WISDOM-HYLTON IS A FIRST ROUND PICK AND DANIELLE CAMPBELL A THIRD ROUNDER IN THE 2009 WNBA DRAFT

For Immediate Release
April 9, 2009

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue had two student-athletes taken in today’s WNBA draft. Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks in the first round as the 13th overall pick and Danielle Campbell went to the Indiana Fever in the third round as the 32nd player selected.

“I’m thrilled for Lindsay and Danielle,” head coach Sharon Versyp said. “They have both meant so much to this program and we’ve always felt they are among the best post players in the country. We are excited for their futures and wish them the very best.”

This season, the Campbell and Wisdom-Hylton were part of the five-member senior class that led the Boilermakers to a 25-11 record and the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, the second appearance in the regional final for the group. Wisdom-Hylton was named honorable mention All-American, first team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten, while Campbell is two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten.

The two post players are the 11th and 12th Purdue players to be drafted by a WNBA franchise and Wisdom-Hylton is the fifth to be selected in the first round. In 2007, Katie Gearlds became the highest WNBA draft pick in Purdue women's basketball history when she was chosen seventh by the Seattle Storm. Katie Douglas was taken in the first round in 2001 as the 10th pick by the Orlando Miracle and Camille Cooper also went in the first round as the sixteenth pick overall to the Los Angeles Sparks. Shereka Wright was a first round choice in 2003 as the 13th overall pick by the Detroit Shock.

Wisdom-Hylton, a Naperville, Ill., native will join her friend Candace Parker, also of Naperville, on the Sparks roster. The 6-foot-2 forward led the Boilermakers in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and field goal percentage this season. She averaged 13.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks while shooting 50.6 percent from the field. She was second on the team in assists with 100 and steals with 89 and leaves with the school record for rebounds and blocked shots.

Campbell has the chance to stay instate with the Indiana Fever and will be teammates with former two-time Purdue All-American Katie Douglas. Campbell owns the school record for career games with 140 appearances in a Boilermaker uniform. She has her name all over the Purdue record books, including fourth for blocked shots, 10th for career free throws made and 11th for career rebounding.

The 2009 WNBA draft marks the fourth time that Purdue has had two players selected in the same year.

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