By Roy Ward
BULLEEN star Liz Cambage spent yesterday morning's WNBA draft dressed to the nines and doing interviews while Boomers teammate Rachel Jarry found out she was selected via Twitter.
The two experienced life at opposite ends of the WNBA spectrum and both came away happy, joining teammate Jenna O'Hea, who signed with Los Angeles Sparks on April 1, in the American big league.
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Cambage was selected by the Tulsa Shock with the No. 2 pick while Jarry was taken at pick 18 by the Atlanta Dream then, less than two hours later, traded to the Minnesota Lynx.
While Cambage and Jarry were celebrating, Boomers coach Tom Maher was proudly extolling the achievements of the Melbourne club which won its first WNBL title last month.
''It's incredible - no other club in the world has got three players in the WNBA,'' he said.
Cambage brushed off comparisons with No.1 pick Maya Moore, chosen by Minnesota, and Opals teammate Lauren Jackson, who plays with Seattle Storm.
''Comparisons are just a way to get people talking,'' Cambage said. ''You can't compare me to anyone else.''
After the draft the Shock flew Cambage and her entourage to Tulsa for a tour of her new home. She returns to Melbourne on Monday and will move to the US next month before the WNBA season begins in June.
Cambage also made a high profile friend in NBA superstar Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who tweeted her a welcome message. ''I almost fainted when I got his tweet,'' Cambage said.
While Cambage was talking herself hoarse in the US, her Bulleen teammates, along with other WNBL stars watched the draft over breakfast in a Melbourne hotel room early yesterday.
Jarry watched ESPN's coverage in silence waiting to see if her name was called.
When the network's live coverage was cut off after the first round of selections, she was left to wonder about her fate until an eager WNBA fan sent her a congratulatory tweet. Jarry said she wouldn't move to the WNBA until after next year's London Olympics.
She was selected in the Opals training squad last month and hopes to make the Olympic team before joining the Lynx. She also said she planned to re-sign with the Boomers for next season while O'Hea and Cambage also expect to play in the WNBL for their Olympic preparation.
Boomers assistant coach Michele Timms was one of the first Australians in the WNBA when the league started 15 years ago.
She said Australian players struggled with the different team culture in the states.
''I was in Phoenix for about a decade in different roles,'' she said. ''I think I went to people's houses for barbecues maybe three times.
''Here we do things together all the time or are over at each other's houses. I really missed that social side of things; I never adjusted to that competitive culture.''
Maher said Jarry could be an extraordinary player when she joins the WNBA.
''She is so ferocious,'' he said. ''She is so close to making the Opals team, she wants to stay and make sure she gets in. I think she is in the top-eight players. Minnesota has a good player stored away for the future.''