Vivians Invited To The 2018 WNBA Draft

STARKVILLE, Miss. (MSU Athletics / WCBI) – After compiling an All-American senior season, Mississippi State’s Victoria Vivians has been invited to attend the 2018 WNBA Draft in New York City.

The WNBA Draft presented by State Farm will be held Thurs., April 12. The first round airs on ESPN2 at 6 p.m. CT, with the final two rounds being shown on ESPNU at 7 p.m. CT. The draft will also stream live on the ESPN app.

Vivians looks to become the fourth MSU player drafted in the opening round and the first since Chanel Mokango was selected ninth overall in 2010. Tan White was taken second overall in 2005, two years after LaToya Thomas became the first Mississippian taken with the No. 1 overall pick.

Vivians wrapped one of the best seasons in MSU history, averaging a career-best 19.8 ppg behind a 773-point tally that rates second in MSU history.

The Carthage, Miss., native also posted career-best shooting numbers, knocking down 48.5 percent from the field, 40.4 percent from 3-point range and 80.9 percent from the free-throw line.

Vivians also hauled in a career-best 6.1 rebounds per contest.

She earned First Team All-SEC laurels from the league coaches and Associated Press after guiding Mississippi State to the first undefeated season by an SEC team since 1998 and the program’s first conference championship.

Vivians, who scored double figures 38 times and 20-plus points in 20 games, became the first Bulldog since Thomas in 2003 to be named Associated Press First Team All-American. She was also tabbed a WBCA All-American as well as a second-team honoree by the USBWA and a third-team selection by ESPNW.

Vivians was also named to the inaugural Naismith Starting 5, receiving the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award for the country’s top shooting guard.

She earned Kansas City Co-Most Outstanding Player and NCAA All-Final Four Team accolades after helping the Bulldogs return to the national championship game for the second-straight year.

Part of the winningest class in Mississippi State history, Vivians was instrumental in taking the Bulldogs to four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances and setting the school record for wins each of her seasons, including a nation’s-best 37-2 record in 2017-18.

The Associated Press’ WNBA mock draft projects Vivians to be drafted seventh overall to the Washington Mystics.