Shaneice Swain earns WNBA Magic moment

Murray Wenzel | April 11, 2023

Shaneice Swain’s rise to the WNBA has been given the seal of approval by Magic Johnson after the teenager was drafted by his Los Angeles Sparks.

The LA Lakers NBA great and Sparks co-owner welcomed the 19-year-old Cairns talent on Twitter after she was taken at pick No.14 of the 2023 draft on Tuesday (AEST).

The Indigenous point guard surged into calculations with a team-high 19 points, four rebounds and two assists in just 21 minutes for Team World in front of scouts at Saturday’s inaugural Nike Hoops Summit in Portland.

That came after a breakout WNBL season for the Capitals, Swain averaging 14.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 40.9 per cent from the field and 36.2 per cent from long range.

She’ll join countrywoman Steph Talbot at the Sparks and a host of other Australians in the WNBA including Anneli Maley and Alanna Smith (Chicago Sky), Bec Allen (Connecticut Sun), Kristy Wallace (Indiana Fever), Cayla George (Las Vegas Aces), and Ezi Magbegor, Sami Whitcomb and Jade Melbourne (Seattle Storm).

Opals coach Sandy Brondello also leads the New York Liberty and will get a closer look at the latest WNBL graduate, who she’s included in her extended squad ahead of next year’s Olympics.

Swain was the only Australian drafted, with 111 players nominating for the 35 available spots.

Indiana Fever, last season’s worst-performing team, made the most of the first No.1 draft pick in franchise history, selecting Aliyah Boston.

The South Carolina star had a stellar college career, leading the Gamecocks to a national championship in her junior year, losing only nine games.

Minnesota took Diamond Miller of Maryland with the No.2 pick and Dallas drafted Maddy Siegrist of Villanova with the third.

The WNBA season will start on May 19.