With the 11th pick of the first round of the WNBA Draft, held on Monday at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the New York Liberty selected Marquesha Davis of Ole Miss. The six-foot guard is expected to be a strong defensive presence.
“I would say something that stood out to me is them looking basically for a two-way player and me being just that,” said Davis. “Knowing that I can come in and be a two-way player and make an impact that way is something that I look forward to…Just coming in and having a certain role and knowing what’s expected of you and knowing that you don’t have to be the superhero or anything like that.”
After forgoing most of its draft picks in 2023, the Liberty had four this year. In the second round, they chose Esmery Martinez of the University of Arizona and Jessika Carter from Mississippi State. In the third round, the team selected a face familiar to New York City basketball fans: Kaitlyn Davis, who played three seasons at Columbia University and this year played at USC as a graduate student.
Columbia senior Abbey Hsu was also drafted, picked in the third round by the Connecticut Sun. Hsu watched the draft with her teammates, friends, and family on the Columbia campus. “There were so many emotions; it was pretty much a roller-coaster—nervousness, excitedness, all of it—but being surrounded by my teammates, my coaches, my girlfriend, my sister, and my mom was comforting,” said Hsu. “I was very happy to experience that outcome with them. It was very special.”
Hsu shared happiness for herself and Davis as Columbia’s first-ever WNBA draft picks. She expressed her appreciation for Coach Megan Griffith’s belief in them and in the program. “Me and KD made history, but it wasn’t just us; it was the whole Columbia program,” said Hsu.
A prolific scorer throughout college, Hsu knows that is the first thing she brings into the pros. She’s also ready to develop new skills. Speaking at the conclusion of the draft, Sun general manager Darius Taylor said the team had followed Hsu throughout this past college season.
“She’s a really good shooter; she’s also a very good rebounder,” said Taylor. “We know that she has a high ceiling and potential to grow into an even better player.”