Kianna Smith Selected 16th Overall by Los Angeles Sparks in 2022 WNBA Draft
April 11, 2022 | Women's Basketball
University of Louisville guard Kianna Smith was selected with the 16th pick by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2022 WNBA Draft on Monday night.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville guard Kianna Smith was selected with the 16th pick by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2022 WNBA Draft on Monday night.
Â
Smith follows Emily Engstler, who was selected by the Indiana Fever with the fourth pick earlier in the night. Smith and Engstler are the 15th and 16th Louisville players selected in the history of the WNBA Draft. Of the 16 WNBA Draft picks, 14 have played under head coach Jeff Walz.
Â
It marks the fourth straight season that Louisville has had at least one player selected in the WNBA Draft. They have had eight players selected in the past four drafts, which at the time of Smith's selection is tied with Baylor for the most in the NCAA.
Â
Smith was named a WBCA Coaches All America Team Regional Finalist. She ranked second on the team with 12.0 points per game and nine times this season led the team in scoring. She ranked third in the ACC with a 36.7 3-point field goal percentage and ranked eighth with 1.8 made 3-pointers per game.Â
University of Louisville WNBA Draft Picks: 2022 WNBA Draft – Emily Engstler (4th pick, Indiana Fever), Kianna Smith (16th pick, Los Angeles Sparks); 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.
Â
Â
Smith follows Emily Engstler, who was selected by the Indiana Fever with the fourth pick earlier in the night. Smith and Engstler are the 15th and 16th Louisville players selected in the history of the WNBA Draft. Of the 16 WNBA Draft picks, 14 have played under head coach Jeff Walz.
Â
It marks the fourth straight season that Louisville has had at least one player selected in the WNBA Draft. They have had eight players selected in the past four drafts, which at the time of Smith's selection is tied with Baylor for the most in the NCAA.
Â
Smith was named a WBCA Coaches All America Team Regional Finalist. She ranked second on the team with 12.0 points per game and nine times this season led the team in scoring. She ranked third in the ACC with a 36.7 3-point field goal percentage and ranked eighth with 1.8 made 3-pointers per game.Â
University of Louisville WNBA Draft Picks: 2022 WNBA Draft – Emily Engstler (4th pick, Indiana Fever), Kianna Smith (16th pick, Los Angeles Sparks); 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.
Â
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballWBB: Head Coach Jeff Walz On-Campus Media Day (10/22/25)
Wednesday, October 22
WBB: Head Coach Jeff Walz Press Conference (7/31/25)
Thursday, July 31
Jeff Walz Post Game vs Clemson Press Conference 02.27.25
Friday, May 16
WBB: NCAA 2nd Round Preview Press Conference
Saturday, March 22
