April 19, 2002

Santa Barbara, Calif. - Kayte Christensen, a four-year standout forward at UC Santa Barbara, was selected by the Phoenix Mercury in the third round of the 2002 Women's National Basketball Association Draft, held Friday in Secaucus, N.J.

The Mercury made Christensen the 40th overall pick in the four-round WNBA draft. She will join two other frontcourt players - Wichita State's Tootie Shaw (second round, 25th overall) and Amba Colongo of North Carolina Central University (fourth round, 56th overall) - as the team's newest members. Phoenix, which finished the 2001 season at 13-19 under Head Coach Cynthia Cooper, did not have a first round selection.

"I'm relieved that I finally know where I'm headed," the 6'3" Christensen said. "I'm just glad I got drafted, because the team tryouts will give me an good opportunity to show the Mercury what I can do to help their team."

Christensen finished her collegiate career as UCSB's all time leader in field goal percentage at 54.9% while ranking 11th in school history in points (1,318) and sixth in rebounds (807). The Alturas, Calif., native enjoyed a memorable senior season in 2001-02, earning Big West Player of the Year as well as Kodak District VIII All-America honors and leading the 26-6 Gauchos to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Her nearly flawless 16-of-17 (94.1%) shooting performance in a Jan. 14 win at Arizona ranks as the seventh-highest single-game field goal percentage mark in NCAA Division I history.

Christensen, a two-time First Team All-Big West honoree, is the third Gaucho in the past three years to be chosen in the WNBA Draft. Point guard Stacy Clinesmith was taken in the second round, 30th overall of the 2000 Draft by the Sacramento Monarchs, while the Minnesota Lynx made swing player Erin Buescher their second round selection (23rd overall) in 2001. Clinesmith was a four-year starter at UCSB from 1996-2000, while Buescher played with the Gauchos for three seasons before transferring to The Master's College for her senior campaign in 2000-01. In addition, former Santa Barbara standouts Erin Alexander (1993-97) and Erika Kienast (1988-92) enjoyed careers in the WNBA as well.