Kiana Williams will enter WNBA Draft
She's cemented her name as one of the greatest to ever wear a Stanford jersey, and now she's ready to take the next step. Kiana Williams has announced her decision to declare for the 2021 WNBA Draft.
Helping guide the Cardinal to its third national championship in program history, and first in 29 years, Williams finished the season leading the team in points (14.0), assists (3.1), 3-pointers (82) and minutes played (32.3). Her name is littered throughout the record books, most notably setting Stanford's career 3-point mark, finishing her time on The Farm with 311.
"I am thrilled for Kiana as she is set to embark on this next chapter of her life," said Setsuko and Ishiyama Director of Women's Basketball Tara VanDerveer. "I have loved coaching her over the past four years and am very proud of both the player and person that she has become."
Named an All-American by the WBCA, Associated Press and USBWA as a senior, Williams never missed a game after stepping on campus, appearing in 137 with 128 consecutive starts to finish her career. She was named the 2021 NCAA Tournament Alamo Region Most Outstanding Player, as well as the Most Outstanding Player of the 2021 Pac-12 Tournament. Her 1,834 career points rank 10th in program history, while her 464 career assists are good for ninth. Her 83.3% shooting percentage from the free throw line is tied for the second-best in program history.
Williams is one of only 22 women's basketball players since the year 2000 to boast over 1,800 points, 450 assists and 300 made 3-pointers in her career - just one of three from the Pac-12 (Sabrina Ionescu, Sydney Wiese). She made the the third-most 3-pointers of any player in the nation throughout her four seasons at Stanford. Finishing in double-figure points 98 times in her career, and leading the team in scoring in 40 different games, Williams' career-high in points came as a junior, scoring 29 in Stanford's dramatic win at Colorado. She made a career-high seven 3-pointers in two different games, and also boasted a career-high 10 assists as a sophomore against UCLA. Off the court, Williams has earned several academic accolades and is set to graduate with a bachelor's degree in Science, Technology & Society at the conclusion of Stanford's spring quarter.
"Kiana's leadership was vital to the team's success this season, helping to navigate us through the most challenging year of our lifetimes. I know that myself, the rest the program, and our fans across the world are going to be cheering on Kiana's successes in the future, and we know her experience on The Farm has her prepared for anything that life could throw at her," added VanDerveer.
Stanford boasts 26 WNBA Draft picks all-time, including 12 in the first round. Stanford's last pick in the draft came in 2019, as Alanna Smith was picked eighth to the Phoenix Mercury. Nnemkadi and Chiney Oguwmike remain Stanford's highest draft picks, both being selected No. 1 in 2012 and 2014.
The 2021 WNBA Draft will be held on April 15 on ESPN at 4 p.m. PST.
