NEW YORK — The Liberty selected UCLA’s Michaela Onyenwere at No. 6 overall Thursday in the 2021 WNBA draft.
“This is what people dream of,” Onyenwere said after being drafted. “My agent kind of was like telling me like ‘you might go here, here, here,’ and so I was kind of expecting on New York a little bit ... but it still doesn’t compare to actually hearing your name, the rush you get and just like the excitement from all my family and friends.
“It’s definitely a cool feeling, my legs were shaking for a while.”
Onyenwere, 21, from Aurora, Colo., brings a decorated resume with her to her new team in Brooklyn vying to deliver a certified winning culture from 2021 onward.
The 6-0 forward was three-time All-Pac 12 and the only two-time AP All-American in UCLA history. Onyenwere was the leading scorer and rebounder for the Bruins in 2020 and 2021, holds the record for the fourth-most points in program history (1,888) and had 500-point seasons in two consecutive years (2020, 2019).
Her alma mater sent their congratulations on social media: “The Liberty won the draft! We’re so excited Michaela is heading to the Big Apple!”
Onyenwere also wasn’t afraid of shooting 3-pointers — she attempted 204 treys over her four years as a Bruin and finished a career 30.4% 3-point shooter — something Liberty coach Walt Hopkins made a point of in his offensive scheme last season.
Of her new coaches, she said: “I really like Walt. I also spoke with (assistant coaches) Dustin (Gray) and Shelley (Patterson), as well... I think Walt is a great guy. That’s what I’ve heard also from Kylie (Shook), that he’s a really good guy, so I I’m really excited to get to work with him, be coached by him, I think it can be a great experience with the whole coaching staff.”
Onyenwere comes in familiar with some of the Liberty’s now second-year players: Shook and Sabrina Ionescu. Shook was a fellow AAU teammate with Onyenwere in Colorado. Her connection with Ionescu? A little different.
The Liberty have continued to grow their future and they did it by adding one of Ionescu’s fiercest opponents in the Pac-12, when Ionescu played for Oregon. Now able to play on the same team, Onyenwere said that rivalry can end.
“I’m just glad we’re on the same side now,” Onyenwere said over the draft broadcast, “because her pick-and-rolls are just ridiculous.
“Definitely had our battles in college,” she continued on the rivalry in a post-draft conference call. “I‘m really excited to be able to have her, a great player, and kind of get to know her off the court, obviously I don’t really know her off the court. ... It’s going to be a good experience. I’m excited for her crazy passes, and just having another really great basketball player alongside me.”
After Onyenwere, the Liberty picked up Baylor guard Didi Richards (No. 17 overall), Pacific guard Valerie Higgins (No. 25 overall) and international prospect Marine Fauthoux, a guard from France (No. 29 overall).
