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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
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Mazurkiewicz goes No. 1 overall in WNBA draft

Current Mercer dance team member Jenny Mazurkiewicz was selected first overall by the San Antonio Silver Stars in the 2017 WNBA draft. Mazurkiewicz became the first player drafted into the WNBA who never played a minute of college basketball.

“She’s a raw prospect,” said the Silver Stars’ head coach, Vickie Johnson. “But we fell in love with her tape — everybody did. It was so unique. It became a nationwide sensation because it brought people so much joy.”

Mazurkiewicz said she wasn’t shocked when she heard her name called first overall. Every team in the WNBA has called her, curious of whether she would meet with them and consider playing in the league.

“I got calls off the chain,” Mazurkiewicz said. “I showed the world my talent in a five-second clip. That’s all they needed to see. People have asked me, ‘Why didn’t you play basketball in college?’ And to that I always respond, ‘People wouldn’t have been able to handle my greatness.”

And it’s hard to argue against that way of thinking. The waves of excitement for a five-second clip have been monumental; she became a first overall pick because of it. Imagine the hype for Mazurkiewicz if she had stepped on the court — if she had played a quarter.

If she had played a whole game?

“I would have caused mad hysteria,” Mazurkiewicz said. “These folks went bonkers for my one clip. I don’t know how they’re going to react when I actually play a game.”

Lacing up the high tops will be a new experience for Mazurkiewicz. During her time at Mercer, the sophomore has been on the court — but it was on the sidelines and only at midcourt during halftime and timeouts.

Johnson isn’t concerned about Mazurkiewicz’s lack of experience.

“Look at her tape, and you can tell she’s going to be a star,” she said. “Look back at that dunk attempt. One, she was bold enough to go for that dunk even though there was nothing weighing down the basket. Two, that vertical… she’s got ups for days. Third, look at how she took that fall. Graceful. She wasn’t fazed at all. That’s what we need on our team: Someone who is strong both mentally and physically.”

And Mazurkiewicz is going to have to exhibit mental strength as she attempts to transition from life as a Mercer dance team member to a highly-regarded WNBA player. She doesn’t seem to be fazed.

“Mercer has received amazing national recognition because of basketball,” Mazurkiewicz said. “We always say, ‘We’re that school that beat Duke.’ Now, in a few years, people are going to be saying, ‘We’re that school that the dunking WNBA player went to.’”

 

Note: This is a satirical piece produced by the Cluster team in honor of April Fools Day. Thanks for reading!


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