Iowa State women’s basketball: Hallie Christofferson signed by WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury
By Brian Spaen
One of the best women’s basketball athletes in Iowa State history wasn’t drafted to the WNBA, but was picked up as a free agent.
Mar 22, 2014; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones forward Hallie Christofferson (5) drives against Florida State Seminoles center Kia James (0) in the second half of a women
The Cyclones’ official athletic website (via The Des Moines Register) announced that Hallie Christofferson will be headed to the Phoenix Mercury.
"Christofferson, who finished her college career with 1,709 points and 762 rebounds, was offered a free agent contract Monday night, according to a press release from the school.“I am very excited for the opportunity to continue playing basketball,” Christofferson said in the press release. “I am looking forward to what Phoenix has in store for me as I head to draft camp.”"
Stanford’s Chiney Ogwumike beat out Baylor’s Odyssey Sims for the first pick in the 2014 WNBA draft, heading to the Connecticut Sun. Sims will be headed to the Tulsa Shock.
The WNBA Draft consists of three rounds for the 12 different teams. Other Big 12 players that were drafted: West Virginia’s Asya Bussie to the Minnesota Lynx and Oklahoma State’s Tiffany Bias to the Mercury.
The Mercury finished 19-15 last season in the Western Conference, eventually falling to the Lynx in a 2-0 sweep in the conference finals late in September. The Lynx went on to win the championship.
Christofferson will be playing alongside former Baylor star Brittney Griner and former Connecticut star Diana Taurasi — who is entering her 10th season in the league.