University of Minnesota Athletics
Rachel Banham Picked Fourth by Sun
4/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
April 14, 2016
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Hartford Courant |The Day
Rachel Banham became the University of Minnesota's sixth WNBA Draft pick as she was chosen fourth overall by the Connecticut Sun on Thursday night. The guard from Lakeville is the Golden Gophers' second top-five pick in as many years, and third total draft pick under Marlene Stollings.
Banham followed in the footsteps of former teammate Amanda Zahui B. in being chosen early in the draft. Zahui B. went second overall to the Tulsa Shock in 2015. Shae Kelley was also chosen in last year, going 35th overall to the Minnesota Lynx.
Banham is the second Gopher to be selected by the Sun. Former Minnesota scoring record holder and current Minnesota Lynx Lindsay Whalen was also picked fourth by Connecticut, in 2004.
The draft selection caps a collegiate career that saw Banham shatter records and collect numerous awards. The 2016 consensus Big Ten Player of the Year holds the Big Ten scoring record with 3,093 points, sixth-best in NCAA history. Her 354 career 3-pointers set a Minnesota record.
Banham averaged a program-record 28.6 points per game to rank second in the nation during her senior campaign. Her 30.5 points per game in conference play set a Big Ten record. She surpassed the 40-point mark three times, including an NCAA record-tying 60 at Northwestern, 52 at Michigan State and a Williams Arena-record 48 against Milwaukee.
Banham was named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press, espnW, the John R. Wooden Award and the USBWA. She was a Wooden Award and Dawn Staley Award finalist, and a Naismith Trophy semifinalist. Banham was also a Wade Trophy and Ann Meyers Drysdale Award candidate.
Making 119 3-pointers in 2015-16, Banham broke her own Minnesota season record. She set a Big Ten record with 75 triples in conference play, including a buzzer-beater to defeat Iowa and a school-record 10 long-range makes at Illinois.
In addition to her prolific scoring numbers, Banham also led Minnesota with 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. She dished out 3.8 assists per contest.
WNBA training camp begins April 24, and the league's 20th regular season will open May 14. The Sun is scheduled to come to Minneapolis to face the Lynx on Sept. 4.
Thanks everyone for the love tonight!! Can't wait to begin my pro career with the Conneticut sun! ☀️😊
-- Rachel Banham (@rachelbanham15) April 15, 2016
#4 overall pick in the WNBA draft goes to @rachelbanham15!
🏀UConn.UConn.UConn...
MINNESOTA! pic.twitter.com/imqIHnUiYB-- Marlene (@Stollings) April 15, 2016
Big Time!!! pic.twitter.com/7V2JZSmQep
-- Gail Striegler (@CoachStriegler) April 14, 2016
Cannot wait to see @rachelbanham15 in @WNBA and see what Curt Miller will do with Banham's skill set in 2 man game.
-- Debbie Antonelli (@debbieantonelli) April 14, 2016
The #WDraft16 class! #WatchMeWork pic.twitter.com/8ohnh9yMtt
-- WNBA (@WNBA) April 14, 2016
