EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State's Aerial Powers will forego her senior season and declare for the 2016 WNBA Draft. "This was not an easy decision to make, but I want to thank Coach Merchant and all the coaches and support staff, my family and all of my teammates. I have enjoyed every second of being a Spartan, but now I look forward to the next chapter of my basketball career. Spartan nation will always hold a special place in my heart," Powers said. Powers looks to become the sixth Spartan to be selected in the WNBA draft and the first since Liz Shimek in 2006. Spartan-great Kristin Haynie was the highest Michigan State player drafted, as the ninth overall pick in the 2005 draft. Maxann Reese and Kristen Rasmussen were the first Spartans selected in the WNBA drafted in 2000. Reese was drafted when she was taken in the third round, while Rasmussen was selected in the fourth. In 2003, Syreeta Broomfield was drafted in the third round. "When you are a coach the number one thing that you want for all of your players is for them to live their dreams and accomplish all of the goals that they set for themselves. Aerial, since day one, has had a dream to play in the WNBA, so it's rewarding and exciting for her to actually have the opportunity to live that dream," MSU head coach Suzy Merchant said. "She was a tremendous ambassador for our University. We are very proud of her and appreciate everything that she gave to this program. We wish her nothing but the best on her new journey." The WNBA Draft is Thursday, April 14 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. ESPN2 will provide coverage and analysis of the first round beginning at 7 p.m. ET, and ESPNU will air coverage of the second and third rounds starting at 8 p.m. ET. The draft comes one month before tip-off of the WNBA's historic 20th season, which opens on Saturday, May 14. Powers had another record-setting season in 2015-16, becoming the MSU career scoring leader with 1,817 career points, passing Shimek's 1,780 points from 2002-06. Powers also passed her own single-season scoring record with 697 points this season, topping her 678 points last year. Additionally, Powers is also the MSU record holder for career points per game at 18.9. Powers snared 293 rebounds in the 2015-16 season, moving up to No. 6 on the Spartans' single-season rebounds list. She also pulled down 937 boards for her career, passing Kris Emerson (1983-87) for No. 4 on the Spartans' career rebounds list, as Emerson had 933. This season, Powers also broke the MSU career free throws made record, netting 438. Her 161 makes from the charity stripe this season is just behind her 170 made free throws last season, giving her the top two spots on MSU's single-season free throws made list.

• published: 06 Apr 2016
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