Galdeira leaves Wazzu to turn pro

Former state basketball player of the year Lia Galdeira will forego her senior season at Washington State and turn pro.

Galdeira, who prepped at Konawaena, will begin her professional basketball career in Europe this fall with hopes of playing in the WNBA. Galdeira leaves Washington State as the program’s second-leading scorer with 1,710 points in three seasons.

"I have made the decision to pursue my lifelong dream and play professionally, this year in Europe and then in the WNBA," Galdeira, a 5-foot-11 guard, said in a news release on Friday. "To all the Cougar fans, your support has been very much appreciated by me and my teammates."

Galdeira averaged 20.0 points this past season and helped the Cougars to their second consecutive WNIT appearance. She finishes her career ranked second in 3-point field goals made (160), field goals made (621) and steals (271), and first in 3-point field-goal attempts (576) and total field-goal attempts (1,645). She earned Pac-12 postseason honors in all three seasons.

"Lia has made the decision after much contemplation to pursue her professional basketball career overseas," Washington State coach June Daugherty said. "She has had a record-setting and great career as a member of the Cougar women’s basketball family and now feels it is time to take her talents to the next level. It has been a pleasure to coach her. We thank her and wish her much success and happiness as a professional player."