“This is a really big thrill. I’m just ecstatic to have a chance to play in the WNBA,” said Porter-Talbert, a native of Manhattan Beach, Calif. “All I wanted was a chance, and now that I’ve got that opportunity, I have to go out there and prove myself.”
Porter-Talbert, WKU’s second all-time leading scorer, is the first Lady Topper drafted into the league since ShaRae Mansfield was the first pick of the third round in ‘01.
“Tiffany has worked so hard for this, and I’m proud of not only how she has risen to this level on the basketball court, but how she will reach another goal in May as she becomes a college graduate,” said Lady Topper head coach Mary Taylor Cowles. “I’m really excited for Tiffany — as well as for our program — and I’m looking forward to watching her compete at the professional level.”
In her four seasons as a Lady Topper, Porter-Talbert became only the second player in school history to score over 2,000 career points, finishing with 2,028 and scoring more than 500 points in each of her last three season. She also ranks third on WKU’s career rebounding list with 995.
In addition, she ended her Lady Topper career ranked first in school history in games started (125) and field-goals attempted (1,606), second in field-goals made (795) and steals (257), fourth in career scoring average (16.0 ppg), and sixth in assists (378).
A three-time all-Sun Belt performer, Porter-Talbert was named the 2004 Sun Belt Player of the Year and a 2005 Preseason All-America selection by Street & Smith’s. She is also one of just two players in league history to earn Player-of-the-Year and Freshman-of-the-Year honors during their career. She is also just the third player in Sun Belt history to earn SBC all-tournament honors each of her four years.
Porter-Talbert will be the second Lady Topper to be part of the Los Angeles Sparks franchise. Michelle Reed was with the team during the 1998 season.
Los Angeles finished 17-17 during the 2005 WNBA season — fourth in the Western Conference. The Sparks won back-to-back WNBA titles in 2001 and 2002. They will open the 2006 regular season on May 21 at Seattle.
