Photography By Claire Cenovic
After a record-breaking season, Abbey Hsu (CC ‘24) officially became the first woman from Columbia University’s basketball program to find success in the WNBA draft. After two tense and exciting rounds of picks, the Connecticut Sun selected Hsu in the final round as pick number 34.
Kaitlyn Davis (CC ‘23) followed right behind Hsu as pick number 35 for the New York Liberty, becoming the second WNBA draft selection in Columbia history.
This pick comes as a bit of a surprise after ESPN’s prediction that Hsu would be drafted by the Seattle Storm, but luckily for all avid Columbia fans, this means she will now only be one state away in Connecticut.
In addition to being the first Columbia player drafted to the WNBA, Hsu is the first Columbia player to be drafted to either the NBA or the WNBA since 1987. She is now the first Asian American player in either of these leagues from Columbia.
This achievement rounds out Hsu’s consistent and illustrious Ivy League career. Since beginning at Columbia in 2019, she has garnered acclaim, including an AP All-America Honorable Mention, setting Ivy League records for career and single-seasons three-point shots made, and participating in the 2024 Women’s College All-Star Game, among many others accolades.
Following a record-breaking season for women’s collegiate basketball that surpassed even their male counterparts’ viewership of the NCAA championship for the first time, the 2024 WNBA draft class is one of the most promising yet. Alongside star players like Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink, and Angel Reese, Hsu has helped lift the sport of women’s basketball to new heights.
After an Ivy League career of breaking records and glass ceilings, Hsu still has boundless potential in the realm of women’s basketball. It is unknown what Connecticut has in store for Hsu – or vice versa. But one thing is for certain: Abbey Hsu is just getting started.