NEW YORK — The last time the Minnesota Lynx chose a player out of UConn, Maya Moore made five all-star games and won four WNBA championships.
On Wednesday night, the Lynx hoped the same good luck would strike again when they chose Connecticut forward Napheesa Collier with the No. 6 overall pick.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve described the 6-2 Collier as "turn key," meaning she's ready to play right away.
"I can just envision (Napheesa) the first day, it being natural for her," Reeve said. "This is a player that's going to be a pro for a long time. I have a comfort level with her. That's why we're so excited."
Reeve went on to call Collier one of the top five players on the team's draft board and admitted they didn't expect her to be available with the sixth pick.
Collier won a national championship with UConn in 2016, and she's also a two-time, first-team All-American.
Collier ranks 3rd in scoring, 4th in rebounds and 7th in blocks in school history. She trails only Maya Moore for the most points scored in a season at UConn (792 points).
She also happens to be from the same hometown as Moore (Jefferson City) and brings a similar tenacity to everything she does.
The Lynx also drafted Notre Dame's Jessica Shepard in the second round, Buffalo's Cierra Dillard in the second round and former Gopher Kenisha Bell in the third round.
The team begins training camp next month.