Kachine Alexander is realistic about her long-shot prospects of making the Lynx roster this season. But all the 5-9 Iowa guard wanted was a chance.

And on Monday, the Lynx took her with the second pick in the third round, No. 26 overall.

"It was exciting just to have your name called period. But then, to add on, it being your home town is even more exciting," said Alexander, a Minneapolis native who played high school basketball for Benilde-St. Margaret's in St. Louis Park. "I actually dropped my phone and ran. I didn't know what to do or how to act."

Alexander was an All-Big Ten first team pick for the Hawkeyes as a junior and senior. She is the first Iowa player to finish with more than 1,000 career points (1,239), 800 rebounds (910) and 300 assists (339). She ranks second in school history in double-doubles with 34 and second in career rebounds.

"It is going to be a little rough, considering Minnesota is stacked," Alexander said, referring to making the Lynx roster. "It is definitely going to be a competitive training camp, but I love to compete so it is going to be fun."

Lynx training camp starts May 15, the day Alexander is supposed to have her graduation ceremonies.

"So I am not going to be able to make graduation, but I will have my degree," said Alexander, whose major is recreational management. "I would like to be a Division I coach later in life."

Her more immediate goal is playing in the WNBA. "Even in high school, I told my high school coach that I was going to be in the WNBA," Alexander said. "He probably thought I was crazy at that point.

"And when I came here on my official visit to Iowa, I told my coach -- we have a plaque that says WNBA members that used to play at Iowa -- I told her I was going to be right there.

"[She] probably thought I was crazy, too," Alexander said. "But just to know that all the hard work that you put in throughout the years has paid off -- [It encourages you] just keep working to stay in the WNBA. So I am definitely going to try to work hard so I can stay in my hometown."

Hawkeyes coach Lisa Bluder said she and her staff and Alexander's teammates were all excited for her. "Being selected in the WNBA draft has been one of Kash's goals since she arrived in Iowa," Bluder said. "Kachine was a great Hawkeyes in her four years and we can't wait to see her take her talents to the professional stage."

Thirteen Hawkeyes have played in the WNBA.

Alexander is one of two Minnesotans the Lynx acquired draft rights to Monday. The other was Marquette point guard Angel Robinson, a player the New York Liberty drafted No. 22 overall in the second round, then traded to the Lynx.

"We played together in high school and AAU," Alexander said of Robinson, "so it will be fun to try to play on the same team."

Said Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve: "I really like Angel Robinson and Kachine Alexander. They help us positionally to balance the roster when training camp starts.

"I like their toughness a lot. To say they have an easy way of making the team? No."

The Lynx currently have 14 players on their active roster; that's three above the maximum for the regular season.