South Carolina women's basketball: Destanni Henderson drafted by Indiana Fever
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Destanni Henderson was drafted 20th overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2022 WNBA Draft.
Henderson was one of 12 players invited to attend the draft in person. She was widely expected to go in the middle of the first round, with the Fever a likely destination. But she slipped out of the first round and was available when the Fever’s second-round pick came up.
“I wasn’t really expecting anything,” Henderson said. “I was just staying positive about the outcome and whichever order that it went, it really didn’t matter. I’m just very blessed and honored to be here and to be in New York and living the dream, living the moment that I’ve always dreamed of. Just hearing my name was my outcome, and I got that tonight.”
Henderson met with the Fever leading up to the draft and said the meetings made her feel confident. The Fever have struggled the past few seasons and are embarking on a major rebuild with a new coach and front office. They need to upgrade at virtually every position and Henderson is ready for the challenge.
“Just to be a sponge and learn from all the players that are already there, from the coaches, and be coachable,” she said. “I feel like I’m a player that is still developing and has a lot of good things that come with my game. But I just want to learn as much as possible and grow as a player and bring all the tools that I have, whether it’s my speed, offense, defense, just to make things happen on the court.”
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Henny style
Although she slipped into the second round, Henderson stole the orange carpet with her outfit, which she designed herself.
“I got so many compliments tonight,” Henderson said. “It’s just a wonderful feeling. It’s just something I take pride in when it comes to fashion, and it’s something that makes me feel good. For others to recognize it and compliment me the way they have tonight, it feels great.”
Gamecock legacy
Henderson finished her Gamecock career averaging 9.5 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 37.9% from three. Her averages improved to 11.8 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds while hitting 96-237 (40.5%) from three.
Primarily a reserve during her first two seasons, Henderson took over the starting point guard role her junior season and posted career-highs with 12.2 points, an SEC-leading 5.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 41.4% from three. Her numbers dipped in her senior season as the Gamecocks played a slower, defense-oriented pace. She averaged 11.5 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.1 assists this season, but turned in her two signature performances.
After missing three games with a leg injury, Henderson returned against defending champion Stanford. After a slow start, South Carolina trailed by as much as 18 before Henderson took over. She nearly had a triple-double with 17 points, seven assists, and seven steals, and her one-woman press took the Cardinal completely out of rhythm. Stanford had no answer for her quickness on offense either, and Henderson led South Carolina to a come-from-behind win.
But Henderson saved her best for last. She always played well in the postseason, making the SEC All-Tournament team three times and being named to the Greensboro all-regional team, but she cemented her place in Gamecock lore by playing the best game of her career in the national championship game. Henderson scored 26 points, along with four assists and three steals, becoming the first player in at least 20 years to set a new career-high in the championship game. She also locked down Paige Bueckers, using her speed and quickness to make up for a size disadvantage.
“It’s been crazy but good crazy,” Henderson said. “Just full of excitement, positive energy for my teammates back in South Carolina and the fans. To make it here today is a blessing and an honor. I’m just very thankful and proud of myself.”
Henderson will be able to return to Columbia Wednesday for the Gamecocks’ victory parade, saying the team was texting her all day with good luck messages.
Henderson is generously listed as 5-7 and will be undersized in the WNBA too, but she reaffirmed in the championship game she can make up for her lack of height. She also reaffirmed her ability to balance running a team and looking for her own shot during the Gamecocks’ championship run.
“What I can bring to the Fever is my speed, being a playmaker, whether that’s facilitator, scoring the basket, defending,” Henderson said. “I just feel like I can bring so much to the team and bring my style, bring my flair on the court, off the court. I feel like I’m going to fit really well within the program.”
Gamecocks in the WNBA
Henderson is the 13th Gamecock drafted into the WNBA and could become the 12th Gamecock to play in the WNBA. She is the ninth player of the Dawn Staley era drafted. Henderson follows Shaunzinski Gortman and Teresa Geter (2002); Jocelyn Penn and Petra Ujhelyi (2003); Aleighsa Welch (2015); Tiffany Mitchell (2016); Alaina Coates, Allisha Gray, and Kaela Davis (2017); A’ja Wilson (first overall, 2018); and Mikiah Herbert Harrigan and Tyasha Harris (2020).
Henderson joins former Gamecocks Coates and Mitchell in Indiana. She didn’t overlap with either during their time at South Carolina, but Henderson is excited to have them as mentors.
“I’m going to be able to learn from them and really build a connection with them,” she said. “I feel like they have so much to tell me about, things that they experienced, and just to be a sponge and create opportunity for myself to learn as much as possible.”
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