Columbus North and Indiana University graduate Ali Patberg was selected by the Indiana Fever in the third round of Monday night’s WNBA Draft.
Patberg was chosen with the 34th pick in the draft. The Fever chose Baylor forward NaLyssa Smith with the second pick, Louisville forward Emily Engstler with the fourth pick and Baylor center Queen Egbo with the 10th pick in the first round and South Carolina point guard Destanni Henderson with the 20th pick in the second round.
The 2015 Indiana Miss Basketball and McDonald’s All-American, Patberg just wrapped up her seventh and final season of college basketball last month when she helped lead the Hoosiers to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Patberg finished her career ninth on Indiana’s all-time scoring list with 1,752 points and third on the all-time assist list with 528, and her career 14.2 points-per-game average ranks eighth. She earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors this season to become one of only three players in program history to be a four-time All-Big Ten player.
Now, Patberg will battle for a roster spot for the Fever, who open the season May 6 at the Washington Mystics. The first home game is May 8 vs. the Los Angeles Sparks.