Starting with Arkansas's big night in the WNBA draft...
Two former Razorback guards were taken in the first 15 picks of Thursday night’s 2021 WNBA Draft, as Chelsea Dungee was taken with the fifth pick by the Dallas Wings, while Destiny Slocum was taken 14th by the Las Vegas Aces. It was the first time in program history two Arkansas Women’s Basketball players were taken in the same draft, and the first draft since 2012 in which a former Hog was selected.
With the third of their first-round picks, the Wings took Dungee, who became the highest drafted Razorback since 2004, when Shameka Christon was taken fifth overall by the New York Liberty. Dungee will join former Texas center Charli Collier, Finnish forward Awak Kuier and former Louisville guard Dana Evans to form a highly intriguing draft class for the Wings. The quartet will pair up with the WNBA’s leading scorer from last season, Arike Ogunbowale, to form the Wings’ young core. Dallas will open up the WNBA season on Friday, May 14, when they will play the Los Angeles Sparks in the City of Angels.
With her selection, Dungee put a bow on one of the greatest Razorback women’s basketball careers of all time. Dungee finished the 2020-21 season as one of only 10 WBCA All-Americans, a Third Team AP All-American, a USBWA Third Team All-American, and a First Team All-SEC selection. Dungee averaged career-highs in several categories this season, including points per game (22.3), field goal percentage (42.4 percent), and three-point percentage (38.7 percent). During the 2020-21 season, Dungee scored 20+ in 18 of her 27 games played, and went for 30 or more points in four contests. Dungee’s consistency scoring the ball was remarkable during the 20-21 campaign – the Sapulpa, Okla. native scored in double figures in all 27 of her games, and scored 10 or more in 32 games dating back to the end of last season, the longest such streak of her career. All that scoring added up, as Dungee finished her collegiate career with 2,147 points, the highest collegiate total of any Razorback Women’s Basketball player ever.
Slocum, meanwhile, will join an Aces squad that is ready to win now, coming off a WNBA Finals appearance last season. The one-year Hog could actually end up backing up Kelsey Plum, who is on the women’s basketball staff as a Graduate Assistant. Slocum, who was taken just two picks into the second round, joins French forward Iliana Rupert as part of a draft class that is ready to help the Aces claim the WNBA title a year after coming up just short. The Aces will open up their season on May 15 in a rematch of the aforementioned Finals, as they will head to Seattle to take on the defending champion Storm.
Despite only playing at Arkansas for one year, Slocum left her mark on the program. As a WBCA All-American Honorable Mention and a Second Team All-SEC selection, her impact on the court was not overlooked. Slocum, who earned All-Conference honors in the Big 10 (Maryland), the Pac-12 (Oregon State 2x) and the SEC during her illustrious college career, was second on the team in scoring (15.0 points per game), while leading the Hogs in assists (3.9 assists per game). She scored in double-figures in 23 of her 27 games played at Arkansas, and went for 20+ in five games this season, including three times in her final six games of the regular season. Like Dungee, Slocum was even better in SEC play, upping her scoring average (15.9) and her assists per game average (4.5). The Oregon State transfer’s elite decision making was also on display during league play, as her 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio was the third best mark in the SEC.
For Head Coach Mike Neighbors, his resume continues to sparkle in terms of developing professional players. Since becoming a head coach eight seasons ago, Neighbors has had six players he coached drafted, including three tonight (Dungee, Slocum and Aari McDonald of Arizona). Three of those players – Plum, Dungee and McDonald – went in the top-five of their respective drafts. Current Hog assistant coach Chantel Osahor and Talia Walton were also drafted on Neighbors’ watch while he was at the University of Washington.
The softball team meanwhile tops the SEC....
The No. 10 Arkansas softball team (33-5, 13-2 SEC), which is in first place in the SEC standings, makes the trip to No. 20 Georgia (27-8, 6-6 SEC) this weekend for a three-game series. Game one of the series begins at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 16, with game two set for a 1 p.m. first pitch on Saturday, April 17. Game three of the series begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 18. All three games will air on SEC Network+ with Kaleb Frady (play-by-play) and Natalie Kerns (analyst) on the call Friday, while Frady and Karlie Smith (analyst) have the call on Saturday and Sunday.
Friday, April 16 – 5 p.m. – at No. 20 Georgia – Watch – Live Stats
Saturday, April 17 – 1 p.m. – at No. 20 Georgia – Watch – Live Stats
Sunday, April 18 – 1 p.m. – at No. 20 Georgia – Watch – Live Stats
Last Time Out
Arkansas won one of three games at home against Alabama last weekend, dropping the first game, 5-3, and the third game, 2-0, while winning the middle game, 4-0. Catcher Kayla Green hit two home runs as part of the winning effort on Saturday, and pitcher Autumn Storms spun a gem, fanning 10 and allowing just two hits in the complete game shutout. Both outfielder Hannah McEwen and infielder Braxton Burnside tied for the team lead with a .636 on base percentage for the series, recording two hits and drawing five walks. For the series, Storms held a 0.51 ERA (13.2 IP), allowing two runs (one earned), with three walks, 12 strikeouts and a .180 opponent batting average. It was the first top 10 series in program history, with Arkansas ranked No. 8 and Alabama No. 3.
SEC Standings
The Hogs (13-2) sit 1.5 games ahead of Florida (10-2) for first place in the SEC standings. Arkansas opened the league schedule winning 12 straight games, the best mark in school history and the fifth-best in conference history. The Razorbacks’ 13 league wins are the most in program history during the current 24-game SEC scheduling format.
Bogle Bombers
The Razorbacks have been on a power surge this season, totaling 72 home runs to lead the SEC and rank second nationally. Burnside leads the team with 21 homers, which paces the SEC and ranks second in the country behind Oklahoma’s Jocelyn Alo (22). Designated player Linnie Malkin has added 13 homers, fourth-best in the SEC and 13th nationally. Gibson has hit 11 homers to rank ninth in the SEC and 31st nationally. The Razorbacks are one of two teams in the country (Oklahoma) that have three or more players with 10 or more homers. Last week Green hit four home runs by slugging two home runs against both Missouri State and Alabama.
Brax Bombs
Burnside’s 21 home runs this season are the most in a single season in program history. She broke the record with her 18th shot of the year on April 1 at Auburn, launching a three-run bomb in the fifth inning. Burnside broke Nicole Shroeder’s record of 17 set in 2017. Burnside has also reached base in 32 straight games.
#HogHits
Georgia took games two (9-8) and three (5-2) of a series at No. 11 Kentucky last weekend. Down 8-1 after the fifth inning of game two, the Bulldogs scored eight unanswered runs in the sixth and seventh innings to earn the 9-8 win. On Wednesday night, Georgia scored all of its runs in the first inning in a 4-1 non-conference triumph over USC Upstate.
Infielder Lacey Fincher leads Georgia in almost every offensive statistical category, hitting .386 with 32 hits, 11 homers, 27 walks and 26 RBI. Outfielder Sydney Chambley is tied for the team lead in RBI. Pitcher Mary Wilson Avant leads the team in innings pitched (116.2), wins (14) and strikeouts (141) and is second in ERA (2.04).
Georgia has a 38-19 lead in the all-time series against Arkansas and has won the last three series. The Razorbacks’ last win was an 8-3 victory in 2018 in the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals.
Two former Razorback guards were taken in the first 15 picks of Thursday night’s 2021 WNBA Draft, as Chelsea Dungee was taken with the fifth pick by the Dallas Wings, while Destiny Slocum was taken 14th by the Las Vegas Aces. It was the first time in program history two Arkansas Women’s Basketball players were taken in the same draft, and the first draft since 2012 in which a former Hog was selected.
With the third of their first-round picks, the Wings took Dungee, who became the highest drafted Razorback since 2004, when Shameka Christon was taken fifth overall by the New York Liberty. Dungee will join former Texas center Charli Collier, Finnish forward Awak Kuier and former Louisville guard Dana Evans to form a highly intriguing draft class for the Wings. The quartet will pair up with the WNBA’s leading scorer from last season, Arike Ogunbowale, to form the Wings’ young core. Dallas will open up the WNBA season on Friday, May 14, when they will play the Los Angeles Sparks in the City of Angels.
With her selection, Dungee put a bow on one of the greatest Razorback women’s basketball careers of all time. Dungee finished the 2020-21 season as one of only 10 WBCA All-Americans, a Third Team AP All-American, a USBWA Third Team All-American, and a First Team All-SEC selection. Dungee averaged career-highs in several categories this season, including points per game (22.3), field goal percentage (42.4 percent), and three-point percentage (38.7 percent). During the 2020-21 season, Dungee scored 20+ in 18 of her 27 games played, and went for 30 or more points in four contests. Dungee’s consistency scoring the ball was remarkable during the 20-21 campaign – the Sapulpa, Okla. native scored in double figures in all 27 of her games, and scored 10 or more in 32 games dating back to the end of last season, the longest such streak of her career. All that scoring added up, as Dungee finished her collegiate career with 2,147 points, the highest collegiate total of any Razorback Women’s Basketball player ever.
Slocum, meanwhile, will join an Aces squad that is ready to win now, coming off a WNBA Finals appearance last season. The one-year Hog could actually end up backing up Kelsey Plum, who is on the women’s basketball staff as a Graduate Assistant. Slocum, who was taken just two picks into the second round, joins French forward Iliana Rupert as part of a draft class that is ready to help the Aces claim the WNBA title a year after coming up just short. The Aces will open up their season on May 15 in a rematch of the aforementioned Finals, as they will head to Seattle to take on the defending champion Storm.
Despite only playing at Arkansas for one year, Slocum left her mark on the program. As a WBCA All-American Honorable Mention and a Second Team All-SEC selection, her impact on the court was not overlooked. Slocum, who earned All-Conference honors in the Big 10 (Maryland), the Pac-12 (Oregon State 2x) and the SEC during her illustrious college career, was second on the team in scoring (15.0 points per game), while leading the Hogs in assists (3.9 assists per game). She scored in double-figures in 23 of her 27 games played at Arkansas, and went for 20+ in five games this season, including three times in her final six games of the regular season. Like Dungee, Slocum was even better in SEC play, upping her scoring average (15.9) and her assists per game average (4.5). The Oregon State transfer’s elite decision making was also on display during league play, as her 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio was the third best mark in the SEC.
For Head Coach Mike Neighbors, his resume continues to sparkle in terms of developing professional players. Since becoming a head coach eight seasons ago, Neighbors has had six players he coached drafted, including three tonight (Dungee, Slocum and Aari McDonald of Arizona). Three of those players – Plum, Dungee and McDonald – went in the top-five of their respective drafts. Current Hog assistant coach Chantel Osahor and Talia Walton were also drafted on Neighbors’ watch while he was at the University of Washington.
The softball team meanwhile tops the SEC....
The No. 10 Arkansas softball team (33-5, 13-2 SEC), which is in first place in the SEC standings, makes the trip to No. 20 Georgia (27-8, 6-6 SEC) this weekend for a three-game series. Game one of the series begins at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 16, with game two set for a 1 p.m. first pitch on Saturday, April 17. Game three of the series begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 18. All three games will air on SEC Network+ with Kaleb Frady (play-by-play) and Natalie Kerns (analyst) on the call Friday, while Frady and Karlie Smith (analyst) have the call on Saturday and Sunday.
Friday, April 16 – 5 p.m. – at No. 20 Georgia – Watch – Live Stats
Saturday, April 17 – 1 p.m. – at No. 20 Georgia – Watch – Live Stats
Sunday, April 18 – 1 p.m. – at No. 20 Georgia – Watch – Live Stats
Last Time Out
Arkansas won one of three games at home against Alabama last weekend, dropping the first game, 5-3, and the third game, 2-0, while winning the middle game, 4-0. Catcher Kayla Green hit two home runs as part of the winning effort on Saturday, and pitcher Autumn Storms spun a gem, fanning 10 and allowing just two hits in the complete game shutout. Both outfielder Hannah McEwen and infielder Braxton Burnside tied for the team lead with a .636 on base percentage for the series, recording two hits and drawing five walks. For the series, Storms held a 0.51 ERA (13.2 IP), allowing two runs (one earned), with three walks, 12 strikeouts and a .180 opponent batting average. It was the first top 10 series in program history, with Arkansas ranked No. 8 and Alabama No. 3.
SEC Standings
The Hogs (13-2) sit 1.5 games ahead of Florida (10-2) for first place in the SEC standings. Arkansas opened the league schedule winning 12 straight games, the best mark in school history and the fifth-best in conference history. The Razorbacks’ 13 league wins are the most in program history during the current 24-game SEC scheduling format.
Bogle Bombers
The Razorbacks have been on a power surge this season, totaling 72 home runs to lead the SEC and rank second nationally. Burnside leads the team with 21 homers, which paces the SEC and ranks second in the country behind Oklahoma’s Jocelyn Alo (22). Designated player Linnie Malkin has added 13 homers, fourth-best in the SEC and 13th nationally. Gibson has hit 11 homers to rank ninth in the SEC and 31st nationally. The Razorbacks are one of two teams in the country (Oklahoma) that have three or more players with 10 or more homers. Last week Green hit four home runs by slugging two home runs against both Missouri State and Alabama.
Brax Bombs
Burnside’s 21 home runs this season are the most in a single season in program history. She broke the record with her 18th shot of the year on April 1 at Auburn, launching a three-run bomb in the fifth inning. Burnside broke Nicole Shroeder’s record of 17 set in 2017. Burnside has also reached base in 32 straight games.
#HogHits
- Pitcher Mary Haff ranks fourth in the nation in wins (18) and 12th in strikeouts (137). Haff’s career ERA of 1.60 and .177 opponent batting average are the best marks in program history.
- Pitcher Autumn Storms has been stellar in SEC play, posting the second-best ERA (1.02) in conference-only games. She has the top ERA among pitchers who have thrown at least 30.0 innings (34.1).
- Outfielder Sam Torres is tied for fourth in SEC-only games in hits (18).
- In addition to ranking second in the country in homers, the Razorbacks also rank third in walks, drawing 147.
- Arkansas ended a 19-game win streak on Tuesday, March 16, which was the longest in program history. It bested the prior record of 12 set by the 1999 and 2008 teams and was the only one of the three streaks to encompass a conference series sweep. This year’s squad is the only team in school history to have two winning streaks of at least 12 games in the same season.
- Arkansas’ four SEC series sweeps are the most in program history since the current conference scheduling format began in 2013. The team’s 13 SEC wins are the most in a year over that span.
- The Razorbacks’ 33 total wins are the most in the country.
Georgia took games two (9-8) and three (5-2) of a series at No. 11 Kentucky last weekend. Down 8-1 after the fifth inning of game two, the Bulldogs scored eight unanswered runs in the sixth and seventh innings to earn the 9-8 win. On Wednesday night, Georgia scored all of its runs in the first inning in a 4-1 non-conference triumph over USC Upstate.
Infielder Lacey Fincher leads Georgia in almost every offensive statistical category, hitting .386 with 32 hits, 11 homers, 27 walks and 26 RBI. Outfielder Sydney Chambley is tied for the team lead in RBI. Pitcher Mary Wilson Avant leads the team in innings pitched (116.2), wins (14) and strikeouts (141) and is second in ERA (2.04).
Georgia has a 38-19 lead in the all-time series against Arkansas and has won the last three series. The Razorbacks’ last win was an 8-3 victory in 2018 in the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals.
