Iowa State's Stephanie Soares selected by Washington Mystics, traded to Dallas Wings in WNBA draft
Stephanie Soares came to the Iowa State women’s basketball team with a goal. Soares, who was a star at The Master’s, an NAIA school in California, wanted to play at a higher level to show she had what it took to be a professional basketball player.
It only took 13 games.
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Soares, a former center/forward for the Cyclones, was selected by the Washington Mystics with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the WNBA draft Monday night. Washington then immediately traded away the draft rights of Soares to the Dallas Wings. The 6-foot-6 post player became the highest-selected Cyclone in the event, passing Alison Lacey who was taken with the 10th overall pick by the Seattle Storm in 2010.
"When you have an opportunity to add a player of the caliber of Stephanie Soares, you do what it takes," Dallas said president and CEO Greg Bibb in a Zoom call with reporters Monday night.
Her early selection is no real surprise. Soares rapidly rose on draft boards ever since she got to Iowa State. At The Master’s she was a two-time NAIA Player of the Year. Despite the success, it garnered her little attention.
So, Soares moved on to a bigger college, Iowa State, to play on a bigger stage, in the Big 12 Conference. She was just as dominant at the next level, averaging 14.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.0 per game in 13 contests with the Cyclones. During a win over West Virginia, Soares pulled down 20 points, scored 13 points and blocked three shots.
But Soares was more than just a star in the post. She could rim run, knock down the 3-pointer and become a disruption on defense.
"We gave up a significant amount of draft assets in the future to make the deal," Bibb said. "We just didn't think it was possible to pass on someone like Stephanie Soares."
Dallas didn't pass on the chance. Even after Soares’ season came to an abrupt end when she went down with an injury early in Iowa State’s 13th game of the season with a torn ACL. The injury required season-ending surgery. Soares tried to receive a waiver from the NCAA to play another season at Iowa State. That was denied.
"I think the people I've been around at Iowa State have been so supportive," Soares said in a Zoom call with reporters Monday night. "Even when I got injured, there were tears and for every athlete, it's hard getting injured. But they were like, 'OK, let's take the next step. What do we have to do next?'"
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That next step was the road to recovery and entering the WNBA draft where she became one of the most heavily sought-after post players because of her strength, size and ability to navigate around the hoop but also knock down 3-pointers. Soares, who is still rehabbing from surgery, will miss her first WNBA season. But Bibb said Soares will be an important part of the organization this season and they'll work closely with her on her road to recovery.
The start of her career has already been a whirlwind with the WNBA announcing the trade shortly after Soares was drafted. Even she was surprised.
"Someone just tapped me and was like, 'You got traded, you got traded,'" Soares said. "I was like, 'What? That happened so fast.' I think I'm just ready to get to Dallas now and start getting to work."
Soares said her rehab, which has been taking place at Iowa State, has been going well. She's now looking forward to her pro career.
"It's going to be a great, great next step to the journey," Soares said.
Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018 and 2020 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468. Follow him on Twitter @TommyBirch.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State's Stephanie Soares taken 4th overall in WNBA draft
