WNBA Draft Coverage

#1 Caitlin Clark
#2 Cameron Brink
#3 Kamilla Cardoso
#4 Rickea Jackson
#5 Jacy Sheldon
#6 Aaliyah Edwards
#7 Angel Reese
#8 Alissa Pili
#9 Carla Leite
#10 Leila Lacan
#11 Marquesha Davis
#12 Nyadiew Puoch

2(1) Brynna Maxwell
2(2) Nika Muhl
2(3) Celeste Taylor
2(4) Dyaisha Fair
2(5) Esmery Martinez
2(6) Kate Martin
2(7) Taiyanna Jackson
2(8) Isobel Borlase
2(9) Kaylynne Truong
2(10)Helena Pueyo
2(11) Jessika Carter
2(12) Elizabeth Kitley

3(1) Charisma Osborne
3(2) Mackenzie Holmes
3(3) Leilani Correa
3(4) McKenzie Forbes
3(5) Jazz Shelley
3(6) Nastja Claessens
3(7) Kiki Jefferson
3(8) Matilde Villa
3(9) Ashley Owusu
3(10) Abbey Hsu
3(11) Kaitlyn Davis
3(12) Angel Jackson

Fun fact: Cameron Brink's mom was Sonya Curry's roommate at Virginia Tech.

Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso now on the same team.

DISCLAIMER: Forum topics may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.

Comments

I know more players in this draft than I would the NBA draft

Danny is always open

Same. Kitley, Clark, Reese. That's all I know though.

Owusu

"Yes I am going to have favorites. My favorites are high production and low maintenance players, coaches, and staff." - JMFF

Cardoso and Reese in the low post on the same team in the WNBA almost seems unfair.

“Also, a microwave has never danced it's ass off to Jackie Wilson.” - AssPocketFullOWhiskey

Until they have to go against Boston and Smith with Indiana

Never Forget #1 Overall Seed UVA 54, #64 UMBC 74

Liz has a table right up front and to the left; Cayla and Raven are both at the table with her. Wonder if she was expected to be a higher pick with that placement. I keep expecting to hear her name and she keeps dropping. 🫤

“Also, a microwave has never danced it's ass off to Jackie Wilson.” - AssPocketFullOWhiskey

Due to the ACL injury, she won't be able to play this year, thus not likely to go in the 1st round. Also, she's probably placed at the table since she is still on crutches and would be less far to walk.

Danny Coale caught that ball!

Could we get Caitlin Clark and Liz Kitley on the same roster?

We did not

Never Forget #1 Overall Seed UVA 54, #64 UMBC 74

With the wealth of talent the Aces already had, I was hoping that they would take Kitley to stash. 🤷🏻 Oh well.

UPDATE: with their third pick in the second round, they did!!!

“Also, a microwave has never danced it's ass off to Jackie Wilson.” - AssPocketFullOWhiskey

Well, that aged poorly

And you get your wish a few picks later

"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

This Kitley snubbery is ridiculous. I won't stand for it.

Go Hokies!

Selfishly hoping the Liberty would take her there at #23, twas not to be

"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

Kitley to the defending champion Las Vegas Aces

Never Forget #1 Overall Seed UVA 54, #64 UMBC 74

Congrats Liz!!

Yay Liz!

Danny is always open

Oh darn, looks like I'll have to book a trip to Vegas next summer!

I don't know what a Hokie is, but God is one of them!

And that's a wrap

Never Forget #1 Overall Seed UVA 54, #64 UMBC 74

I know I'm reading too much into useless social media drama - but it's wild to me that Carleigh, Cayla, even Clara, etc. all posted Liz's draft selection to their stories........but Georgia instead posted a pic of Chloe Brooks with her birthday cake around the same time. 👀

UPDATE: ...she finally did. Still sucks to see how many coaches were there for their players, with no Kenny in sight.

“Also, a microwave has never danced it's ass off to Jackie Wilson.” - AssPocketFullOWhiskey

Like fuck Kenny, seriously. With the biggest saguaro cactus you can find

uva - the taint of the ACC
Callused perineum is a symptom of being a uva fan

Mulkey even showed up. 🤷🏻 But Kenny couldn't be bothered I guess.

“Also, a microwave has never danced it's ass off to Jackie Wilson.” - AssPocketFullOWhiskey

I guess you aren't family if he doesnt need you anymore.

Guy is showing himself to be a bit of a shithead

"When I was growing up, Virginia Tech was a school that was kicking ass and taking names, and it's time we get back to that" - James Franklin

No CKB is weird. If not showing up to support Kitley (which he should!!), you would think it would be a great marketing and recruiting tool.

🦃 🦃 🦃

Another fun fact:
Look up Ashley Owusu's stats. 3 years at MD averaging 30 minutes a game, 14+ points then transfers to VT and comes off the bench for 17 minutes and 6 points a game, goes to Ped state and starts averaging 17 points game. Makes you wonder

uva - the taint of the ACC
Callused perineum is a symptom of being a uva fan

She was playing a lot for us and then got hurt and kayana took her spot... the never playing her again after the injury may be a kenny thing or an attitude thing... hard to say from the outside other than I have never seen a player start rooting for the other team before her

Danny is always open

I can tell you the other players on the team didn't care for her based on their social media at the time.

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

My understanding it was both. She let her frustration with her injury affect the team chemistry. Also Traylor took her minutes and grew. Owusu wasn't good enough to get them back after she healed, but she thought she should be given the spot regardless.

Interesting

uva - the taint of the ACC
Callused perineum is a symptom of being a uva fan

You will love it when she uses her 7th year to play for Mulkey

in case you missed it, owusu got drafted last night

"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

Im sure she has an option to return to college

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

Liz flying to Vegas is now a business expense. Roughing it.

Rob Peterson
VTCC
Charlie/Hotel Company
Class of 1999

Congrats to Liz. On to the WNBA!

Saw it elsewhere that Liz was asked about Kenny Brooks not being there and she just brushed it off. Not sure if that's true or not but yeah, only family when she is helping you get newer and higher paying jobs I guess.

Fire Whit.

I mean, what's she going to say?

Brooks should probably have gone, but it's clearly a nuanced situation.

Nuanced looks to be the answer here.

Danny Coale caught that ball!

Going to try and thread the needle here. I sympathize what the Brooks family is going through with that BUT Kenny could have taken a leave of absence from Tech or coaching in general if this has been such a strain. He could have spent 2 minutes of his new introductory press conference saying thanks to the fans, didn't even have to mention admin. He could have asked his agent to draw up a statement to release to media.

I didn't really care he wasn't at draft event. But to try to paint this as he just didn't have time or energy to give a hat tip to fans and students at Tech feels like trying to use cancer as cover.

Also calling BS on not using social media he has a brand new Twitter account for UK.

Wet stuff on the red stuff.

Join us in the Key Players Club

Agree on all fronts. Tough personal situation there no doubt and sympathize. At the same time, his exit from VT could have been handled a whole lot better. Really has changed my perception of him through this saga.

Now on to the Duffy era.

I agree as well. I wish his wife the best in her recovery, but am generally over all things KB and the players that transfered. While I agree that the fan base isn't entitled to private health information, some acknowledgement of folks that bought tickets and donated money to fund salary, scholarships and NIL would not be remiss. Of course, the most toxic folks on Twitter are unlikely to be folks that actually donate to the program. I do think they are in for a rude awakening when Kentucky social media jumps on them if the season isn't great.

I'm going to not even bother to thread the needle.

I'm a third generation cancer survivor. Kenny was fully capable of interviewing for the role, accepting the job, recruiting people to the new team, having an intro press conference etc. etc. etc. but having his agent or a social media intern put up a boiler plate thank you was too much?

Using her illness to shield his unprofessional behavior is bullshit.

Hokies United l Ut Prosim

Kenny was fully capable of interviewing for the role, accepting the job, recruiting people to the new team, having an intro press conference [....]

This.

Seven months covers this entire past season, recruiting cycle, and interview process. He had time for all of that, but not to support his player on draft night?

Never mind the farewell note. Just have a staffer write that and post from his account. It would have taken none of his time.

Chloe's post on Twitter was more than that one tweet. She further explained that Kenny was at his wife's bed while she got her 4th round of chemo. Do with that what you will.

Rob Peterson
VTCC
Charlie/Hotel Company
Class of 1999

I can see that preventing being at the draft. However, he spent a hell of a lot of time in kentucky not saying anything to VT fans

Danny is always open

I think the tweet was just responding to Isaiah Ford, which tbh honest is awesome that our boy still follows VT sports like this.

So at some point in between rounds 1 and 3 of chemo he applied, interviewed, accepted, hired assistants and recruited current VT players recruits and others to UK, but couldn't say thanks or show out for Kitley? Got it!
And on top of it, he has one of his kids responding/taking up for him because he can't do it himself.
Over it. Glad he's gone.
Let's see what Duffy & Co can do

uva - the taint of the ACC
Callused perineum is a symptom of being a uva fan

And similarly taken 2 minutes to post a tweet stating he had proactively talked with Kitley and mentioned he would like to be there for her on draft day, but is choosing to stay home due to his wife's health.

Kenny's PR game is weak. He comes off as the kinda guy who did enjoy being here, but feels so bad about shafting the VT loyal that he just goes radio silent because he's too afraid to speak up.

And if his family can't handle a little smoke on Twitter and has to post tweets about it because of a couple fans, he is going to get chased right out of UK at the first sign of distress.

"Nooooooooooo!"
~What happened?
"James Franklin to Virginia Tech...."
~Fuck me......*sigh*
"Oh my God.... They're gonna take all our recruits... like WTF bro...."
~*squints eyes in disbelief*

I am here to watch it all crumble

uva - the taint of the ACC
Callused perineum is a symptom of being a uva fan

Not even sure what to do with that.

Sympathy for their family. Not really relevant to the exit, though. That was strictly business.

I think it's pretty standard to gripe about the coach if they don't give you the time of day when they leave.

And then take your whole freaking team with them.

These kids are professionals now. Kenny took the bag. He's a pro coach- no different than Steve Kerr or Popovich. He took the bag. Enough with the hand wringing. It's business. Kentucky paid him and his pro players more money. Yall need to get used to this. Pro Sports.

Steve Kerr isn't out there convincing every resident of California that they are family and part of the team to get them to show up. He also doesn't get to take whatever isn't bolted down in the program with him when he gets a new gig. We have the worst of both worlds in college sports.

Danny is always open

Correct - there is more free agency in college now than the NBA.. huge issue. What Steve Kerr CAN do is put out a shit/medicore product, not play his best players on certain nights and idiots still pay to come see it. That will not happen at Virginia Tech when these kids aren't required to be enrolled. The stands will be empty- like UFL games you are seeing right now.

All of this is so easily avoidable... Chloe having to come out with the post shows you just how poorly KB has handled this whole thing. It takes 30 minutes to post a goodbye and thank you... how many hours has he put into recruiting during this same time? So while I of course pray for his wife's full recovery and empathize with their health situation I also hold KB accountable for the place we are now. And frankly what do you expect when you poach so hard from the current team? Bye Felicia.

As someone whose wife went though breast cancer treatment during one of my assignments, I felt blessed that were were NOT in the middle of a manning cycle and we felt stable enough to have support from the friends we had made since we had no family nearby. I certainly had NO time to interview for a new job and think about PCSing (military move) while we were going through that shit; in fact, I remember dropping from a distance learning course because life had gotten too busy. I really do feel for his family and certainly wish for the best because it does suck. I met him at an outreach event and was extremely impressed. But yea, fuck that excuse. Hire somebody to write a blanket thank you statement.

I can absolutely understand his daughter's anger at folks in social media and coming out in that way. But it's mixing several unrelated actions, blaming it all on cancer. I'm sorry, not a fan.

This is what I don't understand, he has an agent, they have PR people, why aren't they making him look good? For less than an hour of work he could have looked great. I'm sure agents have templated good bye statements.

I think he said the VT crowd was worth 8-10 points?

I'd be curious about looking at his tenure here and counting all his wins at home that were less than 10 points and make them Ls and then seeing what that does to his overall record and/or if he still would've won ACC titles.

"Nooooooooooo!"
~What happened?
"James Franklin to Virginia Tech...."
~Fuck me......*sigh*
"Oh my God.... They're gonna take all our recruits... like WTF bro...."
~*squints eyes in disbelief*

Lose to NC St, Duke and tie with UNC at 8 points this year. So that means to regular ACC championship this year.

So ultimately us fans are to blame. Way to go everyone.... /s

"Nooooooooooo!"
~What happened?
"James Franklin to Virginia Tech...."
~Fuck me......*sigh*
"Oh my God.... They're gonna take all our recruits... like WTF bro...."
~*squints eyes in disbelief*

Kitley seems happy about where she got drafted.