MSU's Powers picked 5th overall by Dallas in WNBA draft
It was all about chasing her professional basketball dreams when Aerial Powers decided to leave Michigan State a year early.
And those dreams came true Thursday night for the Detroit native and Spartan All-American.
The Dallas Wings made Powers the highest Spartan ever picked in the WNBA draft, selecting her with the fifth overall pick. Powers became the sixth MSU player selected in the WNBA draft and the first since Liz Shimek went 19th overall in 2006.
"When Aerial declared for the draft, she immediately became the top priority for us," Wings general manager Greg Bibb said. "I just feel like she fits with the system that coach (Fred) Williams and his staff like to play. We like the size that she brings to the court and the ability to play multiple positions. I feel like she can penetrate in our league. We feel like she’ll be able to score in our league. She certainly can rebound the basketball. She can defend, which is important for our organization and our coaches.
"We just really feel like she’s an ideal fit for what we’re trying to do, and we’re really excited that we’re able to get her at the fifth pick."
The versatility of Powers was one of the biggest draws for the Wings. Powers averaged 18.9 points and 9.8 rebounds during a three-year MSU career where she set career records in scoring and double-doubles. The 6-foot Powers scored 1,817 points in three seasons and ranks fourth in Spartan history with 937 career rebounds.
"She’s demonstrated the ability to put the ball in the basket," Bibb said. "If you look back at her collegiate history, there has been many of nights where she filled the stat sheet offensively. She’s proven the ability to rebound proficiently and she certainly is a defender that can make an impact on that side of the court as well. We’re just really thrilled to have a player like her coming into our organization that brings a bunch of different aspects of the game."
Powers joins a Dallas squad that reached the playoffs last season and has a talented roster that includes Skylar Diggins and Odyssey Sims. Bibb said that talent will allow Powers to gradually get acquainted to the pro game.
“There’s not going to be a tremendous amount of pressure right out of the gate for her,” Bibb said. “She’ll be able to come in, adjust, learn the system and prepare for the rigors of WNBA basketball.”
Powers is looking forward to getting the next stage of her basketball career started in Dallas.
"What I've done at MSU has been some great things, but now I have to put them in the past," Powers said. "It's time for me to close that chapter and open a new one. It all starts from when I was a little girl, working hard. (It's) just continuing to work hard and do the same things I did for Michigan State, but times two, and bring it to the WNBA."
Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.