After Candace and Candice, the first ladies of the NCAA Final Four, were selected around LSU's 6-6 Sylvia Fowles in the first three picks of the WNBA draft in Palm Harbor, Fla., the drama started to build.

The Atlanta Dream, picking eighth Wednesday, passed up four-time All-SEC selection Tasha Humphrey of Georgia and chose James Madison guard Tamera Young. Humphrey went three picks later to Detroit.

Young, considered a sleeper by some, became the first player from James Madison ever selected in the WNBA draft.

"I guess you could say I was a sleeper because they know about the other schools," Young said.

Marynell Meadors, the Dream's coach and general manager, was elated to get the 6-foot-2 Young.

"She's a tremendous guard," Meadors said. "She can play two or three. She gets the ball and scores tremendously well. She's a rebounder and also plays great defense."

Meadors chose seven veteran post players in the expansion draft in February, making guard more of a priority. Humphrey, who is from Gainesville, is a forward.

"The only reason I picked Young over Humphrey, Young is a guard," Meadors said. "Tasha is going to be a tremendous pro in this league. I'm just sorry that it didn't work out and that we didn't get her, but I tell you what, she's going to have a great career."

Young improved steadily over her four seasons at James Madison, with her scoring increasing each season, while Humphrey's scoring dipped her final two seasons.

Meadors did add some local flavor with a draft-day trade. She acquired Georgia Tech guard Chioma Nnamaka, who was chosen in the second round by San Antonio, along with veteran forward Camille Little and a first-round pick next year for forward Morenike Atunrase of Texas A&M —- who was the Dream's second pick and 24th overall —- veteran guard Ann Wauters and a second-round pick next year. Nnamaka finished fifth on Georgia Tech's all-time scoring list with 1,593 points.

To complete their draft, the Dream selected Hartford forward Danielle Hood in the third round.

Candace Parker, fresh from leading Tennessee to its second consecutive national title, was the first player selected, by Los Angeles. LSU's Fowles went next, to the Chicago Sky, and Stanford's Candice Wiggins was taken No. 3 overall by Minnesota.

Young is the Colonial Athletic Association's all-time leading scorer with 2,121 points and is second on the school's all-time rebounding list with 1,127.

"I'm very excited," Young said. "Especially with it being on the East Coast and being close to home. With the Dream being a new team, I am just excited to be able to help and contribute."

2008 WNBA draft

First round

1. Los Angeles, Candace Parker, F, Tennessee

2. Chicago, Sylvia Fowles, C, LSU

3. Minnesota, Candice Wiggins, G, Stanford

4. Detroit (from Atlanta via Seattle), Alexis Hornbuckle, G, Tennessee

5. Houston, Matee Ajavon, G, Rutgers

6. Washington, Crystal Langhorne, F-C, Maryland

7. New York, Essence Carson, G-F, Rutgers

8. Atlanta (from Seattle), Tamera Young, G, James Madison

9. Connecticut, Amber Holt, F, Middle Tennessee State

10. Sacramento, Laura Harper, F-C, Maryland

11. Detroit (from San Antonio),Tasha Humphrey, F, Georgia

12. Connecticut (from Indiana), Ketia Swanier, G, Connecticut

13. Phoenix, LaToya Pringle, F-C, North Carolina

14. New York (from Detroit via San Antonio), Erlana Larkins, F, North Carolina

Second round

24. Atlanta (from Sacramento via Indiana), Morenike Atunrase, F, Texas A&M, who then was traded to San Antonio for Chioma Nnamaka, G, Georgia Tech, the 21st overall selection, in a deal also involving two veteran players and two picks next year

Third round

32. Atlanta, Danielle Hood, F, Hartford