AMES – Iowa State senior forward/center Stephanie Soares became the 15th player in school history to be selected in the WNBA Draft on Monday evening when she was chosen by the Washington Mystics with the No. 4 pick.
Moments later, Soares was traded to the Dallas Wings.
Soares is the highest draft pick in school history, with the previous high being Alison Lacey with the 10th pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft. She joins Lacey as the second first-round pick in school history.
Soares played just one season at Iowa State and it was cut short due to a knee injury suffered at Oklahoma on Jan. 8. She came to the Cyclones after a standout career at NAIA The Master’s University.
Despite playing just 13 games with the Cyclones, the Sao Paulo, Brazil, native, made an immediate impact for ISU. She averaged 14.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game for the Cyclones, reaching double figures in 11 contests and recording eight double-doubles.
Her season-high of 23 points came in wins against UNI and Michigan State. Soares pulled down 20 rebounds against West Virginia, recording the sixth 20-rebound game in school history.
Prior to transferring to Iowa State, Soares was a two-time NAIA Division I Player of the Year.
Soares was the first Big 12 player selected in the draft.
Iowa State WNBA Draft Picks
2023-Stephanie Soares
Washington, 1st round (4)
2019- Bridget Carleton
Connecticut, 2nd round (21)
2015-Nikki Moody
San Antonio, 3rd round (33)
2013-Chelsea Poppens
Seattle, 2nd round (18)
2013-Anna Prins
Connecticut, 2nd round (23)
2011-Kelsey Bolte
Atlanta, 3rd round (32)
2010-Alison Lacey
Seattle, 1st round (10)
2007-Lyndsey Medders
Indiana, 2nd round (22)
2005-Anne O’Neil
Sacramento, 3rd round (30)
2003- Lindsey Wilson
Connecticut, 3rd roundd (34)
2002-Angie Welle
Cleveland, 2nd round (31)
2002-Tracy Gahan
New York, 3rd round (46)
2001-Megan Taylor
Minnesota, 4th round (55)
2000-Desirée Francis
New York, 2nd round (29)
2000-Stacy Frese
Utah, 3rd round (35)