Billings became the 11th Bruin all-time to be selected in the WNBA Draft. She joins her teammate, senior point guard Jordin Canada (taken 5th by Seattle), as the first pair of Bruins in the history of the women's basketball program to be drafted in the top 15 and just the second pair of Bruins to be drafted in the same year (2006, Lisa Willis, 5th and Nikki Blue, 19th).
Billings is the ninth-leading scorer in UCLA history with 1,761 career points and is UCLA's all-time blocks leader (228). She is also second on the Bruins' career charts in rebounds (1,159) and first in career games played (141). This past season, the three-time All-Pac-12 honoree was second on the team in scoring (15.3 ppg) and led the team and the Pac-12 in rebounding (9.5 rpg) and in double-doubles (17).
"I am so happy and proud of Monique Billings," The Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach Cori Close said. "She has been so focused, determined, and giving to our UCLA community and family. She will make a huge impact in Atlanta. She will do whatever it takes to help her team win. She is just scratching the surface of her potential. She will be an amazing professional player and will inspire many people."
Here is a brief synopsis of her 2017-18 season and career accomplishments:
HONORS: Was named All-Pac-12 and to the All-Defensive Team by the coaches and media … named to the Pac-12 All-Tournament Team … named to the Kansas City Regional All-NCAA Tournament Team … named an honorable mention All-American by WBCA … named to the WBCA All-Region 5 Team … named to the John R. Wooden Award Watch list (midseason) … named to the Naismith Trophy Watch List (preseason) … named to the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List (preseason, midseason, top 5 finalist) … named to the Wade Trophy Watch List … named a Street & Smith's Second Team All-American (preseason) … was one of five players named Preseason All-Pac-12 (media). PAC-12 STATISTICAL RANKS: All Games: 1st - Rebounding (9.5 rpg); 1st - Double-Doubles (17); 1st - Offensive Rebounds Per Game (3.7); 4th - Defensive Rebounds Per Game (5.8); 5th - Blocks (1.6 bpg); 10th - Scoring (15.3 ppg) and 11th - Field Goal Percentage (.472). Pac-12 Games: 1st - Rebounding (10.4 rpg); 1st - Double-Doubles (11); 1st - Offensive Rebounds Per Game (3.8); 1st - Defensive Rebounds Per Game (6.6); 4th - Blocks (1.6 bpg); 6th - Field Goal Percentage (.490); 12th - Scoring (15.1 ppg) and 15th - Steals (1.3 spg). NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKS: 22nd - Rebounds (333); 22nd - Double-Doubles (17); 34th - Free Throw Attempts (197); 49th - Rebounds Per Game (9.5); 49th - Free Throws Made (141); 64th - Blocks (56); 91st - Blocks Per Game (1.6); 107th - Field Goals Made (197); 116th - Field-Goal Percentage (.472); 121st - Final Points (535); 123rd - Minutes Played (1,116) and 204th - Points Per Game (15.3). UCLA STATISTICAL RANKS: Career Charts: 1st - Blocks (228); 2nd - Rebounding (1,159); 2nd - Free Throws Attempted (677); 4th - Free Throws Made (435) and 9th - Scoring (1,761). All-Time Single-Season Charts: 1st - Blocks (66, 2016-17); 1st - Free Throws Made (154, 2016-17); 1st - Free Throws Attempted (234, 2016-17); 2nd - Rebounds (357, 2016-17); 3rd - Blocks (56, 2017-18); 4th - Blocks (56, 2015-16); 5th - Rebounds (333, 2017-18); 6th - Free Throws Made (141, 2017-18); 7th - Blocks (50, 2014-15); 8th - Free Throws Attempted (197, 2017-18) and 13th - Rebounds (285, 2015-16).
