Former University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa basketball star Amy Atwell earned a starting spot on the WNBA’s season opening night as a rookie.
The LA Sparks chose the former Rainbow Wahine from Australia in the recent draft in the third round as the 27th overall selection. UH’s Judy Mosley was the first WNBA draft pick in 1997 as the sixth overall pick to the Sacramento Monarchs. The Sparks opened the season on the road against the defending champions Chicago Sky.
Atwell will start alongside former MVP and WNBA champion Nneka Ogwumike, 2021 First-Team All-Defensive selection Brittney Sykes, four-time WNBA All-Star Liz Cambage and two-time WNBA Champion Jordin Canada.
Atwell broke the UH Wahine record for 3-pointers and games played this past season. She led the team to the NCAA tournament and became the first Hawaiʻi player to be named as the Big West Conference player of the year.
Los Angeles finished the 2021 season with a 12-20 record, placing 10th overall in the league standings.
