WNBA team drafts Butler

by Sarah R. Buchholz, Chronicle staff

Jen Butler

enior Jennifer Butler of Brooklyn, N.Y., was chosen by the Cleveland Rockers in the second round of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft on April 25.

     Butler, who led the nation in rebounds this year and received an honorable mention in the Associated Press All-American selection, was the 15th player selected in the draft and the first UMass player ever to be drafted by a WNBA franchise.

     "I'm real excited," Butler said. "My agent was telling me I was going to go mid to late second [round]." Butler said she was surprised when she was the third selection in the round.

     "I'm a little nervous also," she said. "I'll be going to the next level [where there is] more competition, and I'll be away from people I've been around for four years."

     As a consummate rebounder, she knows she can contribute "on the boards," but Butler said she'll be working to improve other areas of her game.

     "I need to step up my offensive game and work on strength because there are bigger bodies and stronger people I have to go against," she said.

     "I was absolutely thrilled when I saw Jen get drafted," said women's basketball head coach Marnie Dacko. "Jen worked so hard, and we are very proud of her accomplishments. This is a tremendous opportunity for her, and the entire UMass family will enjoy watching her continue to develop in the WNBA."

     Butler was scheduled to leave campus Thursday for training in Cleveland because the team's first game is in late May. A BDIC major specializing in marketing, she has arranged to send her final college work to campus from Ohio. At press time she was unsure of whether she'd be able to attend Commencement.