UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) Jewell Loyd always dreamed about playing in the WNBA.
Now she'll get her chance, a little earlier than expected.
Loyd was one of the rare women's basketball players to leave school early to turn pro.
While the announcement came as somewhat of a shock, happening a day after her Notre Dame team lost in the NCAA championship game to Connecticut, Loyd said she spent a lot of time on the decision.
She's totally happy with her choice.
''It's always been a dream of mine to play in the WNBA,'' Loyd said Thursday afternoon before the draft in a sit-down interview with The Associated Press.
''I talked to my family for a long time. It wasn't like I woke up in the morning and decided to do something new. I figured out what was best for me. After talking to my family and bringing up the pros and cons it was the right decision for me.''
Loyd, who went first overall to the Seattle Storm, said the decision had nothing to do with finances. Loyd will make just under $50,000 and could make a few hundred thousand dollars playing overseas.
''Finances had nothing to do with it. That would have not been a good reason to turn pro,'' said Loyd, who was the first Notre Dame player ever taken No. 1 in the draft. ''I just felt it was my time to play at the next level and face the next challenge.''
The All-American said she discussed her choice to turn pro with Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw and finally told her hours after the Irish lost to UConn of her decision.
''She's like another mother to me and she was clearly disappointed, but she gave me a hug,'' Loyd said.
Loyd said she also told her teammates at Notre Dame who were supportive of her decision. They joked with her about making sure that she doesn't forget about them.
''They told me they had my back and that they understand what I'm doing,'' Loyd said.
It's been a whirlwind week for Loyd since declaring for the draft. She was out in Los Angeles for the Wooden Award and got a chance to meet her idol Kobe Bryant at a Lakers game. The two have been friends on Twitter for months.
''He hit me up on Twitter after the championship game loss and told me to hang in there,'' Loyd said. ''It was great to meet him in Los Angeles.''
Loyd said the two have chatted many times on Twitter and she's honored to call him a mentor.
One thing that Loyd was disappointed about was that she had to miss Notre Dame's final team banquet earlier this week, where she earned MVP honors for the Irish.
''I was sad I didn't get a chance to talk to the fans,'' she said. ''To me this wasn't goodbye, but I'll see you later.''
Loyd said she definitely plans on going back to Notre Dame and finishing her degree.
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