This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Provo • The all-time leading scorer in West Coast Conference basketball history is headed to the Pacific Northwest to play professional basketball.
Lexi Eaton Rydalch, who scored 2,535 points in her brilliant career at BYU, was picked in the third round of Thursday's WNBA draft, 26th overall, by the Seattle Storm.
Rydalch will take part in graduation ceremonies on April 21, then report to training camp on April 24. She becomes the fourth BYU player to be drafted by a WNBA team.
Rydalch was predicted to be drafted late in the second round by most WNBA mock drafts, so going early in the third round was not unexpected. Last week, she was selected to play in an invitation-only all-star game after performing well at the WNBA Combine.
The Springville High product said last month in Austin, Texas, after the Cougars were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament that her lifelong dream has been to play in the WNBA. In 10 days, she will get her shot.
"I'm ready to take the next step and take my game to the next level," she said. "I will continue to work hard, because hard work has gotten me this far."
The Storm selected UConn's Breanna Stewart No. 1 overall in the draft. Her teammates, Moriah Jefferson (San Antonio) and Morgan Tuck (Connecticut) were the next two players drafted, the first time in draft history that three players from the same school were picked 1-2-3.
Former Syracuse High star Brittney Martin, who played collegiately at Oklahoma State, was selected by San Antonio with the 25th pick, one ahead of Rydalch.
Twitter: @drewjay