Despite falling to the second round of the WNBA draft Monday, Michigan’s Naz Hillmon brought perspective to draft night.
“I’m just excited to be here,” said Hillmon, who was taken by the Atlanta Dream at No. 15. “I think being disappointed in this moment is neglectful to the people who weren’t picked up at all.
“This has been a dream of mine for a very long time, so just being picked up by a team, for somebody to believe in me, first round, third round, I’m excited to be where I’m at.”
Naz Hillmon was projected as a first round pick in the WNBA Draft. She went three picks into the second round, 15th overall. Was the Michigan legend disappointed?"Everything is motivation. I could've been picked No. 1 and I still would've been motivated to get better," she said pic.twitter.com/GuonA2INlO— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) April 12, 2022
Naz Hillmon was projected as a first round pick in the WNBA Draft. She went three picks into the second round, 15th overall. Was the Michigan legend disappointed?"Everything is motivation. I could've been picked No. 1 and I still would've been motivated to get better," she said pic.twitter.com/GuonA2INlO
Dream co-owner Renee Montgomery told the media room after the selection that Hillmon was the “steal of the draft,” according to reports from the draft.
Hillmon, who became the first player in Michigan basketball history to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in their career, said the selection provided motivation, but also said that would have been true no matter when she was picked.
“Everything is motivation. I could’ve been picked No. 1 and I still would’ve been motivated to get better, to perfect my craft,” she said.
“I wouldn’t say disappointed but always ready to work.”