A WNBA rookie scored her first professional points after missing Stanford graduation to play with her new team

• Seattle Storm rookie Kiana Williams missed her Stanford graduation for a WNBA game Sunday.

• She celebrated courtside before tip off by posing for a photo with a cap and stole over her jersey.

• During the game that day, Williams scored the first points of her professional career.

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There aren't many solid excuses for missing your college graduation, but Kiana Williams had a pretty good one this weekend.

The WNBA rookie couldn't make it to Palo Alto, California, for Stanford University commencement ceremonies on Sunday because her Seattle Storm had a game all the way across the country in Connecticut. Williams marked the occasion before tip off by posing courtside with a cap and stole over her jersey.

But her real celebration came on the court shortly thereafter. Williams made her first appearance in the Storm blowout with just over four minutes remaining in the contest, but it didn't take her very long to make her presence known.

Roughly one minute after checking into the game, the 22-year-old point guard drained a 24-foot three pointer - and drew a foul - to score the first points of her young WNBA career. She briefly celebrated with her teammates before sinking the free throw to complete the four-point play.

The Storm drafted Williams with the 18th pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft on April 15, less than two weeks after the All-American earned NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors for leading the Cardinal to their third national championship as a program. And though she's already been a professional basketball player for a few months, she only officially received her degree in Science, Technology, and Society from Stanford this weekend.

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