Emily Engstler Selected Fourth Overall by Indiana Fever in 2022 WNBA Draft
April 11, 2022 | Women's Basketball
University of Louisville forward Emily Engstler was selected with the fourth pick by the Indiana Fever in the 2022 WNBA Draft on Monday night.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville forward Emily Engstler was selected with the fourth pick by the Indiana Fever in the 2022 WNBA Draft on Monday night.
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Engstler is the 15th Louisville player selected in the history of the WNBA Draft and the fifth to be selected in the first round. Of the 15 WNBA Draft picks, 13 have played under head coach Jeff Walz.
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"Defense is about passion, I bring that a lot in my game. I love to play defense and I'm excited," said Engstler when asked by ESPN's Holly Rowe about her defensive ability.
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Later Rowe asked Engstler what she can do to continue making her family proud.
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"By being me. Going to a team and doing anything I can to help them produce and get wins. And be a great teammate," added Engstler.
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It marks the fourth straight season that Louisville has had at least one player selected in the WNBA Draft. They have had seven players selected in past four drafts. Louisville entered tonight with six selections over the previous three drafts, which is tied with Baylor for the most in the NCAA.
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Last season, Dana Evans was selected 13th overall by the Dallas Wings.
Engstler was named AP All-America honorable mention and a WBCA Coaches All America Team Regional Finalist. She was also named a Cheryl Miller Award Finalist, a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist and to the Midseason Team for 2022 Naismith Player of the Year.
She led the ACC and ranked 18th in the country with 2.7 steals per game and her 23 steals in the NCAA Tournament tied a single NCAA Tournament record. She ranked fifth in the ACC with 1.8 blocks per game and her 61 blocks this season rank second all-time in UofL single season history.
Her 12 double-doubles this season are the most by a UofL player since Myisha Hines-Allen had 16 in 2017-18.
University of Louisville WNBA Draft Picks: 2022 WNBA Draft – Emily Engstler (4th pick, Indiana Fever); 2021 WNBA Draft – Dana Evans (13th pick, Dallas Wings); 2020 WNBA Draft – Jazmine Jones (12th pick, New York Liberty), Kylee Shook (13th pick, New York Liberty); 2019 WNBA Draft – Asia Durr (2nd pick, New York Liberty), Arica Carter (32nd pick, Phoenix Mercury), Sam Fuehring (34th pick, Washington Mystics); 2018 WNBA Draft – Myisha Hines-Allen (19th pick, Washington Mystics); 2014 WNBA Draft - Shoni Schimmel (8th Pick, Atlanta Dream); Antonita Slaughter (35th Pick, Los Angeles Sparks); Asia Taylor (36th Pick, Minnesota Lynx); 2009 WNBA Draft - Angel McCoughtry (1st Pick, Atlanta Dream); Candyce Bingham (39th Pick, San Antonio Silver Stars); 2003 WNBA Draft - Lori Nero (19th Pick, Houston Comets); 2000 WNBA Draft - Jill Morton (34th Pick, Charlotte Sting).
For the latest on Louisville women's basketball, visit GoCards.com, follow the team's Twitter account at @UofLWBB or on Facebook at facebook.com/UofLWBB.
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Engstler is the 15th Louisville player selected in the history of the WNBA Draft and the fifth to be selected in the first round. Of the 15 WNBA Draft picks, 13 have played under head coach Jeff Walz.
Â
"Defense is about passion, I bring that a lot in my game. I love to play defense and I'm excited," said Engstler when asked by ESPN's Holly Rowe about her defensive ability.
Â
Later Rowe asked Engstler what she can do to continue making her family proud.
Â
"By being me. Going to a team and doing anything I can to help them produce and get wins. And be a great teammate," added Engstler.
Â
It marks the fourth straight season that Louisville has had at least one player selected in the WNBA Draft. They have had seven players selected in past four drafts. Louisville entered tonight with six selections over the previous three drafts, which is tied with Baylor for the most in the NCAA.
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Last season, Dana Evans was selected 13th overall by the Dallas Wings.
Engstler was named AP All-America honorable mention and a WBCA Coaches All America Team Regional Finalist. She was also named a Cheryl Miller Award Finalist, a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist and to the Midseason Team for 2022 Naismith Player of the Year.
She led the ACC and ranked 18th in the country with 2.7 steals per game and her 23 steals in the NCAA Tournament tied a single NCAA Tournament record. She ranked fifth in the ACC with 1.8 blocks per game and her 61 blocks this season rank second all-time in UofL single season history.
Her 12 double-doubles this season are the most by a UofL player since Myisha Hines-Allen had 16 in 2017-18.
University of Louisville WNBA Draft Picks: 2022 WNBA Draft – Emily Engstler (4th pick, Indiana Fever); 2021 WNBA Draft – Dana Evans (13th pick, Dallas Wings); 2020 WNBA Draft – Jazmine Jones (12th pick, New York Liberty), Kylee Shook (13th pick, New York Liberty); 2019 WNBA Draft – Asia Durr (2nd pick, New York Liberty), Arica Carter (32nd pick, Phoenix Mercury), Sam Fuehring (34th pick, Washington Mystics); 2018 WNBA Draft – Myisha Hines-Allen (19th pick, Washington Mystics); 2014 WNBA Draft - Shoni Schimmel (8th Pick, Atlanta Dream); Antonita Slaughter (35th Pick, Los Angeles Sparks); Asia Taylor (36th Pick, Minnesota Lynx); 2009 WNBA Draft - Angel McCoughtry (1st Pick, Atlanta Dream); Candyce Bingham (39th Pick, San Antonio Silver Stars); 2003 WNBA Draft - Lori Nero (19th Pick, Houston Comets); 2000 WNBA Draft - Jill Morton (34th Pick, Charlotte Sting).
For the latest on Louisville women's basketball, visit GoCards.com, follow the team's Twitter account at @UofLWBB or on Facebook at facebook.com/UofLWBB.
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