
Iowa State’s Stephanie Soares was selected as the No. 4 overall pick in Monday’s WNBA Draft, becoming the highest picked player in program history for the Cyclones.
Soares was originally selected by the Washington Mystics, but shortly after the pick was announced, her draft rights were traded to the Dallas Wings for one first round and one second round pick in future drafts.
The Wings finished 18-18 in the 2022 season and were eliminated by Connecticut in the first round as the No. 6 seed in the playoffs.
“I think part of it was a lot of the people that surrounded me,” Soares said of her journey. “They helped me grow as an individual and as a player.”
Soares entire family was present in New York to be with her for the moment she was selected.
“It means a lot, we haven’t been together as a family since my brother’s wedding a few years ago.”
Soares, who became the second first round pick in Iowa State history, said on the broadcast that she was focused on getting healthy after undergoing season-ending surgery that cut her time at Iowa State short.