Calgary’s Yvonne Ejim has been drafted to the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
She’s the first-ever player from the city to be selected.
Monday evening, the Alberta Basketball Association (ABA) announced Ejim had been picked up by the WNBA’s Indiana Fever in the third round, 33rd overall.
“Congratulations to Yvonne on this incredible moment,” said Dave Drabiuk, ABA executive director.
“We look forward to watching the next chapter of her career ... and will be cheering her on every step of the way.
“We are proud to have been part of Yvonne’s basketball journey.”
Drabiuk called Ejim a role model and inspiration for youth on and off the court.
In its release, the ABA noted her contributions during junior high school and high school.
The association noted she “played extensively for the Alberta provincial team, competing at the Canada Summer Games and Canada Basketball National Championships” and “helped Team Alberta capture the silver medal at the 17U Women’s National Championship in 2019.”
Ejim has more recently been a Gonzaga Bulldogs forward.
The ABA’s release noted she “capped her remarkable collegiate career with the Bulldogs this season by becoming the all-time leading scorer in program history.”
“During her time at Gonzaga, Ejim received back-to-back WCC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards (2024 and 2025), was a three-time First-Team All-WCC selection (2023, 2024, 2025) and won the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year award in 2024,” the release said.
The ABA likewise noted she “represented her country in women’s basketball at the Paris Olympic Games” and was “a member of Canada’s bronze-medal winning team at the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup.”
