Former Skyhawks forward Chelsey Perry made both program and Ohio Valley Conference history by being the first Skyhawk ever taken in the 2021 Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Draft, being selected 26th overall in the third round by the Indiana Fever.
Perry, a two-time OVC Player of the Year, is the highest-selected player in conference history, surpassing Austin Peay’s Brooke Armistead, who was selected 40th in the 2003 draft by the then San Antonio Silver Stars. Perry declared for the draft shortly after the conclusion of the Skyhawks’ 2020-21 campaign, in which the team sat atop the OVC as regular-season conference champions before defeating Illinois State in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) consolation championship.
Perry leaves UTM as one of the most decorated players in conference history. In addition to her two OVC Player of the Year awards, Perry was selected twice to the All-OVC First Team (2020 & 2021), Bettye Gyles Female Athlete of the Year (2019-20), Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Year (2019-20), OVC All-Tournament Team (2018 & 2020), and 13 OVC Player of the Week awards, among others accomplishments. The Skyhawks, since Perry’s freshman season in 2017-18, always finished with a winning record and advanced to the OVC Championship Tournament Finals every year.
“I am just so happy to be picked by the Indiana Fever,” Perry said. “This is such a humbling experience to even be listed and given this opportunity. I am so excited. I just want to thank my hometown, Hardeman County, my family, friends and everyone who has supported me over the years. I could not have done it without them.”
To go along with her several individual accomplishments, the Middleton, Tennessee, native leaves Martin as the program’s all-time leader in career blocks (228), third in in career points (1,963), fourth in field goals (733) and fifth in career made free throws (368).
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