Onyenwere Selected by Liberty in 2021 WNBA Draft

New York City, N.Y. – Michaela Onyenwere has been drafted by the New York Liberty with the No. 6 pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm.
 
"There is no way I can overstate how lucky the Liberty are to have Michaela," said The Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach Cori Close. "She is simply ELITE as a player, as a person, as a teammate. She will develop into a long time WNBA all-star. She is just scratching the surface in her potential on the court. She will find ways to be an 'add' on and off the court.  She just knows how to make an immediate impact – making winning plays for the team and impacting people every single day!  I could not be prouder or more confident in Michaela."
 
The Aurora, Colo., native becomes the 14th player in program history to be drafted into the WNBA and the sixth under Close's tenure. She's the sixth-ever Bruin to be taken in the first round. She's also the fifth Bruin in the last four years to earn a selection. Japreece Dean was taken 30th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2020 draft while Kennedy Burke was selected at No. 22 by the Dallas Wings in 2019. Jordin Canada (Seattle Storm) and Monique Billings (Atlanta Dream) were selected fifth and 15th, respectively, in 2018. Nirra Fields was the 32nd overall pick in the 2016 draft, selected by the Phoenix Mercury.
 
Onyenwere put together a stellar four-year career in Westwood and is set to graduate as one of the greatest players in program history. She notched the fourth-most points in program history with 1,888, averaging at least 18.3 points per game in her final three seasons at UCLA. She totaled 87 games with double-digit scoring totals and 31 double-doubles. The senior recorded five games with at least 30 points, including a career-high 33 in the Bruins' road victory against Oregon earlier this season (Jan. 3). Onyenwere scored 30 points in the Pac-12 Tournament championship game, helping her secure All-Tournament honors for the second-straight season.
 
Onyenwere has a decorated list of accolades to her name. She is the only two-time AP All-American in program history, having earned Third-Team honors following her junior and senior seasons. She also earned All-Pac-12 accolades in each of her final three years following Pac-12 All-Freshman honors in 2017-18. UCLA appeared in three NCAA Tournaments with Onyenwere's help, including an Elite 8 showing in 2018. The Bruins won 93 games across Onyenwere's four seasons.