Indiana's Grace Berger: Projected First-Round Pick in WNBA Draft by ESPN
NEW YORK — The 2023 WNBA Draft begins on Monday, April 10, and former Indiana women's basketball guard Grace Berger is projected to be selected in the first round by ESPN's most recent mock draft.
ESPN writer M.A. Voepel wrote on Wednesday he thinks Berger will be selected around pick No. 9. That means, the Seattle Storm, who finished second in the Western Conference last season with a 22-14 record, would get the 6-foot Louisville, Ky. native.
Voepel said Berger became the 'heart' of the Hoosiers during her five seasons, which could translate well to a Storm squad that lost forward Breanna Stuart to free agency and legendary Sue Bird to retirement. Voepel said Berger is one of the physically strongest guards in the draft.
In her fifth year at Indiana, Berger averaged 12.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and was second on the team behind guard Chloe Moore-McNeil with 138 total assists.
Known for her midrange jumper, Berger shot 48.4 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from the three-point line. She was awarded AP Honorable Mention and First-Team All-Big Ten to wrap up her career as a Hoosier.
Indiana women's basketball head coach Teri Moren was emotional on Berger's senior day and said she helped build this program by getting her teammates excited to come to practice and even work out extra. She arrived in Bloomington six years ago without ever having a consistent lift schedule, which she quickly mastered as everyone wants Grace Berger arms, Moren said.
Quiet and reserved but efficient and respected, Berger's legacy at Indiana will pave the way for future Hoosiers that come through the program looking to build off of the team's record-breaking season.
The WNBA draft will air live on ESPN and ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET from New York City.
First round draft order
1. Indiana Fever
2. Minnesota Lynx
3. Dallas Wings
4. Washington Mystics
5. Dallas Wings
6. Atlanta Dream
7. Indiana Fever
8. Atlanta Dream
9. Seattle Storm
10. Los Angeles Sparks
11. Dallas Wing
12. Minnesota Lynx
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