WNBA draft: Michigan women's basketball star Naz Hillmon goes to Atlanta Dream in Round 2
Naz Hillmon, the most decorated player in Michigan women's basketball program history, is now a professional.
Hillmon was drafted No. 15 overall by the Atlanta Dream in the 2022 WNBA draft Monday night — the highest pick in program history — the crowning achievement following one of the most dominant seasons by any Michigan basketball player, male or female.
Hillmon, a four-year star for the Wolverines, became the first player in program history to earn All-America honors, doing so in 2021 and 2022.
She was named to the All-Big Ten first team in each of her four seasons — the only player to do so in program history — and is also the only player, man or woman, to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a Michigan career.
Hillmon was the focal point of a Michigan team that just wrapped up the best season in program history. The Wolverines came just short of a Big Ten title, finishing half-a-game behind Iowa and Ohio State who split the championship, but made a deep run in the postseason.
The Wolverines made it to the Elite 8 for the first time in program history, with Hillmon powering them through each round.
The senior had 24 points and 11 rebounds in an opening-round win over American. She followed that up with 27 points and 11 rebounds in a round-of-32 win over Villanova, put up 17 points and 10 rebounds in a Sweet 16 victory over South Dakota and finished her career with 18 points and 11 rebounds in an Elite Eight loss to 1-seed Louisville.
Hillmon made the NCAA tournament all four years of her career, going one round further with each passing season. Hillmon averaged 21.0 points and 9.6 rebounds in her senior season, was named the Big Ten Player of the Year as a junior and is the program leader in rebounds (1,063), double-doubles (52) and free throws made (487).
Hillmon set a program scoring record when she dropped 50 points in a victory over Ohio State in January 2021. She was named Sixth Player of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2019 before being unanimously named Big Ten Player of the Year in 2021.
Hillmon is now the only Michigan basketball player in the WNBA and the first Wolverine drafted since Tabitha Pool (23rd overall) in 2005. Kysre Gondrezick, who played her freshman season for Michigan before transferring to West Virginia, plays for the Chicago Sky and was drafted No. 4 las season.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: WNBA draft: Michigan's Naz Hillmon goes to Atlanta Dream
