JACOB KONST/Arizona Daily Wildcat Arizona senior point guard Dee-Dee Wheeler was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks Saturday. During Wheeler's four years on the women's team, the Wildcats amassed an 80-44 record.

After setting multiple records throughout her career at Arizona, it's only fitting that senior guard Dee-Dee Wheeler notch one more for the women's basketball team before playing at the professional level.

The Chicago native was drafted in the second round of the WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks Saturday.

Wheeler was the Sparks' first pick and the 26th selection overall. She is Arizona's highest draft pick ever.

"I am obviously very excited and happy for her," said Arizona head coach Joan Bonvicini. "She's worked extremely hard. It's a great reward when you have a dream for yourself. I think she's going to have a great opportunity to make the team in L.A.

"Ever since she's put on her uniform, she's had an impact immediately," Bonvicini added. "She has a great deal of confidence, and that confidence rubs off on her teammates. She's improved every year."

Wheeler leaves her playing days at Arizona as the second all-time leading scorer in school history with 1,966 points.

She also ranks first in games played (124), games started (118), minutes played (4,032), minutes per game (32.5) and steals (304). Wheeler ranks in the top 10 in 13 other statistical categories.

Wheeler told the Arizona Daily Star yesterday she intends to return to Arizona in the fall to finish a degree in education.

"With the money not being that great (in the WNBA) and, God forbid, an injury, you never know what's going to happen," she said. "I need the education to fall back on."