Jada Payne Signs WNBA Training Camp Contract
April 18, 2016 | Women's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina women's basketball's Jada Payne has signed a training camp contract with the Washington Mystics of the WNBA.
A three-time all-conference first team selection, Payne closed her four-year career with 2,029 total points. Her 1,757 points during her final three seasons at ECU are place her No. 3 on the program's all-time scoring list. She finished as the Pirates' best free throw shooter (83.5 percent), made the second-most three-pointers (187) and tied for the fourth-highest career three-point field goal percentage (36.4 percent).
During her senior season, Payne was named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll six times. She finished the year with 625 points and led East Carolina in scoring (19.5), steals (1.9), blocks (0.7) and minutes played (37.9) while ranking second in rebounding (8.4) and assists (2.4). Payne compiled 11 double-doubles, scored in double-figures 30 times and had at least seven rebounds on 22 occasions.
Payne's versatile game led to the rise of her draft stock during her senior campaign, enough to be slotted in WNBA mock drafts and draw the attention of scouts. She was invited to the draft combine in Indianapolis during Final Four weekend, but was not chosen in the WNBA Draft on April 14.
Key dates for the WNBA's 2016 season include the opening of training camps on April 24th, the start of preseason games on April 29th, and the WNBA Tip-Off on May 14th.
