Kentucky women’s hoops standouts hope to catch on in WNBA.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 3, 2000) — Kentucky women’s basketballseniors Erica Jackson, Tiffany Wait and ShantiaOwens will participate in the WNBA training campwhich opens Wednesday, May 3 at the teams’training facilities.

Jackson (Lexington, Ky.) was invited to participatewith the Charlotte Sting after two impressive seasonsat Kentucky. The 5-6 guard averaged 10.7 points and3.1 assists per game as a senior, leading the Cats inassists and steals both seasons. Wait (Hot Springs,Ark.), a 5-11 guard, was chosen for the OrlandoMiracle’s training camp after a tryout last weekend.Wait, who averaged 9.6 ppg as a senior, becameUK’s sixth all-time leading scorer, scoring 1,445points in her career.

“I knew I played solidly at the tryout in Orlando, butthere were so many good players down there wantingto make the cut for the training camp,” Wait said.”This is an opportunity of a lifetime and I’m going toenjoy it while it lasts.”

Senior Shantia Owens (Newark, N.J.), who wasdrafted in the fourth round by the Phoenix Mercurylast week before being traded to the Miami Sol, will participate in training campin Miami. Owens, a 6-4 center, led the Cats in rebounding and blocked shotstwo straight seasons, averaging 7.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in1999-00. Owens was UK’s first-ever WNBA draft pick.

WNBA teams are allowed a maximum of 18 players on their training camprosters. Jackson and Wait were among approximately 93 non-drafted playersthat were added to teams by the league based on teams’ preferences andcompetitive considerations.

The preseason games begin on Saturday, May 13 with each team allowed toplay a maximum of four games. The WNBA’s fourth season will tip off onMonday, May 29.