WNBA Draft See’s Future Stars Arrive 

The 5-9, Toledo native played in 137 games (all starts) for the Gamecocks, holding averages of 13.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.9 steals. The Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year shot 39.0 percent from the field, including 34.0% from beyond the arc. She finished her college career fifth in school history in three-point field goals (196) and eighth in school history in points (1,845). Cooke is the first player from South Carolina that has been drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks.

By Earl Heath, Contributing Sports Writer 

The 2023 WNBA Draft opened  with the Indiana Fever selecting Aliyah Boston out of South Carolina as the No. 1 overall pick. A few hours later, the action came to a close when the Las Vegas Aces picked Brittany Davis from Alabama with the No. 36 overall selection.  

The Los Angeles Sparks selected Zia Cooke out of South Carolina with the 10th overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft presented by State FarmÒ.

“We are thrilled to add Zia to a growing list of quality players on and off the court,” said Sparks CAO and GM Karen Bryant. “In evaluating Zia, there are so many aspects of her game coupled with intangibles that made her an obvious choice with the 10th pick.”

The 5-9, Toledo native played in 137 games (all starts) for the Gamecocks, holding averages of 13.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.9 steals. The Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year shot 39.0 percent from the field, including 34.0% from beyond the arc. She finished her college career fifth in school history in three-point field goals (196) and eighth in school history in points (1,845). Cooke is the first player from South Carolina that has been drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks.

“Zia is a winner and a national champion,” said Miller. “She was the best two-way player available and can impact the game at both the offensive and defensive ends. She is an outstanding scorer at multiple levels and showed the ability to be a defensive stopper for the Gamecocks.”

The Sparks also selected Monika Czinano with the 26th overall pick in the third round of the draft, giving them one of the best post players from the collegiate level. Johnson expressed his belief that it’s the perfect move for LA since they took a player who can contribute right away. 

Los Angeles could really use some help insider after a season that saw them tally a 13-23 record. 

Czinano, joined Caitlin Clark this 2022-23 season as the first duo to record over 2,000 career points in the same season in the Big Ten women’s basketball history, certainly brings a lot to the table for the Sparks. In fact, Indiana Fever general manager Lin Dunn even gave her a ringing endorsement in the build-up to the draft. 

In between, selections there was plenty of excitement and a few surprises. The Dallas Wings, who already had three first-round picks, sent a future first-round pick and a future second-round pick to the Washington Mystics to add the No. 4 overall selection to their collection. With those choices they added Maddy Siegrist (3rd), Stephanie Soares (4th), Lou Lopez Senechal (5th) and Abby Meyers (11th).  

Other notable picks include the Minnesota Lynx taking Diamond Miller at No. 2 and the Atlanta Dream getting Haley Jones at No. 6.  

The WNBA Draft has become more entertaining, and family liked as parents aunts and uncles gather under one roof along with coaches like Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma all present with players and their families.