2005 WNBA Draft Lottery

Women's Basketball, Apr 2005

The Charlotte Sting won the fourth annual WNBA Draft Lottery, earning the first pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft.

Charlotte had 97 chances out of 1,001 to receive the first overall selection. Indiana will choose second, followed by Phoenix (No. 3), San Antonio (No. 4) and Houston (No. 5).

The lottery was conducted by WNBA officials and representatives from the accounting firm of Ernst & Young at the NBA Entertainment studios in secaucus, N.J. and included the five teams that did not qualify for the 2004 playoffs.

The 2005 WNBA Draft will mark the fourth time that the drafting order has been determined by lottery. However, in the four lotteries only once has the team with the worst record actually received the No. 1 pick (the team with the worst record has the best chance at getting the No. 1 spot). In 2004, Phoenix finished with the worst record and won the lottery and ended up choosing Diana Taurasi.

2002

Team with worst record: Washington

Lottery winner: Seattle (third-worst record)

No. 1 pick: Sue Bird

2003

Team with worst record: Detroit

Lottery winner: Cleveland (second-worst record)

No. 1 pick: LaToya Thomas

2004

Team with worst record: Phoenix

Lottery winner: Phoenix (worst record)

No. 1 pick: Diana Taurasi

2005

Team with worst record: San Antonio

Lottery winner: Charlotte (fourth-worst record)

No. 1 pick: ????