Lacey First Cyclone Drafted in WNBA First Round

SECAUCUS, N.J. ? Alison Lacey became the highest WNBA draft pick in Iowa State history Thursday when she was chosen by the Seattle Storm as the No. 10 pick in the first round.

“I'm excited,” Lacey said. “I'm nervous and anxious to get to training camp to see what it's like. I'm relieved to know where I'm going. It's been a long day and I have a lot to figure out now. I don't think of myself as being in the same category with Angie Welle or Stacy Frese and Lyndsey Medders, so it's funny to me. I'm honored and proud. I wouldn't be here without coach Fennelly and coach Steyer, and I'm glad that they were here to support me and experience this with me.”

Lacey is the only player in Iowa State history to be chosen in the WNBA's first round. The Canberra, Australia, native is the ninth Cyclone ever drafted and the first to be chosen since Medders was picked in the second round in 2007. Lacey is the first Cyclone to post 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists in a career.

“We wanted to get some depth in our perimeter,” Seattle Storm head coach Brian Agler said. “We coveted Alison for a long time. She made it tough on us. The first time I went to watch her she had a concussion and the second time she was sick, but we had a chance to watch her play on film and in person and we are really impressed with her versatility. She gives us depth at the point and on the wing and we are really excited to have her.”

The All-America honorable-mention pick was joined at the draft by head coach Bill Fennelly, assistant coach Jodi Steyer and student assistant coach and roommate Brittany Lange. Fennelly couldn't have been any prouder of his point guard.

“I'm not surprised where she got picked,” Fennelly said “Lots of teams liked her but Seattle is the perfect fit for Aus (Lacey). Brian Agler is a great coach and a great guy that really knows Big 12 basketball. She will get to play with Sue Bird, who is arguably the best point guard in the country, and with Lauren Jackson, one of her countrymen. Seattle is a great city and a great franchise. All of us were shaking waiting to know what would happen and I don't think I could have crossed my fingers any harder when Seattle picked. This is great for her and great for Iowa State and this is her moment. She has worked so hard for this, and we couldn't be any prouder than we are of her right now.”

Lacey will join fellow Australian and WNBA All-Star Jackson on Seattle's roster and will look to fill in as the back-up point guard to Bird. Former Cyclone Lindsey Wilson is also currently listed on the Storm roster.

Going into the WNBA Draft, Lacey noted that the player she looked up to most in the league was Jackson. Lacey was ecstatic about joining her in Seattle to start her professional career.

“Again, I think it's funny to say I'm a teammate of her's (Jackson's),” Lacey said. “I'm excited to go to a team with some faces I recognize, with another Australian, and a team that will feel somewhat like family. I am really excited that Seattle was the team that picked me.”

After Pam Ward called Lacey a classic point guard on the WNBA Draft set, Rebecca Lobo quickly contrasted her.

“She's not classic in that she has size,” Lobo said. “She's a 6-foot point guard that led the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio. She doesn't make bad decisions, doesn't make bad mistakes and has deep range on that three ball, so she will be great coming off the bench for Sue Bird.”

Lacey was one of 10 players drafted from the Big 12 Conference. Iowa State ranks third among league schools in draft picks with nine, behind Oklahoma (12) and Texas (11).

Iowa State WNBA Draft Picks
2010-Alison Lacey
Seattle, 1st round (10)
2007-Lyndsey Medders
Indiana, 2nd round (22)
2005-Anne O'Neil
Sacramento, 3rd round (30)
2003- Lindsey Wilson
Connecticut, 3rd round (34)
2002-Angie Welle
Cleveland, 2nd round (31)
2002-Tracy Gahan
New York, 3rd round (46)
2001-Megan Taylor
Minnesota, 4th round (55)
2000-Desir?e Francis
New York, 2nd round (29)
2000-Stacy Frese
Utah, 3rd round (35)