Women's basketball Head Coach Jane Albright was pleasantly surprised when senior forward Jessie Stomski was selected in the fourth round of the 2002 Women's National Basketball Association draft last Friday. Stomski learned of her selection through a phone call because she was on a mini-vacation at the time.
Stomski, in response to Friday's selection day and her future with the Charlotte Sting, said, \[The draft] was a weird feeling because your fate for the next couple of months, or however long, is in limbo.""
Meanwhile, senior guard Tamara Moore was in contact with Albright when she was selected as a first round, 15th overall pick by the Miami Sol. However, the big picture remains quite clear: Moore and Stomski are the first Badgers ever to be drafted into the WNBA and their record-setting careers at Wisconsin have likely foreshadowed success at the professional level.
""I was anxious to see where I was going to be able to play, and as long as I had the opportunity to be able to be drafted, I was happy,"" Moore said.
Moore's career goals were to play professional basketball, coach high school basketball or teach. The UW career record holder in steals, assists, and games played looks forward to fulfilling the first goal with the Sol.
Moore is no stranger to success. Her unselfish style of play, ball handling skills, aggressive defense and high free-throw percentage helped lead the Badgers to two NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2000 WNIT championship.
Stomski, who is from nearby Oakdale, Minn., played AAU basketball with Moore. She has dominated opposing defenses since storming onto the UW scene during the 1998-1999 season. Stomski was the 1999 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and continued her success with all-Big Ten first team selections in 2001 and 2002, and a Kodak/WBCA all-American honorable mention in 2002. Completing her UW career with 1,915 points and 961 rebounds, Stomski's team-leading 18.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this season paved the Badgers' path to a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
Stomski will be called on to provide both an inside and outside scoring threat for the Sting.
""[Coach Anne Donovan] basically said that they need a [power forward] that is going to be able to defend large post players and that is going to be willing to score either from the outside or the inside,"" Stomski said.
Moore's role at guard will most likely begin as a back-up position for the Sol.
""I'll most likely be backing up the point guard, Debbie Black,"" Moore said. ""She was the [Defensive Player of the Year] last year in the WNBA and I can learn a lot from her. I wouldn't say that I can't crack the starting line-up, but at the same time I'm having the mindset to just go in there and work hard every day... [and] be ready if she ever needs me to be there.""
Moore and Stomski will bring their respective skills and talents to the WNBA forefront in training camps that begin April 29th.
