Women having the backs of other women is always a many splendoured thing to witness – in sports or any other walk of life.
While the WNBA is eyed upon as a leader in the effort to grow and expand women’s sports, that push of course extends well past the W – and the players themselves know it.
That is why several from the W’s realm took part in the 2020 rendition of the National Women’s Hockey League draft – also, of course, held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Kayla Friesen was the second overall pick to the Connecticut Whale out of Clarkson University – and the Connecticut Sun’s very own Jasmine Thomas did the honors in welcoming Friesen to the Constitution State (or is it the Nutmeg State?).
Here’s @jaszthomas of the @ConnecticutSun to announce the Second Overall Pick of the 2020 #NWHLDraft for @CTWhale_NWHL 🐳 @TheWNBPA // @WNBA pic.twitter.com/RSnGojOvlO
— NWHL (@NWHL) April 28, 2020
Congratulations, Kayla 👏@CUknights // @ecachockey pic.twitter.com/6jU0oafzl8
— NWHL (@NWHL) April 28, 2020
The fifth overall selection was held by the Minnesota Whitecaps. Fittingly enough, the Whitecaps chose Alex Woken from the University of Minnesota. In classic Ski-U-Mah fashion, Woken was welcomed into the pros by another Golden Gopher who is back in the Land of 10,000 Lakes with the Lynx in Rachel Banham.
Here’s @rachelbanham_1 of the @minnesotalynx to announce the Fifth Overall Pick of the 2020 #NWHLDraft for @WhitecapsHockey 🌊@TheWNBPA // @WNBA pic.twitter.com/odtL3aAC9G
— NWHL (@NWHL) April 28, 2020
Welcome to the NWHL, Alex 👏 pic.twitter.com/rDcfNlNWDg
— NWHL (@NWHL) April 28, 2020
— NWHL (@NWHL) April 28, 2020
The NWHL now has six teams – the Whale, the Whitecaps, the Metropolitan Riveters, the Buffalo Beauts, the Boston Pride and a recently announced expansion team for Toronto. On Day Two of the draft, Canada’s very own and the Indiana Fever’s very own Natalie Achonwa rolled out the virtual red carpet in welcoming York University’s Erin Locke to women’s pro hockey.
Here’s @NatAchon of the @IndianaFever to announce the 15th Overall Pick for @TorontoNWHL 🇨🇦@WNBA // @TheWNBPA pic.twitter.com/dpkUjJCR4l
— NWHL (@NWHL) April 29, 2020
Congrats, Erin 👏 pic.twitter.com/ImQYo6UsgC
— NWHL (@NWHL) April 29, 2020
— NWHL (@NWHL) April 29, 2020
Another rising women’s sports luminary that is well-known within WNBA circles as well through her work at The Athletic and other websites had the honor of unveiling who the 19th overall pick in this year’s NWHL draft was.
The Whale made the selection – Amanda Conway of Norwich University. As for who announced who the Whale selected….hey….we know her too!
Here’s NWHL analyst @elindsay08 to announce the 19th Overall Pick of the 2020 #NWHLDraft for @CTWhale_NWHL 🐳 pic.twitter.com/UyI9jFnAik
— NWHL (@NWHL) April 29, 2020
Here’s NWHL analyst @elindsay08 to announce the 19th Overall Pick of the 2020 #NWHLDraft for @CTWhale_NWHL 🐳 pic.twitter.com/UyI9jFnAik
— NWHL (@NWHL) April 29, 2020
— NWHL (@NWHL) April 29, 2020
Speaking of the 6ix’s very own, the Toronto expansion team also had another pick that was announced by one from the WNBA’s ranks.
Kayla Alexander, also with the Lynx revealed Toronto’s 22nd overall pick (in round four) of the draft – and it was Natalie Marcuzzi from Robert Morris University in another hockey icecap that is Pittsburgh.
Here’s Toronto native and member of the @minnesotalynx @kjalexan40 to announce the 22nd Overall Pick of the 2020 #NWHLDraft for @TorontoNWHL 🇨🇦@TheWNBPA // @WNBA pic.twitter.com/gnHkoMY2pi
— NWHL (@NWHL) April 30, 2020
Congratulations, Natalie! 👏 pic.twitter.com/tJ5nO95EPW
— NWHL (@NWHL) April 30, 2020
