Cleveland Rockers Dispersal Draft
The Cleveland Rockers folded following the 2003 WNBA season, leaving
their players to be reassigned around the league. On January 6, 2004,
the WNBA held a dispersal draft involving the league's remaining
teams.
Teams selected in an order based largely on their records from the
2003 season. Phoenix, which finished 8-26, held the first selection
and chose forward Penny Taylor.
Thirteen players from Cleveland's roster were selected in the
one-round dispersal draft.
2004 WNBA Dispersal Draft Results
| Pick |
Team |
2003 Record |
Player |
Pos. |
Ht. |
| 1 |
Phoenix |
8-26 |
Penny Taylor |
F |
6-1 |
| 2 |
Washington |
9-25 |
Chasity Melvin |
C/F |
6-3 |
| 3 |
San Antonio |
12-22 |
LaToya Thomas |
F |
6-2 |
| 4 |
New York |
16-18 |
Ann Wauters |
C |
6-4 |
| 5 |
Indiana |
16-18 |
Deanna Jackson |
F |
6-2 |
| 6 |
Seattle |
18-16 |
Betty Lennox |
G |
5-8 |
| 7 |
Minnesota |
18-16 |
Helen Darling |
G |
5-6 |
| 8 |
Houston* |
18-16 |
Pollyanna Johns Kimbrough |
C |
6-3 |
| 9 |
Charlotte |
18-16 |
Mery Andrade |
F |
6-0 |
| 10 |
Sacramento |
19-15 |
Jennifer Butler |
C |
6-3 |
| 11 |
Houston |
20-14 |
Lucienne Berthieu |
F/C |
6-0 |
| 12 |
Los Angeles |
24-10 |
Isabelle Fijalkowski |
C |
6-5 |
| 13 |
Detroit |
25-9 |
Jennifer Rizzotti |
G |
5-6 |
* Houston selected eighth using a dispersal-draft pick acquired
from the Connecticut Sun.
Draft Notes
Penny Taylor was the first player selected, going to
the Phoenix Mercury. Washington followed with Chasity Melvin, while
San Antonio selected LaToya Thomas and New York chose Ann Wauters.
Houston made two selections in the dispersal draft. The Comets used
the eighth selection acquired from Connecticut to take Pollyanna Johns
Kimbrough, then used their own selection at No. 11 on Lucienne
Berthieu.
Betty Lennox went to Seattle with the sixth pick. During the ensuing
2004 season, Lennox helped the Storm win the franchise's first WNBA
championship.
