SECAUCUS, N.J. -- We'll start by giving props to Arkansas forward Shameka Christon, the New York Liberty's pick at No. 5 in the WNBA draft here Saturday. She had one of the cutest answers in the media "zip 'em in and out" sessions afterward, saying the closest she'd previously been to Madison Square Garden was "at home in Arkansas seeing it on TV."

	The future of the WNBA includes (from left) Lindsay Whalen, Chandi Jones, Nicole Ohlde, Kelly Mazzante, Vanessa Hayden, Alana Beard, Diana Taurasi, Rebekkah Brunson, Iciss Tillis, Nicole Powell and Shameka Christon.

Christon, who is from Hot Springs, joked that everybody was asking her how a kid from Arkansas would adjust to New York City!

Heck, Christon was so comfortable with the whole atmosphere Saturday, she looked like she was ready for the lead in a Broadway show. That's something WNBA president Val Ackerman took note of in regard to all the draftees on one of the brightest days she has had in her job.

The big, talented class of 2004 is ready to join the WNBA not just as good players but as enthusiastic spokeswomen for their sport. Ackerman talked of how much the responsibilities with media and fans seem to be second nature for all these players.

Of course, that's to be expected for UConn star Diana Taurasi, who has carried that load perhaps more than any other player in college history, considering where she played and the success of the program.

Taurasi, who went No. 1 to Phoenix, instantly brought life to that franchise. She would be happy playing ball on one of Jupiter's moons; Phoenix is going to work great for her.

It's actually within driving distance for her family in California, and the heat -- both literally (outside) and figuratively (on the court as the Mercury's salvation) -- won't bother her at all.

Taurasi is prepared for the challenges Phoenix will present. She talked to former UConn teammate Swin Cash about how difficult Cash's first year with Detroit was. Cash and the Shock then turned around and won the WNBA title last season.

The league can have those kinds of stories because there is very good dispersal of talent. Of course, fans in Minnesota probably hoped it would be dispersed a little differently.

	Arkansas' Shameka Christon, the SEC player of the year, went fifth to New York.

They wanted Lindsay Whalen in a Lynx uniform. But Connecticut took her at No. 4, and unless a trade can be worked out, she'll be playing for the Sun.

Disappointing as that is for Minnesotans, the Lynx still had a very good draft with Kansas State's Nicole Ohlde and Florida's Vanessa Hayden at Nos. 6 and 7, respectively. Hayden, who has a broken foot, said she expects to be back in practice in about a month.

Post play seemed to be what most teams favored in this draft. The first four picks were two do-everythings in Taurasi and No. 3 Nicole Powell, and two guards in No. 2 Alana Beard and Whalen.

Of the remaining 22 picks in the first and second rounds, only five were guards. One of those was three-time Kodak All-American Kelly Mazzante of Penn State, who went at No. 18 overall to Charlotte.

Sharp-shooter guards seem the least likely to impress WNBA coaches/GMs. Such guards really have to prove themselves, as the Liberty's Becky Hammon did after being undrafted out of Colorado State.

But getting drafted is just the start of the battle. With 13 teams in the league, the competition for jobs is even tougher than Saturday's draftees probably realize.

Yet some of them are going to make an impact this season and for years to come. This was an excellent first round; you could see all of those players eventually finding their place in the pro game.

And, as much as UConn and Tennessee have been grabbing most of the spotlight at the Final Four the past few years, this draft showcased how many good players there are from all different schools and regions.

Players such as Christon, Georgetown's Rebekkah Brunson (Monarchs), USC's Ebony Hoffman (Fever), North Carolina State's Kaayla Chones (Mystics) and Louisiana Tech's Amisha Carter (Liberty) didn't get all that much attention in college. But all bring highly valued strength, size and post skills to the women's professional game.

They all have stories that, frankly, haven't been told very much -- if at all -- on a national scale. And the much-more familiar stories -- such as those of Taurasi, Powell and Whalen, for instance -- will be told in new places. The Liberty have two new Southerners in Christon and Carter. Brunson crosses the country to the left coast; Stanford's Powell makes the opposite trip.

All in all, Saturday was a time to look at the WNBA's horizon and see a lot of buds capable of blooming. The veterans will give the rookies their own "welcome" when they start the job competition. But Ackerman could be completely magnanimous in welcoming them on draft day.

"We are unabashedly hoping and expecting that the momentum they've brought to the league will carry over and help us this season and beyond," she said. "The players who come in every year are more ready than the ones who came before them to deal with the rigors of being a pro. They seem to have in their minds' eye what needs to be done as a pro."

Mechelle Voepel of the Kansas City Star is a regular contributor to ESPN.com. She can be reached at mvoepel@kcstar.com.