DePaul University Athletics
Felicia Chester Drafted by the Minnesota Lynx
4/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
April 11, 2011
CHICAGO - DePaul forward Felicia Chester was the 14th overall pick of the 2011 WNBA Draft on Monday. The Blue Demon standout was the second pick of the second round by the Minnesota Lynx.
"I am just so excited," Chester said after watching her name appear on television. "It really means a lot and that all of the hard work I have put in at DePaul the last five years has really paid off."
"I have always dreamed of playing in the WNBA. I am really just excited," Chester added.
An honorable mention All-BIG EAST selection, Chester finished her career with 1,129 points and 751 rebounds. The 6-3 forward appeared in a school-record 135 games, while she tallied 129 blocks and 181 steals while wearing the Blue Demon uniform.
"Felicia Chester is one of the best players and best people I have ever been blessed to coach; she is also one of the totally most under rated," DePaul head coach Doug Bruno said. "Our success this season was a direct result of all the 'little things' that Felicia contributed to our team."
"Felicia is a consummate competitor who is a great post defender as well as being a great secondary help defender: she always had her teammate's backs. This season Felicia showed the world that she could also score the ball having her biggest scoring games against our toughest opponents like Connecticut, Notre Dame and Stanford. I applaud Minnesota and Coach Cheryl Reeve for seeing through all of the hype and picking a really special player and person," Bruno added.
The St. Louis, Missouri native joins former Connecticut standout Maya Moore, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Xavier's Amber Harris (fourth overall pick), North Carolina's Jessica Breland (13th) and Iowa's Kachine Alexander (26th).
Chester is DePaul's seventh WNBA draft pick since 1997 and first since the 2008 season. Her 14th overall selection is the highest by any former Blue Demon. Prior to Chester's draft pick, Lenae Williams was the 18th overall selection and went to the Detroit Shock in 2002.
The Lynx begin their season on June 3 against the Los Angeles Sparks in LA. Last season the Lynx went 13-21.
Felicia Chester was traded to the Atlanta Dream in a draft day deal with the Minnesota Lynx. In exchange for Chester, the Dream sent Australian forward Rachel Jarry (No. 18 pick) to Minnesota along with a 2012 second round draft pick.
*Felicia Chester was traded to the Atlanta Dream in a draft day deal with the Minnesota Lynx. In exchange for Chester, the Dream sent Australian forward Rachel Jarry (No. 18 pick) to Minnesota along with a 2012 second round draft pick.
