TAMPA, FLA. (April 14, 2014) - USF sharpshooter Inga Orekhova made Bulls' history Monday night, becoming just the third USF player to be selected in the WNBA draft.
Orekhova was selected in the second round by the Atlanta Dream, 2013's WNBA Championship Runner Up, as the 18th overall pick. Orekhova passed Andrea Smith (35th overall, 2013) and Jessica Dickson (21st overall, 2007) as the highest-drafted Bull in USF history.
"I still can't believe I got drafted," Orekhova said moments after seeing her name flash up on her computer screen. "I felt a weight came off my shoulders, because it's been in the back of my mind this season. I'm still not on the team, but this takes a lot of pressure off."
Orekhova joins American Athletic Conference counterpart and Louisville standout Shoni Schimmel as part of Atlanta's rookie class, adding an influx of shooting talent to compliment perennial MVP candidate Angel McCoughtry and third-year guard Tiffany Hayes in 2014.
“Coach Cooper called and said 'welcome to the family,' and told me he was very excited to have the opportunity to coach me," Orekhova said. "Camp starts on the 27th, and they'll be giving me more details in the next few days.”
Earlier this month, Orekhova finished off a stellar three-year career with the Bulls, becoming the 20th player to record 1,000 points in a USF uniform, and setting a single-season free throw percentage record. Orekhova posted career-best numbers as a senior, shooting .367 from beyond the arc, dishing out 92 assists and averaging 4.2 rebounds per game.
Orekhova joins elite company, becoming the fourth USF player to wear a WNBA jersey, as Bulls' career leading rebounder Wanda Guyton also played in the WNBA as an undrafted free agent. For the Bulls, it was the third player drafted in the last seven years, and second in the past two seasons.
"I'm just so thankful," Orekhova said. “I want to thank my mom, my guardian Daniel Prince, my whole San Diego family, especially the Martinez family, my high school coach Marlon Wells, my junior college coach Jim Rowland, the whole coaching staff at USF, especially Coach Fernandez, my teammates, all of our great fans here in Tampa, and so many more people who helped me get to where I am today.”
