By BEN PORTNOY
Teaira McCowan’s next chapter has arrived.
The Mississippi State senior center was taken No. 3 overall by the Indiana Fever in Wednesday’s WNBA Draft at the Nike Headquarters in New York City.
McCowan averaged 18.4 points and 13.5 rebounds for the Bulldogs this season, helping the team to its third straight Elite Eight and Southeastern Conference regular-season and tournament titles.
Her 31 double-doubles this season set a program record and ranked No. 3 in the country.
She’s the highest MSU selection since Tan White went No. 2 to the Fever in 2005.
McCowan will join former MSU star Victoria Vivians, who was taken at No. 8 by the Fever in the 2018 Draft. Vivians will miss the 2019 season with a torn-ACL.
MSU graduate transfer Anriel Howard was also selected Wednesday night. Howard was taken in the second round with the No. 24 overall pick by the defending WNBA champion Seattle Storm.
Howard averaged 16.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game during her lone season in Starkville.
She finished her career as the No. 6 active rebounder in the country with 1,303 total boards.
This is the first time since 2010 two MSU players were drafted in the same year.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.