Ruth Hamblin will her start her professional career in Texas.
Hamblin was taken 18th overall (2nd Round, 6th pick) by the Dallas Wings in Thursday night’s WNBA draft at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
“It’s thrilling. It feels like everything I could have expected to feel and more. It’s so exciting to finally see my name on the board there,” she says.
Many mock drafts predicted the Canadian Hammer could go as high as 7th, with an average picked of 10th. She didn’t let going later than anticipated dampen her spirits.
“It was definitely crazy to sit there and watch. It’s kind of painful; every time you’re just on the edge of your seat with so much anticipation, but it’s kind of crazy how it happened. It went to a commercial break and I still hadn’t had my name called and then suddenly it went back and mine and (Oregon State University and Canadian teammate Jamie Weisner’s) names were up there on the board and they hadn’t really announced it but it was just there! It was like ‘Oh my gosh I got picked, that’s me!’ It was an amazing moment and really adrenaline-rushed, to say the least.”
Hamblin was drafted one spot behind Weisner, who will play for the Connecticut Sun. Hamblin notes it was a special moment to be drafted back-to-back with a friend.
“I think it’s amazing. The program that we built is just a testament to all the hard work we’ve both put in individually. It’s exciting to see both of us reach our goals.”
Dallas a long way from home and from OSU campus. She says the Southern city has a “different type of feel” from those two places but holds some special memories. It was there that Hamblin and the Beavers beat Depaul University in this year’s Sweet 16.
The 6-foot-6 Hamblin won’t have too much time to relax before she’s back in action. Dallas’ first preseason game is May 1st against the Indiana Fever.
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