Syracuse Women’s Basketball: Sykes, Peterson Selected In WNBA Draft
By Neil Adler
Let’s give a shout out to the Syracuse Women’s Basketball team, which made program history at the 2017 WNBA Draft on Thursday night.
While we all wait and see where Tyler Lydon, and perhaps Andrew White III and others, go in the 2017 NBA Draft held this June, the Syracuse Women’s Basketball squad found itself in the spotlight on Thursday evening.
More from Syracuse Basketball
- Syracuse Basketball: 4-star Elijah Moore not in top 100, and I don’t get that
- Syracuse basketball 4-star west-coast recruit, in new rankings, into top 20
- Syracuse basketball is hitting D.C. market hard in pursuit of 4-stars, 5-stars
- Syracuse Basketball: Orange has offered 4-stars who played at Elite Camp
- Syracuse Basketball: 4-star PG joins 4-star Elijah Moore in Overtime Elite
For the first time in the WNBA Draft, two Orange ladies got selected, according to an announcement from Cuse.com. Guards Brittney Sykes and Alexis Peterson went to the Atlanta Dream and the Seattle Storm, respectively.
Atlanta chose Sykes with the seventh pick in the first round, the highest Syracuse Women’s Basketball player ever selected, according to Cuse.com. Peterson, meanwhile, came in at the third pick in the second round, or 15th overall.
Syracuse Women’s Basketball Head Coach Quentin Hillsman praised his players in a press release:
"“Over the last few years, we have proven that we have high-level players, All-Americans and professional players. Their selections tonight are a testament to what we have built at Syracuse. I cannot overstate how happy I am for both players.”"
According to Cuse.com, the Syracuse Women’s Basketball program now has seen five of its own taken in the WNBA Draft.
Brittney Sykes Chosen In First Round
Sykes, whose hometown is in Newark, N.J., finished her career in Central New York by amassing 101 victories, a program record, while ranking third all-time in points scored, at 1,846, per Cuse.com.
In the announcement put out by Cuse.com, Sykes had this to say about her time at Syracuse and her future in the WNBA:
"“My mission that I set as a freshman was to make history at Syracuse. I did it. It feels good to know that I left my mark here. Now, I am ready to live my dream of playing professional basketball, beginning with the Atlanta Dream.”"
In her senior season, she checked in at third in the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring, at roughly 19 points per contest, while averaging nearly eight boards, good for eighth in the conference, according to Cuse.com.
Alexis Peterson Selected Early in Second Round
Peterson, a native of Columbus, Ohio, wrapped up her Orange career as the all-time assists leader, at 590, and is No. 2 in scoring, with 1,978 points, says Cuse.com. In her announcement, courtesy of Cuse.com, Peterson seemed very pleased and grateful about her selection in the WNBA draft:
"“It is such a blessing to be selected by the Seattle Storm. It is crazy to say; I have been wanting this since I picked up a basketball. This really means a lot.”"
In the 2016-17 stanza, Peterson picked up a ton of accolades, including AP All-America Second Team, Blue Ribbon Panel ACC Player of the Year, All-ACC First Team and the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Defensive Team, according to Cuse.com.
In her final campaign, Peterson placed first in the ACC, and sixth nationally, at more than 23 points a game, while dishing out seven assists, which amounted to second in the conference and 11th across the country, says Cuse.com.
A Look at the Team’s Sykes and Peterson are Joining
Sykes will join an Atlanta outfit that went 17-17 last year, according to WNBA.com. Michael Cooper, a former Los Angeles Lakers star, is the Dream’s head coach. He seemed very pleased with his first round pick in a statement from the Atlanta Dream:
"“We are very excited and happy to select Brittney Sykes at No. 7. She is an excellent defensive player as well as a nice person that will fit well with our team. She will help with our goal of winning a championship.”"
Peterson’s new squad, the Seattle Storm, went 16-18 a year ago, says wnba.com. Also on the roster is Breanna Stewart, who grew up in the Syracuse area.
The WNBA Rookie of the Year this past season, Stewart played collegiately at Connecticut. While there, she captured four national championships in a row. In the 2015-16 term, UConn throttled SU in the title game. Here’s hoping that such a back story doesn’t prove awkward for Peterson and Stewart!
Storm President and General Manager Alisha Valavanis had this to say about Peterson in a press release:
"“Alexis is a true point guard, she’s a strong playmaker and solid scoring guard that will fit well in [head coach] Jenny Boucek’s system. We are excited to welcome Alexis to Seattle and to the Storm franchise.”"
The entire Orange community owes a debt of gratitude to Sykes and Peterson for what they achieved in Syracuse. I wish them the best of luck in the WNBA.