This WNBA team drafted Bradenton’s LaDazhia Williams in the second round
Lakewood Ranch High alum LaDazhia Williams didn’t have to sweat whether or not she would get drafted Monday in New York City.
On the heels of winning a national championship with LSU, the power forward was selected in the second round of the 2023 WNBA Draft.
The Indiana Fever chose Williams with the 17th overall pick. The WNBA Draft is three rounds, and ESPN projected Williams to be selected in the middle of the third round while a couple other mock draft sites didn’t have her getting drafted.
Her NCAA Tournament performance buoyed her draft stock. In the Sweet 16, Williams’ team-high 24 points was a key for LSU surviving Utah.
The Utes gave the Tigers their closest tournament game, with LSU winning 66-63 before claiming its first national title in program history on April 2.
For the tournament, Williams averaged 13.8 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game.
A three-time Bradenton Herald player of the year, Williams led Lakewood Ranch to its best season in program history when the Mustangs were the Class 7A state runner up in 2016. From there, she began her college career at South Carolina, before transferring to Missouri and LSU. She joined the Tigers as a fifth-year senior for the 2022-23 season.
Williams became the 21st player in LSU program history drafted to the WNBA. Teammate Alexis Morris went five picks after Williams. The Connecticut Sun drafted Morris.
