Ole Ola: Russian Kosu will play for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA

Anastasia Olairi Kosu, forward of the Russian national team and BC UGMK, was selected at number 15 in the women's NBA draft by the Minnesota Lynx club. In the history of Russian basketball, only five of our compatriots have "left" with a higher number. Read more about the event in New York and Ola's first words in the Izvestia article.

Luck to Yocite

The women's WNBA draft is not as popular as its male counterpart. If in men's basketball the place and time of the talent fair become known in six months, then the beautiful half did not even understand the venue in a month. As a result, the choice fell on the Shed Cultural Center in Manhattan.

The Dallas Wings chose Paige Bakers as the number one. The NCAA champion title, the title of the Best NCAA basketball Player (Wade Trophy), the Nancy Lieberman Award (the best NCAA point guard) only strengthened the experts in the correctness of their reflections. Bakers became the first student to receive a contract with a very well-known manufacturer of sports equipment. And in order to finally assemble the full house, the day before the draft, Paige signed a three-year contract with the Unrivaled league. In one year of playing in this league, the Buckeyes will receive more money than in all four years of the WNBA rookie contract, that is, more than $348,198. Paige's speech was very emotional and ended with tears of joy.

Frenchwoman Dominique Malonga was selected as the number two of the Seattle Storm, meeting all the wildest expectations of the experts. The next two picks were for the Washington Mystics. The Capitals spent them on Sonya Citron, a master of personal defense from the University of Notre Dame, and Kiki Iriafen, a very powerful forward (18 points, 8 rebounds in the NCAA season) from the University of Southern California.

The Golden State Valkries used the first pick in their history to take Juste Jocite. This is by far the biggest surprise of the draft. Apparently, the WNBA is heading towards globalization. This is the only way to explain such a high choice of Lithuanian women in New York. Although Juste is a unique player in her own right: she made her debut for the Lithuanian national team at the age of 13 (!) in a qualifying match for the 2021 European Championship. In the final match of the 2019 European Under-19 Championship, Juste scored 33 points for our girls.

Ola's choice

To the "Green Room" (the place in front of the stage at the draft ceremony, where the best young players sit at tables surrounded by family and friends. In addition to the above-mentioned players, 11 top NCAA basketball players and only two foreigners were invited: Australian Georgia Amur and Slovenian Aisha Sivka, who was chosen by Chicago at number 10.

Olairi Kosu was not expected to be among the players present at the ceremony. She is currently in Krasnoyarsk and is preparing as part of BC UMMC for the third match of the semi-final series against Yenisei in the Premier League draw.

However, a cry of joy from Ola was heard from Krasnoyarsk when the name of the Kursk native appeared on the board of players selected in the draft. Our inside story about Minnesota's interest in Olairi was justified. One of the most decorated teams in the WNBA (four championship titles) chose the Russian number 15.

"It was a goal that I aspired to and worked hard for,— Olairi Kosu told Izvestia. — I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to become a part of the WNBA, and I am proud to be drafted. Thanks to the Minnesota Lynx, who believed in me and considered my candidacy. This is just the beginning for me. I am determined to work even harder, prove my worth every day and do everything so that the Minnesota Lynx does not regret its choice. Thanks to everyone who supported me on this path — this is our common step forward.

Kosu is a three—time champion of Russia (2021/22-2023/24), a four-time winner of the Russian Cup (2021/22-2024/25), a three-time winner of the Russian Super Cup (2022-2024). She was named the Super Bowl MVP last year.

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In the 2024/25 season, the forward played 34 games in the Premier League, averaging 9.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 1 blocked shot.

The basketball player's parents met in Spain. My father played basketball professionally, and my mother came there to study to be a translator from Spanish. The second name, Olairi— was inherited from his father, who was originally from Nigeria, and there were African tribal leaders in his family tree. Olairi means "Daughter of the chief".

"Dad played in the second league in many European countries," Kosu recalled in an interview with Sport—Express. — After the marriage, they traveled a lot, and for a while they even lived in their father's homeland in Nigeria. It was then that Dad received an offer to work in Russia as a curator of international students at prestigious universities in Moscow and Kursk. My parents decided to move to Russia, where I was born. Unfortunately, my dad passed away early— when I was six years old. And from that moment on, my mother raised me alone and devoted her whole life to my development, for which I am eternally grateful to her.

The chances remain

The sweetest moment of the draft was the live inclusion of Te-Hina Paopao. A native of the Samoan Islands was connected to the ceremony via video link. Te-Hina appeared in the frame in national clothes with traditional Polynesian flower beads. I would really like to see the Scythe against the background of the rumbling Yenisei or against the background of the rocks of the Stolby Nature Reserve. But not this time.

Unfortunately, Anastasia Boldyreva, another Russian basketball player, was not selected in the draft. This is not a very bad result for us. The day before the draft, a graduate of the Moscow Trinta was at the end of the fourth ten of the IOC drafts, which in the current situation looks like a very good result. In all likelihood, the center will stay at the summer camp and try herself out of any team.

— Sometimes sports follow their own scenarios — today I was not selected in the draft. It's part of the game, and I take it in stride. I still have goals and motivation, and I continue to move forward," Boldyreva, who became the best shot blocker in the NCAA last season, told Izvestia. — It is important to understand that there is still an opportunity to get into the WNBA. I am ready to fight for my place — through training camp, through work and dedication. I thank everyone who is with me on this path. All the most important things are still ahead."