Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Nia Clouden Invited to WNBA Draft
4/6/2022 5:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
She is one of 12 invited to next week's draft.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State senior guard Nia Clouden is one of 12 prospects invited to the WNBA Draft 2022 presented by State Farm® on Monday, April 11 at 7 p.m.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the first-round draft picks live on ESPN with exclusive coverage beginning at 7 p.m. The draft will also be available live on the ESPN App.
She is the first Spartan invited to attend the WNBA draft since Aerial Powers was the fifth overall pick by the Dallas Wings in the 2016 draft. Clouden is also looking to become the first Spartan drafted since Tori Jankoska, who was the ninth overall pick by the Chicago Sky in the 2017 draft.
The Owings Mills, Maryland native earned All-Big Ten honors all four season at Michigan State. She capped off a stellar senior campaign earned 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). She ended the season averaging 20.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.
The Atlanta Dream own the top pick in the draft by virtue of a trade with the Washington Mystics announced earlier today. The Indiana Fever, which has the No. 2, 4, 6 and 10 overall selections, could become the first team in WNBA history to make four picks in the first round.
The other prospects who will be in attendance are center Shakira Austin (Ole Miss), guard Kierstan Bell (Florida Gulf Coast), guard-forward Rae Burrell (Tennessee), guard Veronica Burton (Northwestern), center Elissa Cunane (NC State), forward Emily Engstler (Louisville), guard Destanni Henderson (South Carolina), guard Ryhne Howard (Kentucky), forward Naz Hillmon (Michigan), forward Nyara Sabally (Oregon) and forward NayLssa Smith (Baylor).
Clouden joins Northwestern's Burton and Michigan's Hillmon as the only other Big Ten players invited.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the first-round draft picks live on ESPN with exclusive coverage beginning at 7 p.m. The draft will also be available live on the ESPN App.
She is the first Spartan invited to attend the WNBA draft since Aerial Powers was the fifth overall pick by the Dallas Wings in the 2016 draft. Clouden is also looking to become the first Spartan drafted since Tori Jankoska, who was the ninth overall pick by the Chicago Sky in the 2017 draft.
The Owings Mills, Maryland native earned All-Big Ten honors all four season at Michigan State. She capped off a stellar senior campaign earned 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). She ended the season averaging 20.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.
The Atlanta Dream own the top pick in the draft by virtue of a trade with the Washington Mystics announced earlier today. The Indiana Fever, which has the No. 2, 4, 6 and 10 overall selections, could become the first team in WNBA history to make four picks in the first round.
The other prospects who will be in attendance are center Shakira Austin (Ole Miss), guard Kierstan Bell (Florida Gulf Coast), guard-forward Rae Burrell (Tennessee), guard Veronica Burton (Northwestern), center Elissa Cunane (NC State), forward Emily Engstler (Louisville), guard Destanni Henderson (South Carolina), guard Ryhne Howard (Kentucky), forward Naz Hillmon (Michigan), forward Nyara Sabally (Oregon) and forward NayLssa Smith (Baylor).
Clouden joins Northwestern's Burton and Michigan's Hillmon as the only other Big Ten players invited.
Players Mentioned
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