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USF's Courtney Williams goes No. 8 in WNBA draft to Phoenix

 
Courtney Williams celebrates her selection. “She gives us a great change of pace,” Phoenix Mercury GM Jim Pitman says.
Courtney Williams celebrates her selection. “She gives us a great change of pace,” Phoenix Mercury GM Jim Pitman says.
Published April 15, 2016

With a casual stroll to a podium followed by a few matter-of-fact syllables, WNBA president Lisa Borders did what a succession of rangy, agile collegians couldn't.

She caught Courtney Williams flat-footed.

The most decorated player in USF women's basketball history, Williams was among the most surprised Thursday night inside the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., when Borders announced the Phoenix Mercury had selected the 5-foot-8 Bulls guard as the No. 8 overall pick in the WNBA draft.

"It was actually a total surprise to me," said Williams, the first USF player ever taken in the WNBA first round. "I haven't spoken with them much at all, honestly, that's why it was definitely a surprise."

But a pleasant one, the latest in a string of historic junctures for the Folkston, Ga., native who was lightly recruited out of Charlton County High.

Joining Williams at the draft table were her parents, Bulls coach Jose Fernandez and former USF assistant Carrie Banks, her primary recruiter. All watched Williams blossom from a scoring dynamo at a tiny high school to a multidimensional Division I force who — after some prodding — embraced defense, the development of her left hand and the concept of sweat equity.

An Associated Press honorable mention All-American this season, she exits USF ranked second all time in scoring (2,304 points), third in rebounding (931), sixth in assists (318) and seventh in blocks (93).

As a senior she was ninth in Division I at 22.4 points a game. Her midrange jumper was widely considered the best in the game.

"She gives us a great change of pace," Phoenix general manager Jim Pitman said. "We have a lot of all-star-caliber players … but we don't have the speed and quickness necessarily that Courtney Williams brings. … I don't think she gets nearly enough credit for the ability to create for others. I think she's a really good passer."

The only glaring hole on Williams' resume: failing to lift USF into the final stretch of a postseason. At Phoenix, that goal could be realized in her rookie season.

The Mercury, which won the most recent of its three WNBA titles in 2014, welcomes back seven-time All-Star guard Diana Taurasi, who sat out the '15 season at the request of her Russian pro team. Among those complementing Taurasi is three-time All-Star center Brittney Griner, who led Baylor to the 2012 NCAA title.

"Everyone always ask me who I look up to and who I compare my mentality to, and I always say (Taurasi)," Williams said.

"Obviously at South Florida there were many nights when she was double teamed, and any time she touched the ball she would have multiple defenders running at her," Pitman said. "With our team that won't be the case, and she'll be able to showcase her skills even more."

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Contact Joey Knight at jknight@tampabay.com.