SECAUCUS, N.J. — Angel McCoughtry found a way to become No. 1 — in the WNBA draft.

Two days after her Louisville Cardinals were beaten by Connecticut in the national title game, the All-America forward was chosen by the Atlanta Dream with the No. 1 overall pick.

It's been quite an emotional few days for McCoughtry.

"I have no complaints," she said yesterday. "This is the best thing in the world. This is the best position to be in."

The 6-foot-1 McCoughtry averaged 22.8 points and 9.5 rebounds her last three years and led the Cardinals to an upset of Oklahoma in the Final Four before losing to undefeated UConn.

Washington took Maryland's 6-foot-1 forward Marissa Coleman with the No. 2 pick. Terrapins teammate Kristi Toliver was selected next by Chicago.

The Minnesota Lynx took UConn's Renee Montgomery, who helped the unbeaten Huskies to their sixth national championship.

Auburn's DeWanna Bonner was taken by Phoenix at No. 5 and Arizona State's Briann January went to Indiana with the sixth pick. Sacramento selected Oklahoma center Courtney Paris at No. 7.

Teams will open training camp May 17, exhibition games will begin May 21 and the league's 13th season will start June 6.