The senior duo went with the 20th and 21st picks overall and are the first South Florida players taken in the WNBA Draft since Kitija Laksa in 2020 and the seventh and eighth in program history.
TAMPA (April 10, 2023) – Former University of South Florida women’s basketball standouts Elena Tsineke and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu became the seventh and eighth players in program history to be selected in the WNBA Draft, and the sixth and seventh under Head Coach Jose Fernandez, when they heard their names called on Monday night. Tsineke was chosen by the Washington Mystics in the second round with the 20th overall pick and, seconds later, Fankam Mendjiadeu went with the 21st overall pick to the Seattle Storm.
“I am so grateful for this opportunity,” said Tsineke. “(It’s) A dream come true. I am so proud and happy for my teammate, Dulcy. We have worked so hard for this. We both shared the same vision throughout the year. All Glory to God!”
“I am feeling overwhelmed right now and it hasn’t dawned on me yet but I feel good,” said Fankam Mendjiadeu. “All the hard work starts now. I am really grateful for the opportunity but I know that everything starts now. I have to go and fight and battle and earn my place.”
Tsineke and Fankam Mendjiadeu are the first South Florida players taken in the WNBA Draft since Kitija Laksa was chosen in the first round, 11th overall, also by Seattle, in 2020.
A guard from Thessaloniki, Greece, Tsineke finished the season leading South Florida and was first in The American in scoring, averaging 17.9 points per game. She poured in double figures in 31 of the 33 games she played in, including the last nine-straight and 29 of the last 30 outings to end the season. She had 20 points in her collegiate finale against top-seeded and defending national champion South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament Second Round on March 19.
Tsineke finished the year shooting 45.2 percent from the field, including 38.3 percent from behind the arc, and is hitting 79.4 percent of her shots from the charity stripe. She has shot 50 percent or better from the field 16 times.
A forward from Nkongsamba, Cameroon, Fankam Mendjiadeu was the most dominating post player in The American, and one the most dominating in the nation, all season. She ended the 2022-23 campaign averaging 16.5 points per game, second on the team and third in the conference, and a conference-best 12.3 rebounds per outing, both career-highs. Her total rebounds (418) are tops in the conference and third in the nation while her rebounds per game average are first in The American and fifth in the nation. In addition, she is fourth in the nation in double-doubles with 24.
During the NCAA Tournament, Fankam Mendjiadeu became South Florida’s single-season rebounding leader against Marquette and the single-season leader in The American against South Carolina.
On the year, Fankam Mendjiadeu shot 58.6 percent from the field and 72.0 percent from the free-throw line. She scored in double figures in 30 of 34 games this season and grabbed double-digit boards 26 times. Fankam Mendjiadeu had a career-high 34-point performance against then No. 3/4 Ohio State on Dec. 20 in the San Diego Invitational to go along with 17 rebounds. Earlier in the season she hauled down a career-best 21 rebounds against Georgia Tech on Nov. 25, en route to a tournament record 49 boards in three games at the Gulf Coast Showcase in Fort Myers, Fla. She also had 11 rebounds against then No. 22/23 Michigan on Nov. 26 and 17 against No. 23 Villanova on Nov. 27.
Both Tsineke and Fankam Mendjiadeu were named the American Athletic Conference Co-Players of the Year and were the only unanimous selections to The American All-Conference First Team. In addition, the duo was recently named Honorable Mention Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-Americans.
USF’s All-Time WNBA Draft Selections
2023 – Elena Tsineke, Washington Mystics, Second Round (20th Overall)
2023 – Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, Seattle Storm, Second Round (21st Overall)
2020 – Kitija Laksa, Seattle Storm, First Round (11th overall)
2016 – Courtney Williams, Phoenix Mercury, First Round (8th overall)
2014 – Inga Orekhova, Atlanta Dream, Second Round (18th overall)
2013 – Andrea Smith, Connecticut Sun, Third Round (35th overall)
2007 – Jessica Dickson, Sacramento Monarchs, Second Round (21st overall)
1997 – Wanda Guyton, Houston Comets, Elite First Round (5th overall)
About USF Women’s Basketball
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South Florida recorded its 10th 20-win season during the 2021-22 campaign while playing in its sixth American Athletic Conference championship game in its nine years in the conference. The Bulls achieved their highest national ranking of the season when it checked in at No. 13 in the Nov. 30 Associated Press Top 25 Poll, and advanced to their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in the last nine years.
USF has made 17 postseason tournament appearances and had eight NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 22 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to 10 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship, and has won over 400 career games. Fernandez was named a finalist for the WBCA and semifinalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year Awards. He was also tabbed the 2021 American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the 2020-21 campaign.
In 2021-22, the Bulls had three players recognized by The American for impressive seasons, including Elena Tsineke (All-Conference First Team), Bethy Mununga (All-Conference Second Team) and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (All-Conference Second Team).
In addition, Tsineke and Mununga were named to the American Athletic Conference All-Tournament Team.
–#GoBulls –
