Gonzaga leading scorer and rebounder Jill Barta leaving program to declare for WNBA draft

Gonzaga leading scorer and rebounder, redshirt junior forward Jill Barta, will forego her senior season and declare for this season’s WNBA draft.

“To all the fans, teammates, coaches, friends, family, and Gonzaga University, thank you,” Barta said in a statement. “It’s been a great four years, years that will never be forgotten. I am looking forward to what my future holds for me.”

Barta will graduate this spring with a degree in special education. She will leave the Zags as seventh all-time in scoring at 1,620 points for the program.

She scored 21 points and pulled down four rebounds in Gonzaga’s NCAA first-round loss to Stanford last Saturday.

From Gonzaga:

Barta is eligible and will declare for this year’s WNBA Draft. The WNBA has a league provision that allows players to submit their names for consideration in a given draft if the player’s 22nd birthday occurs within the calendar year of the same season. A player must make such a declaration at least 10 days prior to the draft, which takes place on April 12th at Nike New York Headquarters in New York City.

“Jill has been a big part of our program and has made tremendous growth on and off the court in her four years here,” Gonzaga head coach Lisa Fortier said. “While we wish she was putting on a Gonzaga uniform next season, we support Jill in her desire to follow her dreams. She will have her degree in hand, and we are thankful for her dedication to the program. She’s a great Zag.”