Las Vegas, NV (June 19, 2022)—Las Vegas Aces General Manager Natalie Williams announced today that the team has signed its 2021 first round draft pick, 6-4 French center Iliana Rupert. The 20-year-old Rupert is eligible to play for the team beginning with this afternoon’s game against the Minnesota Lynx
The Aces originally selected Rupert with the 12th overall pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft. She recently finished her fourth professional season playing in her native France where she has suited up for Bourges in the LFB and the Euroleague.
In the French League (FLB) this season, Rupert averaged 13.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while connecting on 52.2 percent of her field goal attempts, and 32.5 percent of her three-pointers. The team finished in second place during the regular season thanks to an MVP performance from Rupert, and won the league championship where Rupert was named the Finals MVP.
Two years ago, Rupert was named the Euroleague Young Player of the Year for the second time after averaging 6.4 points and 4.6 rebounds while making 50.0 percent of her shots in 15 games. The Euroleague is the highest professional basketball league in Europe.