Muskogee's Wilson gets drafted in first round of WNBA draft

Mike Kays, Muskogee Phoenix, Okla.
·4 min read

Apr. 16—So much for those so-called mock-draft gurus that had her going in the second or third round.

Aaliyah Wilson didn't have to wait nearly that long.

The former Muskogee Rougher and Texas A&M Aggie was selected in the first round of Thursday night's WNBA Draft, 11th overall, by the current league champion Seattle Storm.

That was somewhat of a surprise in the conversation of the ESPN studio crew, although from multiple conversations, Wilson, a 5-foot-11 guard, thought she could go late first round.

What followed moments after her name was announced by WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert was a trade to the Indiana Fever. She was dealt to the Fever in exchange for guard/forward Kennedy Burke.

Landing there wasn't a surprise.

"I was really shocked when Seattle picked me because I hadn't had a conversation with them," Wilson said from the home of her parents, RuDel and Sheri. Her brother Devante and sisters Alexus and Davin, all with their own part within Muskogee High basketball, were also part of the gathering of family and friends.

A few moments later, Tamika Catchings, the general manager of the Fever, called Wilson. Indiana was one of four teams that had made pre-draft talks with her.

"She said, 'hey, you're coming to Indiana,'" Wilson said. "I was super excited to hear that because our conversations were really good. They'd also talked to my coaches and it was really thrilling knowing how much they believed in me and my talents."

Those talents led her to becoming Muskogee's only McDonald's All-American. The former Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year and three-time All-Phoenix Most Valuable Player was also named Female Athlete of the Year by the Phoenix her senior season and two years ago, was named by the Phoenix as the Girls Basketball Player of the Decade (2010s).

This past season she led A&M in scoring in a push to the Sweet 16, averaging 12.7 points and 5.9 assists as a senior. It was a collegiate career that began at Arkansas, hit a bump in the road with Graves' Disease, an auto-immune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the thyroid, as she faced four months of recovery. Then after transferring to A&M, she tore her ACL her sophomore year.

She finished her time at Aggieland being named honorable mention All-American, as well as second-team All-Southeastern Conference.

"It's been a blessing for sure," said Wilson. "I've been through a lot and just knowing I could keep pushing and continue to remain resilient and have this end result — well, not end result, I'm really just getting started again — I'm happy to show people that you don't have to give up when you go through challenges, keep reaching for your goal. You never know what's going to happen."

She'll leave Saturday for Indiana to undergo COVID-19 testing. Camp begins April 25.

She's hyped about her role.

"They're reshaping the focus and culture of the team and they expressed their belief in me being a part of that on and off the court," she said. "They're excited and I'm excited."

First Round

1. Dallas (from New York), Charli Collier, F/C, Texas

2. Dallas, Awak Kuier, C, Virtus Eirene RG (Italy)

3. Atlanta, Aari McDonald, G, Arizona

4. Indiana, Kysre Gondrezick, G, West Virginia

5. Dallas (from Washington), Chelsea Dungee, G, Arkansas

6. New York (from Connecticut), Michaela Onyenwere, F, UCLA

7. Los Angeles (from Dallas), Jasmine Walker, F, Alabama

8. Chicago (from Phoenix), Shyla Heal, G, Townsville Fire (Australia)

9. Minnesota, Rennia Davis, G/F, Tennessee

10. Los Angeles, Stephanie Watts, G, Southern Cal

11. Seattle, Aaliyah Wilson, G, Texas A&M (traded to Indiana)

12. Las Vegas, Iliana Rupert, C, Tango Bourges Basket (France)

Second Round

13. Dallas (from New York), Dana Evans, G, Louisville

14. Las Vegas (from Indiana), Destiny Slocum, G, Arkansas

15. Atlanta, Raquel Carrera, C, Valencia Basket Club (Spain)

16. Chicago (from Dallas), Natasha Mack, F, Oklahoma State

17. New York (from Washington), Didi Richards, G, Baylor

18. Seattle (from Connecticut), Kiana Williams, G, Stanford

19. Indiana (from Chicago), Unique Thompson, F, Auburn

20. Connecticut (from Phoenix), DiJonai Carrington, G, Baylor

21. Connecticut (from Minnesota), Micaela Kelly, G, Central Michigan

22. Los Angeles, Arella Guirantes, G, Rutgers

23. Seattle, N'Dea Jones, F, Texas A&M

24. Indiana (from Las Vegas), Trinity Baptiste, F, Arizona

Third Round

25. New York, Valerie Higgins, G, Pacific

26. Indiana, Chelsey Perry, F, UT Martin

27. Atlanta, Lindsey Pulliam, G, Northwestern

28. Los Angeles (from Dallas), Ivana Raca, F, Wake Forest

29. New York (from Washington), Marine Fauthoux, G, Lyon Asvel Feminin (France)

30. Connecticut, Aleah Goodman, G, Oregon State

31. Indiana (from Chicago), Florencia Chagas, G, USE Scotti Rosa Empoli (Italy)

32. Phoenix, Ciera Johnson, C, Texas A&M

33. Indiana (from Minnesota), Maya Caldwell, G, Georgia

34. Los Angeles, Aina Ayuso, G, Spain

35. Seattle, Natalie Kucowski, F, Lafayette

36. Las Vegas, Kionna Jeter, G, Towson