DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Esmery Martinez on 15 April 2024 became the first Dominican woman to be drafted to the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The better news is that she was drafted to the WNBA by a team that has played in the last two league finals.

Martinez heard her name called as the 17th overall pick (5th in the 2nd round) by the New York Libery, which lost to the Las Vegas Aces in the 2023 WNBA Finals.

Martinez will join former Pac-12 stars Sabrina Ionescu, Kennedy Burke, and Nyara Sabally as well as perennial MVP candidate Breanna Stewart in New York. The 6-foot-2 forward is described in Arizona sports media as “a ferocious rebounder who worked to increase her range and handles in hopes of playing the three as a professional”.

Esmery Martinez has the attractive Caribbean look that has made the Caribbean Queens (Reinas del Caribe) famous for their volleyball playing...