The 2022 WNBA draft went down Monday night, and Ameshya Williams-Holliday is one of the event’s most-talked-about names. The Jackson State University (JSU) senior was selected by the Indiana Fever, becoming the 25th overall athlete drafted this year.

This made Williams-Holliday the first WNBA draft pick from a historically Black college or university (HBCU) in 20 years.

Williams-Holliday received the news late Monday evening among family and friends in Gulfport, Mississippi.

“I came in smiling [after learning of the draft], and they knew I had some good news ’cause I kept smiling,” Williams-Holliday said. “I just couldn’t stop smiling.”

“I’m grateful, I’m thankful, and I just want to thank everybody that helped me through this journey and kept pushing me to keep going and never give up,” she added.

The new Indiana Fever draft pick also released a statement that shouted out her young son, Jace.

“I’m very grateful for this opportunity to continue my career on the next level and, most importantly, to continue to be a great example for my son Jace and my younger siblings and for the kids in my community,” Williams-Holliday said. “I want every HBCU athlete to never lose hope and to know anything is possible.”

“It’s an honor, a dream come true and a blessing to be able to be a part of history and to be able to open doors for our HBCU community,” she continued. “Being a trail blazer feels amazing, but there is so much more to accomplish.”

 

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A post shared by Ameshya Williams-Holliday (@_meshya4)

Additionally, Williams-Holliday candidly shared her reaction to the news on Twitter.

“I JUST WANT TO THANK GOD. IT SEEM SO UNREAL,” she tweeted. “I have so much joy in my heart right now. I’m so happy.”

The WNBA was founded in 1996, and only five athletes have hailed from HBCUs.

Denique Graves was drafted from Howard University in 1997, and she was succeeded by Karen Wilkins—of the same university—a year later.

Three more athletes were drafted into the WNBA in 2002: Jacklyn Winfield of Southern University, Andrea Gardner of Howard, and Amba Kongolo of North Carolina Central University.

Williams-Holliday previously addressed the lack of HBCU representation in the WNBA.

“I think if I was at a Power 5 school, it would be a different story of me being drafted or trying to get my foot in [the WNBA],” she said during an interview last week.

“People think [HBCUs] can’t compete with other top institutions like a Power 5 school, but that’s not true,” the athlete continued. “I think we deserve to be on the same level. I do think if I was still at Mississippi State, I would be a first-round draft pick.”

Now, Williams-Holliday’s name is added to the coveted list of WNBA stars, and she’s resultingly bringing more attention to the illustrious magic that exists within HBCU sports programs.

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