The Minnesota Lynx selected Cardinal guard Candice Wiggins with the third pick of the WNBA Draft on Wednesday, a day after the Stanford senior’s collegiate career ended.

Stanford’s only other senior — guard Cissy Pierce — was not selected.

Wiggins, the most prolific scorer in Pac-10 history, will join a young Minnesota backcourt that includes Seimone Augustus and Lindsey Harding, who were back-to-back No. 1 overall selections in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

Wiggins is coming off a stellar season and NCAA Tournament. She had two 40-point games in the NCAAs — the only player in history to accomplish such a feat — and led the Cardinal to Tuesday’s championship game, which it lost to Tennessee. Wiggins was named to the All-Tournament team for her efforts.

“She is coming off of one of the best NCAA Tournament performances in recent memory,” Lynx head coach Don Zierden said. “We are excited to see what she can do on the court to help the Lynx become a playoff contender in 2008 and beyond.”

On the season, Wiggins averaged 20.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, to go along with a team-high 80 steals. She won the illustrious Wade Trophy for national player of the year, and was selected to the All-America team for the fourth time.

Wiggins finishes her Stanford career atop the record books. Her total points (2,629) and three-point baskets made (295) are the most in Pac-10 and Stanford history; and she also holds the school record for steals and free throws made.

“It is very exciting to be able to add an elite player like Candice Wiggins to our roster,” said Roger Griffith, the Chief Operating Officer of the Lynx. “She has been one of the best players in the nation in each of her four collegiate seasons. Throughout her career she has shown an amazing intensity and incredible passion for basketball.”

Wiggins was selected after Tennessee’s Candace Parker, who went No. 1 overall to the Los Angeles Sparks, and LSU’s Sylvia Fowles, who was picked by the Chicago Sky. Though an academic senior, Parker had one more year of eligibility left because of a medical redshirt during her freshman year. She is the first women’s basketball player to leave school early for the WNBA Draft.

Wiggins will be joined on the Lynx by two familiar opponents: Tennessee’s Nicky Anosike and Connecticut’s Charde Houston. The Lynx selected Anosike with their second round pick. Anosike, a center, knocked down six baskets and grabbed eight rebounds as she helped propel the Lady Vols to their second straight title. All five Tennessee starters were chosen in the draft.

In the third round, the Lynx picked up Houston, who came off the bench for the Huskies during their semifinals loss to Stanford.

The next month will be a hectic one for Wiggins. First, she will join the U.S. National Team in Chicago, and then travel with them to Beijing, where they will play for a week in an Olympic test event. She will then attend the Lynx’s training camp at the end of the month, which will run until Minnesota kicks off its season on May 18.