Raca Selected by the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA Draft
4/15/2021 9:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Wake Forest forward becomes the first Demon Deacon to be selected in the draft since Dearica Hamby was taken with the sixth overall selection in 2015.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Former Wake Forest women's basketball player Ivana Raca was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks in the third round (28th overall) of the WNBA Draft Thursday evening.
She became the first Demon Deacon to be selected since 2015 when the then San Antonio Star chose Dearica Hamby with the sixth overall selection.
Additionally, Raca became just the fifth player ever from Serbia to be chosen in the WNBA Draft (Jelena Milovanovic, 2009, 24th overall; Sonja Petrovic, 2009, 26th overall; Sarah Krnjic, 2011, 35th overall; Dragana Stankovic, 2015, 30th overall). Raca is also the first player selected in the draft to be born in the country of Cyprus.
The two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection had best season to date, finishing her senior season averaging 16.7 points per game and 9.0 rebounds per game including 10 double-double performances.
Against Virginia Tech, she had a near record-setting day on the boards at Virginia Tech when she pulled down 19 rebounds to go along with 14 points. Her 19 rebounds were just three away from the all-time program record.
She was nearly the first Demon Deacon since Hamby (2014-15) to average a double-double over the course of the season.
Her points per game and rebounds per game both ranked in the top five in the conference.
Raca became just the fourth player in Wake Forest program history to earn First Team All-ACC honors, joining Dearica Hamby (2013-14, 2014-15), Tracy Connor (1995-96) and Jen Hoover (Mitchell) (1989-90).
She finished sixth in program history with 18 career double-doubles. Raca is also one of just four players to rank in the top 10 in scoring with 1,482 points (ninth) and 715 rebounds (10th).
She became the first Demon Deacon to be selected since 2015 when the then San Antonio Star chose Dearica Hamby with the sixth overall selection.
Additionally, Raca became just the fifth player ever from Serbia to be chosen in the WNBA Draft (Jelena Milovanovic, 2009, 24th overall; Sonja Petrovic, 2009, 26th overall; Sarah Krnjic, 2011, 35th overall; Dragana Stankovic, 2015, 30th overall). Raca is also the first player selected in the draft to be born in the country of Cyprus.
The two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection had best season to date, finishing her senior season averaging 16.7 points per game and 9.0 rebounds per game including 10 double-double performances.
Against Virginia Tech, she had a near record-setting day on the boards at Virginia Tech when she pulled down 19 rebounds to go along with 14 points. Her 19 rebounds were just three away from the all-time program record.
She was nearly the first Demon Deacon since Hamby (2014-15) to average a double-double over the course of the season.
Her points per game and rebounds per game both ranked in the top five in the conference.
Raca became just the fourth player in Wake Forest program history to earn First Team All-ACC honors, joining Dearica Hamby (2013-14, 2014-15), Tracy Connor (1995-96) and Jen Hoover (Mitchell) (1989-90).
She finished sixth in program history with 18 career double-doubles. Raca is also one of just four players to rank in the top 10 in scoring with 1,482 points (ninth) and 715 rebounds (10th).
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's BasketballFootball Media Availability (9/30/25)
Tuesday, September 30
Wake Forest Football Coach Jake Dickert Weekly Press Conference
Tuesday, September 30
Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference (Sept. 29, 2025)
Monday, September 29
Sept. 27, 2025: Coach Jake Dickert Postgame Press Conference Following Game vs. Georgia Tech
Sunday, September 28