NCCU's Kongolo Drafted into WNBA by Phoenix

April 19, 2002

North Carolina Central University senior Amba Kongolo became the first women's basketball student-athlete in school and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) history to be drafted into the WNBA when the Phoenix Mercury selected the two-time conference player of the year with the 56th pick.

"I am so happy," the All-American forward/center said minutes after seeing the selection at Lady Eagle head
coach Joli Robinson's apartment home in Durham. "Coach lives on the second floor, but I just can't stop jumping."

"I was nervous watching the show ... just waiting," Kongolo said. "My heart was pounding."

A native of Kinshasa, Congo, Kongolo was flooded with phone calls from friends and well-wishers, while the
news spread quickly around the NCCU campus and the CIAA community. At the 2002 CIAA Spring Sports
Championships in Petersburg, VA, an announcement was made during the track & field meet regarding the accomplishment.

"I do not know too much about Phoenix," Kongolo said, "but I am going to go to camp and show them they made the right decision."
Kongolo will now report to team orientation on April 25.