The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1534644
MAY 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 63 ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Jordan Hobbs Is Selected In The WNBA Draft BY CLAYTON SAYFIE M ichigan guard Jordan Hobbs was selected by the Seattle Storm with the No. 34 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft April 14. Hobbs is the ninth Wolverine to be drafted into the WNBA, which held its first draft in 1997. She's the third U-M player to be picked in the last four years, joining forward Naz Hillmon (second round to the Atlanta Dream in 2022) and guard Leigha Brown (second round to the Atlanta Dream in 2023). Prior to that duo, there wasn't a Wolverine chosen since 2005. Hobbs, who started every game the last two seasons, averaged 13.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 31.4 minutes per contest as a senior in 2024-25. In an era of rampant player move- ment, the 6-foot-3 guard stayed put at Michigan for four seasons, despite not receiving much playing time early in her career. The Wolverines were ravaged by the transfer portal last offseason, having to replace many key pieces, but Hobbs was one of the first to reaffirm her commitment to head coach Kim Barnes Arico and Co. last offseason. "Our kids don't believe what she went through," Barnes Arico said of Hobbs. "They're all babies. She didn't play much her freshman year. I don't think she got into the NCAA Tournament when we went to the Elite Eight that season. There were a lot of games she didn't get off the bench. "She started the 'bench mob.' She was the greatest teammate and the energy giver when she didn't play a minute. She didn't play much her sophomore year." When Hobbs scored a career-high 28 points to lead Michigan to a first-round NCAA Tournament win over Iowa State on March 21 of this season, it brought Barnes Arico to tears in her postgame interview with ESPN. "Holy cow, that's special," Barnes Arico reflected. "That's what our pro- gram has been built on. "That's what we say at Michigan: If you stay, you will be a champion, and I don't think there's any greater example than Jordan Hobbs." FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE NBA Through April 20 • Kobe Bufkin (2021-23), G, At- lanta Hawks: Early-January shoulder surgery ended his season after only 10 appearances … Totaled 53 points, 21 re- bounds, 17 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. • Moussa Diabate (2021-22), F, Charlotte Hornets: Competed in 71 outings with eight starts for the 19- 63 Hornets … Averaged 5.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 59.6 percent from the field and 59.5 percent from the free throw line. • Tim Hardaway Jr. (2010-13), G, Detroit Pistons: Started all 77 games in which he played for the 44-38 Pis- tons, who earned a No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs … Regis- tered 11 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per clash, while connecting on 40.6 percent of his field goals and 36.8 percent of his attempts from three- point distance … Posted 19 points and made 3 triples in a Game 1 loss to the New York Knicks April 19. • Caleb Houstan (2021-22), G, Or- lando Magic: Averaged 4.1 points and 1.3 rebounds per game in 58 clashes with six starts … Shot 42.1 percent from the field, including 40 percent from long range for the 41-41 Magic … Saw 13 Hobbs averaged 13.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 31.4 minutes per contest in her senior season before becoming the 34th pick in the WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS MICHIGAN'S ALL-TIME WNBA DRAFT PICKS Player Year Team Round Overall Pick Jordan Hobbs 2025 Seattle Storm 3rd 34th Leigha Brown 2023 Atlanta Dream 2nd 15th Naz Hillmon 2022 Atlanta Dream 2nd 15th Tabitha Pool 2005 New York Liberty 2nd 23rd Jennifer Smith 2004 Detroit Shock 3rd 32nd Alayne Ingram 2002 Sacramento Monarchs 3rd 44th Anne Thorius 2001 Orlando Miracle 4th 58th Stacey Thomas 2000 Portland Fire 2nd 23rd Pollyanna Johns 1998 Charlotte Sting 3rd 27th