In the 20 days leading up to the 20th annual WNBA Draft, WNBA.com and @WNBA are highlighting the first 19 No. 1 overall picks and their place in league history. Our 20-day countdown continues with Ann Wauters, the first selection in the 2000 WNBA Draft.

WNBA Draft Countdown Hub

With the first pick in the 2000 WNBA Draft, the Cleveland Rockers selected center Ann Wauters, who became the first Belgian-born player in the WNBA.

The 6-foot-4 center played eight seasons in the WNBA and was selected as a reserve to the 2005 All-Star Game as a member of the New York Liberty. In addition to her time in Cleveland and New York, Wauters was also a member of the 2008 San Antonio Silver Stars team that advanced to the WNBA Finals, but fell to the Detroit Shock.

After a brief hiatus from the WNBA, Wauters returned in 2012 as a member of the Seattle Storm, where she averaged 9.6 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds in 25 games (17 starts). While that was her final WNBA season, Wauters continues to play overseas in the Belgian Women’s Basketball League.

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