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WNBA Draft: Maite Cazorla Selected In Second Round

By Justin Phillips

TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 05: Maite Cazorla #5 of the Oregon Ducks is defended by Chloe Jackson #24 of the Baylor Lady Bears in the semifinals of the 2019 NCAA Women's Final Four at Amalie Arena on April 05, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 05: Maite Cazorla #5 of the Oregon Ducks is defended by Chloe Jackson #24 of the Baylor Lady Bears in the semifinals of the 2019 NCAA Women's Final Four at Amalie Arena on April 05, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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Over the last two seasons, the Pick and Roll was perfected by Maite Cazorla and the Oregon Ducks. Now she will take her talent to the WNBA and the Atlanta Dream.

Cazorla was the 11th pick in the second round and the 23rd overall pick. She was a four year player for the Oregon Ducks helping the team to two Elite 8 appearances and the Ducks’ first-ever Final Four appearance.  As a Senior, she averaged better than 10 points per game hitting better than 40 percent from the floor.

Maite Cazorla had a unique perspective as the Oregon Ducks built a program behind Head Coach Kelly Graves. In her first season, attendance was low. Her first game had about 1,000 people in attendance. Three years later, the Oregon Ducks have found regular and postseason success and fans have come to watch, to the tune of several near sellouts at Matthew Knight Arena this season.

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For the NCAA Tournament, the Oregon Ducks also had big crowds against Indiana at home and pulled over 11,000 fans to the Moda Center in Portland for the final against Mississippi State.

While Maite Cazorla moves to become a Professional, the Oregon Ducks will return most of the Offense and Defense from last season including Sabrina Ionescu, Erin Boley, Ruthy Hebard, and Satou Sabally. While Freshman Taylor Chavez missed the postseason, she is expected back next season and could see an increased role on Offense.

One amazing statistic is that Maite Cazorla leaves the Ducks with a record of 113-35, the best four-year mark in Oregon Women’s Basketball history. Aside from the fans, Cazorla has also watched the pieces around her grow with Ionescu, Boley, Hebard, and Sabally.

Cazorla is just the eighth Oregon Duck to be selected in the WNBA Draft. Jillian Alleyne was chosen back in 2016. Angelina Wolvert was the first back in 2001.