In acquiring forward LaToya Thomas from Detroit Shock for guard Shay Murphy on Saturday night, the Lynx became the first WNBA team with three No. 1 overall draft selections on one roster.
In her sixth season out of Mississippi State, Thomas was drafted with the first overall pick by the now-defunct Cleveland Rockers in the 2003 WNBA draft. With the Lynx, she will be teammates with guards Seimone Augustus, the top pick in 2006, and Lindsey Harding, the top pick last year.
Thomas was acquired by Detroit along with the 18th overall pick in the 2008 draft during the expansion draft in a trade with the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Ivory Latta. With the Shock, Thomas averaged 1.1 points, 0.7 rebounds and 5.7 minutes in seven appearances in this season.
Entering this season, Thomas had career averages of 10.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 24.4 minutes per game. Her best season came in 2004 with San Antonio, when she averaged 14.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 31.1 minutes per game.
Murphy was picked by the Lynx out of Southern California in the second round (15th overall) of the 2007 draft. In her rookie season, she had 5.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while seeing action in 32 games off the bench. She had played in only two games this year.
