Leedham Drafted by WNBA’s Connecticut Suns

by Amanda Panaro
edited by Casey Williams

Johannah Leedham has become the first player in Franklin Pierce history to be selected in the WNBA draft, as of Thursday night when she joined the Connecticut Suns.

Leedham was picked up in the third round, as the twenty-seventh choice overall. In addition, the Suns acquired the number one pick, Tina Charles, of the undefeated Division I National Champions, the University of Connecticut Huskies, in addition to three other players.

Leedham was not in attendance at the draft as she was returning from San Antonio with her sister Jen, where she received the Player of the Year Award. She got word of the draft while at Logan Airport via a text message congratulating her on being drafted by the Suns.

“I was in complete shock when I found out. When I started receiving mass texts and calls, I knew it was real. I heard stuff about being drafted, but I had to see it to believe it,” said Leedham.

The Suns first preseason game is on May 4^th, eleven days prior to the 2010 Commencement ceremony for seniors on the Rindge campus. Leedham has obligations to her national team in Great Britain and said she will “be joining the Suns team for tryouts, either this year or next year.”

Leedham speaking with a scout from the Connecticut Suns after a home game this year.

Leedham’s national team, Great Britain is hosting the 2012 Summer Olympic Games; however, they are not guaranteed an automatic bid. This summer Leedham will join them for a number of important qualifying games and put her WNBA career on hold.

Bruce Kirsh, Vice President and Athletic Director, said, “It is a landmark event; something that has captured not only the media, but the public in such a manner that I continue to receive congratulations” in regards to both Leedham’s accomplishments and the team’s as well.

Kirsh said the fact that a school this size has produced an athlete, such as Leedham, that has been recognized by the major women’s basketball program in the world, “is great public relations for the University and wonderful for her.”

Alexis Auffray, fellow senior basketball player and Leedham’s roommate said, “It was a great experience playing with someone who is at such a high level because you can learn from her actions, and she is always pushing you to a higher level.”

“I don’t think anybody knew how good she was when she got here,” said Kirsh. In addition to her maturing in general, “every year Leedham went home with a focus to improve a particular aspect of her game,” said Kirsh.

Kirsh said that within the next few years, “I fully expect her to be a productive WNBA player.”