Jessica Morrow (Baylor)
2 - Washington Mystics - Josephine Owino (Union (Tenn.))
3 - Chicago Sky - Jennifer Risper (Vanderbilt)
4 - Minnesota Lynx - Emily Fox (Minnesota)
5 - Phoenix Mercury - Sha Brooks (Florida)
6 - Indiana Fever - Danielle Campbell (Purdue)
7 - Sacramento Monarchs - Morgan Warburton (Utah)
8 - Phoenix Mercury - Jessica Adair (George Washington)
9 - Los Angeles Sparks - Britney Jordan (Texas A&M-Commerce)
10 - Connecticut Sun - Alba Torrens (Spain)
11 - Detroit Shock - Tanae Davis-Cain (Florida State)
12 - Seattle Storm - Mara Freshour (Florida State)
13 - San Antonio Silver Stars - Candyce Bingham (Louisville)