April 25, 2003
ATLANTA — Georgia Tech senior center Sonja Mallory was selected in the second round of the WNBA draft by the New York Liberty on Friday afternoon at the league’s headquarters in Secaucus, N.J.
“I’m very excited to be selected by the New York Liberty and to have a chance to compete at the next level in the WNBA,” said Mallory. “Being from New York it will be a chance for me to be back home and play up there. The Liberty is a great team and they have been very successful, so I look forward to being a part of that.”
Mallory, who was an honorable mention WBCA All-American and first-team All-ACC pick as a senior, becomes the second Yellow Jacket to be selected in the draft, joining Kisha Ford who was also picked by the New York Liberty in the fourth round of the inaugural WNBA draft in 1997. By being selected with the 24th overall pick, Mallory becomes the highest draftee in school history.
After leading Tech in scoring (16.2 ppg), rebounding (9.0 rpg) and blocked shots (1.84 bpg) in 2003, Mallory finished her career with 1,254 points, ranking ninth on the Yellow Jackets’ all-time list to go along with 750 rebounds, the eighth-most in school history. Her 173 blocked shots are also the second most all-time at Tech.
“I know that I can still improve a great deal as a player and I hope to do that in the WNBA,” said Mallory. “My coaches here at Georgia Tech have done a great job in preparing me to play on the next level and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
