After being drafted in the first round, Adut Bulgak is expected to play in her first WNBA game Sunday for the New York Liberty.

To get to her big moment, the 23-year-old followed a road that was anything but easy.

She played her high school basketball at Archbishop O'Leary in Edmonton, then played two years at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas.

During two years at Florida State University, she earned All-American status multiple times. Her career rebounding average ranks 4th in the program's history.

Those are all accomplishments one might expect from a WNBA player, but it's her back story that makes her rise to the top even more impressive.







Bulgak's Sudanese family emigrated to Canada from Kenya as refugees in 1998, first settling in Manitoba.She was six, so learning English came relatively easy; within six months, she was able to string together sentences in her adopted language.

"My whole life was like an obstacle course," she said. "Nothing was a straight path. I had to work through a lot of things to get where I am. I'm reminded daily of where I started and where I came from."

In 2007, when she was 14, her oldest brother, Deng Atem Bulgak, was murdered in the family's backyard. The killing remains unsolved. Two years later, she lost a second brother in a car crash. She used the tragedies to work even harder at reaching the goals her brothers had told her she could achieve.

"They're supposed to be here watching and going through this experience with me, and seeing me accomplish all that I've set out to accomplish. I know they're there in spirit."

After winning tip-offs in the NCAA, Bulgak will have her hands full with bigger, stronger players in the WNBA. (Florida State University)

Ron Kutney coached Bulgak at Archbishop O'Leary. He said he saw a maturity and work ethic that was rare for a high school basketball player.

"She's well-versed in the trials and tribulations of life," said Kutney " The thing that impresses me the most is that she has worked very hard to overcome them. That's why I am so happy for her."

Kutney and Bulgak both moved on from the high school program in 2012. He retired, while she graduated. They stay in touch, and Kutney watches her career closely from Edmonton.



He thinks her potential roster spot on the New York Liberty is a perfect opportunity. She'll play behind all-star centre Tina Charles. Her coach is former NBA championship centre and Detroit "Bad Boy" Bill Laimbeer.

"You get to practise against them every day," said Kutney. "You get the coach who's got the nuances that make a good player a better player."

The New York Liberty open the pre-season against the Chicago Storm on May 1.

Bulgak plans to tryout for the Canadian Women's National Team in Edmonton on May 21, before they head to the Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro this summer.