Secaucus, N.J. ? The Cleveland Rockers selected LaToya Thomas of Mississippi State with the first pick in the WNBA draft Friday, hours after the league and its players’ union signed a labor agreement.

Thomas, a 6-foot-2 forward, was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year after her senior season, averaging 25.6 points and 8.7 rebounds.

Sacramento selected Vanderbilt center Chantelle Anderson with the second pick. Louisiana Tech center Cheryl Ford, the daughter of NBA star Karl Malone, was chosen third by Detroit.

Marion Jones hasn’t played basketball in six years. That didn’t stop the Phoenix Mercury from selecting the track star in the draft. Jones was picked in the third round even though she hasn’t played hoops since her junior year at North Carolina in the 1996-97 season.