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Four Pac-12 players selected in 2015 WNBA Draft

Apr 16, 2015

Pac-12 women's basketball fans might have noticed some familiar names being called on Thursday night as the WNBA held its annual draft from the Mohegan Sun Center in Uncasville, Conn. Among the 36 players taken in the three rounds, four players were from the Conference of Champions, including first-rounder Brittany Boyd.

The rookies don't have much time to get acclimated to the pro game, as the regular season gets underway on June 5. For more information and to see a complete list of draftees, visit WNBA.com.

Brittany Boyd

Drafted: No. 9 overall
Team: New York Liberty
Position: Guard
College: Cal

Boyd established herself as one of the nation's premier all-around players this past season in Berkeley, leading the Pac-12 in assists (6.85), and ranking second in steals (2.94) while averaging 13.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. The New York Liberty must have noticed, because the club traded veteran guard Alex Montgomery to the San Antonio Stars in exchange for the rights to the No. 9 pick, which the team used to pick Boyd.

"This is a dream come true," Boyd told ESPN shortly after she was drafted.

The former Golden Bear star was visibly relieved to hear her name called, and she was able to share the moment with Cal coach Lindsay Gottlieb and four-year college teammate Reshanda Gray, who was the next Pac-12 player taken off the board. The Liberty traded away perennial all-star guard Cappie Pondexter this past offseason, so the 5-foot-9 Boyd could see plenty of playing time as a rookie.

Reshanda Gray

Drafted: 2nd round, 4th pick (16th overall)
Team: Minnesota Lynx
Position: Forward
College: Cal

The WNBA just wouldn't be right without Cal's combo of "Cornflakes and Milk." At one point during her successful college career with Boyd, Gray coined the name "Cornflakes and Milk" for the Golden Bear duo, and it stuck. Now the two players are headed to the next level.

Gray gets to join a Minnesota squad that has reached the Finals in three of the past four years, and is led by one of the game's most respected head coaches in Cheryl Reeve. The 6-foot-3 Gray averaged 17.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while shooting 56.8 percent from the floor last season, en route to being named Pac-12 Player of the Year.

Amber Orrange

Drafted: 2nd round, 11th pick (23rd overall)
Team: New York Liberty
Position: Guard
College: Stanford

The Big Apple will be getting some Bay Area flavor on the WNBA circuit this year, as the Liberty selected former Stanford star Amber Orrange. Following four years of battling Boyd on the hardwood, the two college rivals will now be teammates in New York's backcourt.

Orrange was a key senior leader on the Cardinal this past season, guiding the team to the Sweet 16 for the eighth straight year. Listed at 5-foot-7, Orrange averaged a career-best 13.3 points per game this season, while grabbing 1.8 steals per game and shooting 43.3 percent from 3-point range.

Promise Amukamara

Drafted: 3rd round, 12th pick (36th overall)
Team: Phoenix Mercury
Position: Guard
College: Arizona State

The former Sun Devil star won't have to go far to get ready for her first season as a pro, as she was selected by her hometown Phoenix Mercury. Amukamara had to wait until the final pick of the night to hear her name called, but at least she's heading to the defending WNBA champs.

Amukamara prides herself on defense, but she also averaged 10.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game this past season for ASU. If her name sounds familiar, its because her older brother, Prince, was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.