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 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 with him.
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“She was screaming with me,” he said. “She was very happy.”
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Ejim has played for U.S. college Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash., since 2020.
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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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Since Ejim was 14 years old, Richardson said, she wanted to play in the WNBA, 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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Ejim led the West Coast College circuit with 670 points this season, averaging 19.7 points per game in 34 appearances.
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“It’s great to me to see female role models and leaders in our community,” he said. “It’s inspiring, for sure.”
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‘This will be just another step along the path to greatness’
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Ejim, a forward on the Gonzaga Bulldogs women’s team, was picked by the Indiana Fever in the third round, 33rd overall, in Monday’s draft. She’s the third Albertan drafted by the professional women’s league, joining Edmonton’s Adut Bulgak and Michelle Plouffe.
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“You want the world for someone like Yvonne,” said Dave Drabiuk, executive director of Alberta Basketball.