WNBA Draft: Huskers' Jaz Shelley to Phoenix Mercury in Third Round

Native Australian is first Nebraska grad selected since 2014

Kaleb Henry | Apr 16, 2024

Jaz Shelley played her final three collegiate seasons at Nebraska after transferring from Oregon. / Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska women’s basketball’s Jaz Shelley has officially been drafted.

Shelley was taken in the third round of the WNBA draft Monday night by the Phoenix Mercury. She was among seven Big Ten players to hear their names called during the 36-pick draft, including Iowa's Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 overall pick.

“I’m just excited for the opportunity,” Shelley said. “I couldn’t be happier about being picked by Phoenix. I feel like that’s a great fit for me. They have such a talented team and an amazing organization, too.

“Having my name called has always been a dream, but to share this with my second family here in Nebraska is really a special moment I will remember forever.”

Shelley, a native of Australia, is the first Nebraska graduate to be taken in the WNBA draft since Jordan Hooper in 2014.

Nebraska Graduates in the WNBA Draft
2024 – Jaz Shelley, 3rd Round (No. 29 Overall), Phoenix Mercury
2014 – Jordan Hooper, 2nd Round (No. 13 Overall), Tulsa Shock
2013 – Lindsey Moore, 1st Round (No. 12 Overall), Minnesota Lynx
2010 – Kelsey Griffin, 1st Round (No. 3 Overall), Minnesota Lynx
2010 – Cory Montgomery, 3rd Round (No. 25 Overall), New York Liberty
2007 – Kiera Hardy, 3rd Round (No. 39 Overall), Connecticut Sun
2000 – Nicole Kubik, 1st Round (No. 15 Overall), LA Sparks

Published Apr 16, 2024

KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE's representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.