By Andrew Mason | via AXS.com | April 19, 2018 |
The LA Sparks grabbed one of the most highly anticipated players in last Thursday’s 2018 WNBA Draft, with the 11th overall selection of Maria Alekseyevna Vadeeva. The 19-year-old Russian standout became the first international player selected in the first round since Mali’s Astan Dabo in 2012.
Vadeeva is no stranger to professional hoops. The Moscow-native has spent four years in the Russian Women's Basketball Premier League (WBPL), most recently as a member of the Dynamo Kursk. On the global level, Vadeeva took home the FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup Most Valuable Player award in 2017.
Currently, Vadeeva is recording 10.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and leads Kursk with a 57.9 field goal percentage.
The expectations for Vadeeva are set. LA Sparks forward and 2016 WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike, who spent two years playing alongside Vadeeva on Kursk, told ESPN The Magazine that Vadeeva has serious potential to be great in the states.
“She's not just a player where you can see her becoming a great player," Ogwumike said. "She's a great player where you can see her becoming a very high-caliber player.”
Vadeeva is noted to be a physically dominant presence down low. Sparks fans can look forward to her tormenting opponents inside the paint at STAPLES Center, especially with her back to the basket.
Vadeeva was projected by many to be selected earlier in the draft. However, due to the future possibility of scheduling conflicts between her WNBA and Russian national team obligations, some teams were likely weary to check Vadeeva’s box.
With the first pick in the 2018 draft, the Las Vegas Aces selected none other than former University of South Carolina star A’ja Wilson. The Gamecock turned Ace will no doubt improve the franchise’s defensive efficiency in its first year since moving from San Antonio. Wilson and Vadeeva are scheduled to make their STAPLES Center head-to-head debut on July 1 (click here to get tickets).
With the two remaining selections, the purple and gold snagged forward Shakayla Thomas from Florida State University, and forward Julia Reisingerova from Spain.
For tickets to see all rookies in action at STAPLES Center this season keep it right here on AXS.com.