Former Kansas Jayhawks center Taiyanna Jackson has been drafted by the Chicago Sky with the No. 19 pick (second round) of the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Jackson averaged 12.6 points and 10.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game for the Jayhawks during her senior season. Her efforts landed her on the semifinal list for the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year, as well as earning All-Big 12 First Team and All-Big 12 All-Defensive Team honors.
She started in all 99 games she appeared in for Kansas across three seasons, with the most impressive coming during the 2022-23 season. There, she averaged 15.2 points, 12.7 rebounds while maintaining 3.0 blocks per game — which she averaged throughout her career.
Jackson led Kansas to a WNIT Championship to cap the 2022-23 season, earning WNIT Most Valuable Player honors while averaging a spiked 17 points and 13 rebounds per game for the Jayhawks during their six-game tournament run.
Her achievements during that season include being a unanimous selection to the All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 All-Defensive Team. She was a WBCA All-America Honorable Mention, Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Candidate as well as being a Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist.
Jackson’s impact in Lawrence was noticeable from the start. After arriving on campus for the 2021-22 season, the 6-foot-6 center turned heads immediately with her elite shot-blocking abilities. She set the program single-season record with 95 blocks during that season. She would go on to record 301 blocks during the Kansas career and surpassed that mark in both of the two seasons after.
Before she arrived at Kansas, she played the forward position fat Trinity Valley Community College. She played in 44 games for the Cardinals, including helping lead them to a 22-3 overall record, 13-2 in conference play which included a perfect 11-0 home record.
She was able to lead Trinity Valley to a Region XIV Title, and was named NJCAA Region 14 Freshman of the Year. Her most notable performance during her time at the JUCO level saw her log a triple double in the conference tournament.
From community college now to the WNBA, Jackson’s focus turns to her new team as she prepares to adjust to the professional level in the coming weeks. It will be a quick turnaround for all draftees, as the new season begins less than four weeks from draft day — May 14. For now, however, Jackson can enjoy how far she has come after hearing her name called on draft night.
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