Parker the prize, but Sky will pick second in draft

Posted October 23, 2007 11:00 pm

By Patricia Babcock McGraw

If ever there was a year not to be the bridesmaid of the WNBA draft, 2008 would be it.

Top prize in April's draft likely will be former Naperville Central star and current Tennessee All-American Candace Parker.

The Chicago Sky learned Tuesday it will pick second.

The seventh annual WNBA draft lottery was held at the league's headquarters in New York, and it was announced that the Los Angeles Sparks will have the top pick.

Preliminary indications are that Parker, the 6-foot-4 dunking sensation widely considered one of the best players in the history of women's basketball, will make herself available and that the Sparks will snap her up faster than you can say Sam Bowie.

Unless …

It's possible that Parker, who averaged 19.6 points and 9.8 rebounds in leading Tennessee to the 2007 NCAA championship, won't even be in next year's draft.

She injured her left knee as a freshman at Tennessee and sat out the season. Technically, she would have a fifth year of eligibility for the 2008-09 season.

Realistically, however, she probably won't stay. Parker is way ahead of schedule with her studies and is on pace to graduate in December.

Because of that, there was speculation she might not even return to Tennessee for this season. She was asked constantly in April, at the women's Final Four in Cleveland, if she was considering entering the 2007 WNBA draft.

Parker said she really wanted to return to Tennessee, and she has.

Could she decide to take yet another lap around the collegiate ranks? Yes, but this year, she'll also have someone else to consider. Parker is engaged to be married to Atlanta Hawks forward Shelden Williams.

Other top players the Sky might want to consider: LSU center Sylvia Fowles, Stanford guard Candice Wiggins, Maryland forward Crystal Langhorne and Georgia forward Tasha Humphrey.

2008 WNBA draft lottery order

Team 2007 record

1. Los Angeles 10-24

2. Chicago Sky 14-20

3. Minnesota Lynx 10-24

4. Atlanta (expansion team) --

5. Houston Comets 13-21

6. Washington Mystics 16-18

Remaining order for first round

7. New York Liberty 16-18

8. Seattle Storm 17-17

9. Connecticut Sun 18-16

10. Sacramento Monarchs 19-15

11. Detroit Shock from San Antonio (20-14) Riley/Feenstra trade Feb. 22

12. Indiana Fever 21-13

13. Phoenix Mercury 23-11

14. New York From Detroit (24-10) via San Antonio, Hammon/ Davenport trade April 4

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