Sky adds Courtney Paris via WNBA dispersal draft

The Chicago Sky selected former All-American center Courtney Paris with the fourth pick in the Sacramento Monarchs dispersal draft on Monday.

Paris was selected 7th overall by the Monarchs in the 2009 WNBA Draft. In her rookie season she averaged 4.8 points and 4.10 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game.

"We're excited to have Courtney," Sky head coach and general manager Steven Key said in a statement released by the team. "If she can transfer her college success to the next level, she should be a huge help in the paint. Courtney should fill up our front court and address our need to improve our rebounding."

The 6-foot 4-inch Paris graduated from Oklahoma University in 2008 where she averaged 15.9 points and 13.6 rebounds in 37 games as a senior. She was the first four-time Associated Press and USBWA All-American. Paris recorded a double-double for an NCAA-record, 112 consecutive games throughout her college career.

In two meetings against the Sky, Paris played 12 minutes total in which she scored 5 points and grabbed a rebound. In the Monarchs' season finale against the Minnesota Lynx, Paris grabbed a career best 14 rebounds. She scored a career-high 19 points against the New York Liberty on Aug. 7.

The New York Liberty selected Nicole Powell first in Monday's draft, and the Minnesota Lynx picked Rebekkah Brunson second. DeMya Walker was selected third by the Connecticut Sun and Laura Harper rounded out the top five getting picked by the San Antonio Silver Stars.