Nia Clouden Picked 12th in the WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun
4/11/2022 9:56:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The guard was the eighth Spartan selected in the WNBA draft.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Former Michigan State women's basketball guard Nia Clouden was drafted 12th in the first round by the Connecticut Sun at the 2022 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm on Monday.Â
Clouden is the 12th Big Ten student-athlete drafted by the Sun franchise (which began as the Orlando Miracle from 1999-2002).
She was one of two players from the Big Ten Conference to be drafted in Monday's first round along with Northwestern's Veronica Burton, who was drafted by the Dallas Wings (seventh overall pick). Overall, four Big Ten players were drafted with Michigan's Naz Hillmon going to the Atlanta Dream in the second round (15th overall pick). Indiana's Ali Patberg was the final B1G player drafted, going in the third round (34th overall pick) to the Indiana Fever.
"Getting drafted was really a dream come true. Connecticut was really high on my radar; I had a great call with head coach Curt Miller," Clouden said. "I just want to get to work, and do the best that I can. I can't wait to learn from them and work as hard as I can. I was just really excited to have this dream come true and know that all the hard work really paid off."
Clouden, an Owings Mills, Maryland native, became the eighth Spartan to be selected in the WNBA draft. Tori Jankoska was the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Chicago Sky, while Aerial Powers was the fifth overall pick in 2016 going to the Dallas Wings. Maxann Reese and Kristen Rasmussen were the first Spartans selected in the WNBA, drafted in 2000. Reese was taken in the third round, while Rasmussen was selected in the fourth. In 2003, Syreeta Broomfield was drafted in the third round. In 2005, Kristin Haynie was the ninth overall pick by Sacramento, while Liz Shimek was taken in the second round by Phoenix in 2006.
With the first pick in the 2022 draft, Atlanta picked Kentucky's Rhyne Howard. Baylor's NaLyssa Smith was the second overall pick by the Indiana Fever, while Ole Miss' Shakira Austin was the third pick by the Washington Mystics.
Clouden earned All-Big Ten honors all four season at Michigan State. She capped off a stellar senior campaign by earning honorable mention Associated Press and WBCA All-American honors. She ended her storied Michigan State career second in career scoring with 1,882 points, behind all-time leading scorer Jankoska (2,212). Clouden ended the season averaging 20.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.
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Clouden is the 12th Big Ten student-athlete drafted by the Sun franchise (which began as the Orlando Miracle from 1999-2002).
She was one of two players from the Big Ten Conference to be drafted in Monday's first round along with Northwestern's Veronica Burton, who was drafted by the Dallas Wings (seventh overall pick). Overall, four Big Ten players were drafted with Michigan's Naz Hillmon going to the Atlanta Dream in the second round (15th overall pick). Indiana's Ali Patberg was the final B1G player drafted, going in the third round (34th overall pick) to the Indiana Fever.
"Getting drafted was really a dream come true. Connecticut was really high on my radar; I had a great call with head coach Curt Miller," Clouden said. "I just want to get to work, and do the best that I can. I can't wait to learn from them and work as hard as I can. I was just really excited to have this dream come true and know that all the hard work really paid off."
Clouden, an Owings Mills, Maryland native, became the eighth Spartan to be selected in the WNBA draft. Tori Jankoska was the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Chicago Sky, while Aerial Powers was the fifth overall pick in 2016 going to the Dallas Wings. Maxann Reese and Kristen Rasmussen were the first Spartans selected in the WNBA, drafted in 2000. Reese was taken in the third round, while Rasmussen was selected in the fourth. In 2003, Syreeta Broomfield was drafted in the third round. In 2005, Kristin Haynie was the ninth overall pick by Sacramento, while Liz Shimek was taken in the second round by Phoenix in 2006.
With the first pick in the 2022 draft, Atlanta picked Kentucky's Rhyne Howard. Baylor's NaLyssa Smith was the second overall pick by the Indiana Fever, while Ole Miss' Shakira Austin was the third pick by the Washington Mystics.
Clouden earned All-Big Ten honors all four season at Michigan State. She capped off a stellar senior campaign by earning honorable mention Associated Press and WBCA All-American honors. She ended her storied Michigan State career second in career scoring with 1,882 points, behind all-time leading scorer Jankoska (2,212). Clouden ended the season averaging 20.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.
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