Kansas senior forward Chelsea Gardner (15) shoots over Oklahoma State defender Lashawn Jones (55) during the annual Jayhawks for a Cure game Saturday evening at Allen Fieldhouse.

Indianapolis ? The Indiana Fever chose Chelsea Gardner of Kansas with the 21st overall pick in the WNBA draft Thursday night.

The 6-foot-3 forward led the Jayhawks with 16.8 points per game during her senior season. Gardner earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in addition to All-America honorable mentions from the Associated Press and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. She also averaged 8.6 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and finished No. 12 on Kansas’ career scoring list with 1,516 points.

“I was nervous and anxious waiting to see my name on the screen, but it’s a great opportunity and it’s always been my dream of mine,” Gardner said after the draft.

“This is huge opportunity for me and my family. I am the first person in my family to play at the professional level; it’s really a dream come true. I still have to work hard and continue to get better in the gym.”

Gardner is the seventh KU player taken in the WNBA draft and the first since former teammate Angel Goodrich was drafted 29th overall by Tulsa in 2013. Gardner will join Goodrich and Danielle McCray (Connecticut, 7th overall, 2010) as the only active Jayhawks in the WNBA.

“This is a wonderful honor tonight for Chelsea and her family,” said KU interim head coach Katie O’Connor, who was Gardner’s position coach under Bonnie Henrickson. “She has made significant contributions to this program and we are extremely proud of her as she takes the next step in her basketball career. Chelsea is a versatile player that had great success playing in a very tough league. I think her overall skill set especially her ability to score from the perimeter separates her from other players.”

Indiana opens training camp May 17.