Local basketball communities are celebrating Yvonne Ejim, who made history Monday night as the first Calgarian to be drafted to the WNBA. Read More
’It’s eye-opening and gives the kids a chance to believe that, hey, I can do this. There’s an opportunity here — she’s proven it’
‘It’s eye-opening and gives the kids a chance to believe that, hey, I can do this. There’s an opportunity here — she’s proven it’
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Local basketball communities are celebrating Yvonne Ejim, who made history Monday night as the first Calgarian to be drafted to the WNBA.
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Eddie Richardson, Ejim’s former coach at Genesis Basketball as well as Edge School in Calgary, was keeping an eye on the draft board while coaching his son’s team Monday night. His daughter, who Richardson said is “one of Yvonne’s biggest fans,” was watching along with him.
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“She was screaming with me,” he said. “She was very happy.”
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Ejim was selected in the third round, 33rd overall, by the Indiana Fever, following a stellar U.S. college career at Gonzaga, where she became the school’s all-time leading scorer.
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Ejim is the third Albertan drafted by the professional women’s league, joining Adut Bulgak and Michelle Plouffe of Edmonton.
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Richardson said Ejim frequently returns to Calgary during her time off to coach and cheer on her former teams — including her younger siblings who have followed in her footsteps.
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“Our girls — and boys — have been seeing her throughout her progress, at Gonzaga and through her career,” he said. “It’s eye-opening and gives the kids a chance to believe that, hey, I can do this. There’s an opportunity here — she’s proven it.”
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Richardson said Ejim’s work ethic is “second to none.”
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“A lot of kids go halfway . . . she went all in,” he said. “She’s deserving of every accolade she gets.”
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Ejim attended Bishop Carroll High School and completed Grade 12 at the Edge School before moving to Spokane, Wash. in 2020 for the first of five seasons at Gonzaga.
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A number of her 10 siblings have played professional basketball, including brothers Deon, formerly of the Calgary Surge, and Melvin, a member of the men’s national team.
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“To say that I would be able to be in the WNBA draft looking ahead to the start of my professional career is a dream come true,” Ejim said in a statement posted on the Edge website.
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“I’m proud of myself and the people that have supported me, my family, friends, and my team. The work is only about to begin and I am excited for what is to come next.”
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Richardson said Ejim, who turned 23 last week, has wanted to play in the WNBA since she was 14 and consistently worked toward that goal.
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“She was always focused on what the outcomes would be if she put in the work and the time,” he said. “Her determination and focus, to me, is something that sets her apart.”
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She has high aspirations outside of basketball, too — she also dreams of becoming a doctor.
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“Managing being a college athlete with the schedule she had, while taking a heavy course load, and still being player of the year in her conference for Gonzaga and all-time leading scorer — it’s a special feat that she’s accomplished,” Richardson said.
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