Record-tying tourney performance could make Emily Engstler the steal of the WNBA draft
Editor’s note: The Indiana Fever selected forward Emily Engstler with the No. 4 overall pick in the first round of the 2022 WNBA Draft on April 11.
MINNEAPOLIS (BVM) – In her first and final season at the University of Louisville, senior Emily Engstler made her presence known on the defensive side of the ball in the 2022 NCAA Tournament recording one of the most impressive collections of pick-pocketing performances in postseason history.
The 6-foot-1 Cardinals forward amassed an incredible 23 steals through their Final Four run. That mark is tied for the most in a single NCAA Tournament ever. It matches Ticha Penicheiro’s record set back in 1998 for Old Dominion (done in three games). Engstler averaged 4.6 steals over five games in the NCAA Tournament with her top single-game total (7) coming against Albany in the first round.
Doin' what we do best 👊#GoCards x #WFinalFour pic.twitter.com/pqu4zciZGz
— Louisville Women’s Basketball (@LouisvilleWBB) April 1, 2022
On March 29, the WNBA revealed Engstler renounced her remaining NCAA eligibility. She was granted an additional year to play due to Covid-19. Her final collegiate game ended early after fouling out in 32 minutes tallying 18 points, nine rebounds, four steals, one assist and one block.
“I’m an aggressive basketball player,” Engstler said after Louisville fell to South Carolina, 72-59, in the Final Four. “If that’s how I’m going to go out, then that’s how I was going to go out. But I was going to put everything I had in me on that floor for these girls and for myself and our fans, who we had a lot of and we’re really appreciative of.”
A transfer from Syracuse, Engstler was an All-ACC First Team and conference All-Defensive Team member this season. The 2021-22 campaign was a career year for her. Engstler averaged 11.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 steals, 1.8 blocks and shot 46% from the field and 38.1% from downtown – all career highs.
The Louisville forward will be one of the top picks at the 2022 WNBA Draft on April 11. Bleacher Report and ESPN have the New York native going fifth and sixth respectively in the first round. There have been 14 Cardinals players taken in the WNBA draft in program history. Jeff Walz has been the head coach for 12 of those selections and will continue to add to that list after signing an extension with the school through 2028-29.
