iStock_000083515123_Full.jpg

BASKETBALL

Haley Gorecki Chosen 31st By Seattle In The WNBA Draft

Haley Gorecki who played for Duke was chosen in the WNBA Draft in the third round as the thirty first pick and is headed to the west coast to begin here professional career.

Where? In Seattle where she will have a mentor in Sue Bird who was drafted by Seattle in the 2002 WNBA Draft as the top out of Connecticut. “according to https://www.wnba.com/player/sue-bird/

Sue Bird has played sixteen years in the league all with Seattle and was resigned in February . However, the guard who is the all time assists leader in the WNBA did not suit up during the 2019 season. Why? Because she sat out the entire season recovering from knee surgery. “according to https://www.wnba.com/player/sue-bird/

Haley Gorecki was the 31st overall pick in the third round of the WNBA Draft. Gorecki, who is from Palatine, Ill., was an All-ACC First Team and All-ACC Defensive Team honoree, while being named one of five finalists for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award for the top shooting guard in the nation. In the ACC statistics, she ranked second in scoring (18.5), second in steals (2.1), seventh in assists (4.4), third in free throw percentage (85.6), 18th in rebounds (6.6), third in minutes played (36.4), eighth in three-point field goals made (2.0) and seventh in three-point field goal percentage (33.7).  

After being injured for the majority of her first three seasons at Duke, Gorecki turned in two of the most impressive years in Duke history in 2018-19 and 2019-20. She became the first Duke player to average over 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in back-to-back seasons, while also becoming the second ACC player to lead her team in back-to-back seasons in scoring, rebounding and assists. Gorecki was just the sixth Blue Devil to notch back-to-back 500-point seasons.  Over her final two years, she notched 23 games with 20 or more points, which was the most in the ACC and reached 1,000 points in only 77 games, which was the 10th-quickest Blue Devil to do so. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/4/17/womens-basketball-odom-gorecki-selected-in-2020-wnba-draft.aspx

Haley Gorecki had this to say about being chosen in the WNBA Draft.

Extremely excited to be drafted in the WNBA,” according to https://goduke.com/news/2020/4/17/womens-basketball-odom-gorecki-selected-in-2020-wnba-draft.aspx

While her former head coach at Duke Joanne P. McCallie had this to say about her former player and new Seattle guard.

We are absolutely thrilled for Haley and this tremendous opportunity. Haley is an amazing person and an incredible basketball player. Her work ethic and competitive nature will serve her well at the highest level All at Duke send tremendous congratulations!