Jayne Appel Selected Fifth Overall In WNBA Draft By San Antonio

April 8, 2010

STANFORD, Calif. - Standout Cardinal center Jayne Appel took the next step in her illustrious basketball career Thursday, being selected fifth overall in the WNBA Draft by the San Antonio Silver Stars. The selection marks Appel's return to the city after having finished her collegiate career in San Antonio this past Tuesday in the national championship game.

The selection makes Appel the second Stanford player to be taken in the draft's first round in the last three years, following Candice Wiggins' selection at third overall in the 2008 Draft.

Appel was also one of two Pac-10 players taken in Thursday's draft, as California's Alexis Gray-Lawson was picked in the third round (30th overall) by the Washington Mystics.

Appel's record-breaking career at Stanford included two appearances in the national championship game, three Final Four trips, as well as four Pac-10 "doubles" in which the team won the conference regular season and tournament titles.

In 2009-10, Appel, despite battling knee, ankle and foot injuries that ailed her at various points of the season, managed to score 13.2 points and grab 8.7 rebounds per game while shooting 52.1 percent from the floor to help lead Stanford to its third-straight Final Four appearance and earn herself State Farm Coaches' All-America recognition.

The 2009 Pac-10 Player of the Year, Appel was also a two-time State Farm Coaches' All-American (2009-10) and second-team Associated Press All-American. A three-time All-Pac-10 selection, Appel also took home the conference's Freshman of the Year award in 2007 in addition to earning eight Pac-10 Player of the Week honors.

In the record books, Appel ended her collegiate career as the program's and the Pac-10's all-time leading rebounder, pulling down 1,263 in all. She also blocked a Stanford record 273 shots. Her 56.5-percent shooting accuracy ranks fourth all-time, while she also sits in the career top 10 in scoring average (14.5) and rebounding average (8.6).

Appel also stands third all-time with 2,125 career points, and is one of only three Cardinal players to have reached the 2,000-point and 1,000-rebound marks.