April 17--The Chicago Sky surprised at least a few prognosticators and perhaps raised a few eyebrows with their selection at Thursday's WNBA draft, using the fifth pick on Cheyenne Parker, a 6-foot-4 Middle Tennessee State forward who was kicked off the Lady Raiders in February for violating team rules.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Storm surprised no one when they made dynamic Notre Dame guard Jewell Loyd the first overall pick.
For the Sky, coach Pokey Chatman said she was lured by Parker's versatility. The shot-blocker and rebounder can also play center.
Parker told The (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) Daily News Journal in April that she was dismissed for smoking marijuana and failing a drug test.
Parker told reporters Thursday that she was excited to join the Sky, particularly because she had worried that her infraction may have cost her a shot at the WNBA.
"I've been given a second chance, I'm not going to mess that up," she said. "I'm going to work 10 times harder to prove to everyone who thinks that I am that messed-up girl, I am that lying girl, I am that addict. I'm just going to prove to everyone that I'm not.
"I'm a hard-working athlete and I'm going to be successful (playing) this game."
At No. 2, the Tulsa Shock selected Swedish phenom Amanda Zahui B., who, like Loyd, also declared before her senior year in college. The Storm then took three-point sharpshooter Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis with the third pick.
The Connecticut Sun grabbed college basketball's best defender, Duke's Elizabeth Williams, at four.
The Sky spent the first of two second-round picks on Rutgers guard Betnijah Laney, then followed five picks later by choosing South Carolina forward Aleighsa Welch.
