So weep not for those two teams, despite their lack of draft-night excitement. Projected draft position: Later in the third round. Elissa Cunane (NC State, Center, Senior). Sabally is a center with a pro-ready body who is more equipped to handle the physicality of W than some of her peers. She was a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award alongside South Carolina's Aliyah Boston, Stanford's Cameron Brink and Northwestern's Veronica Burton. They could use depth at every position group, and if said players can shoot, then even better. She can guard multiple positions, play both on and off the ball, distribute as a ball-handler and score at all three levels. Hillmon is also a proven winner. Aside from adding Angel McCoughtry, the Lynx didn't make any notable changes this winter, and for good reason after they finished with the fourth-best record and fourt-best net rating last season. Pro-ready skill: In her fifth year of eligibility at Notre Dame, Dodson proved she can crash the offensive glass at a high level. Examining these six mock drafts, we get a strong picture of how the first three picks will play out, with Kentucky guard Rhyne Howard going No. The league is hosting an in-person draft for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Following is an initial list of players who have filed for consideration as candidates for the 2022 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm. Minnesota. The 2022 WNBA draft will be held in New York City Monday, April 11 at 7 p.m. 1 pick. Allen-Taylor has proved to be a staunch defender, playing in a system that is predicated upon its high-pressure defense. During her senior season, she shot 39.3 percent from three on 4.3 attempts per game. WNBA (114) But the Fevers haul was just getting started with Boston. This Year, She Did Even More. While she's an effective playmaker, her scoring ability has been inconsistent. In her six-year collegiate career, Lewis always had a free-throw rate (a percentage of two-point scoring trips that result in a trip to the free-throw line, according to Her Hoops Stats) in the. Oregon forward Nyara Sabally, Georgia Tech forward Lorela Cubaj and Michigan forward Naz Hillmon appear on four of the six mock drafts. Las Vegas. Veronica Burton (Northwestern, Guard, Senior). These include her basketball IQ, her consistent motor and competitive toughness and her selflessness as a basketball player. But adding Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot did that back in free agency for the Liberty (along with the trade for Jonquel Jones earlier in the offseason), while Candace Parker and Alysha Clark did the same for the Aces. I think Im just never satisfied, Miller said following the draft. Austin's defense is pro-ready, as she has a solid handle on her footwork at 6'5". Questions the prospect raises: Staiti will need to work on her mobility outside the paint and improve her efficiency from beyond the arc. The Mercury head into draft night with just two third-round picks, so it's hard to imagine them finding much help. The Atlanta Dream are on the clock with the No. 2022 WNBA draft lottery odds The four teams that do not make the playoffs are put in the lottery and odds are based on records over the past two regular seasons. The 2022 WNBA Draft is one day away, but the drama has already started. Lifelong dreams will be fulfilled as this year's talented pool of prospects finally hear their names called and find out where they will . Tennessee guard Rae Burrell, NC State center Elissa Cunane and Mali forward Sika Kone each appeared on five of the six mocks. All season, Smith was the Cardinals' go-to shot-maker, especially when the defenses collapsed on Hailey Van Lith, a more dynamic guard. 1 overall pick still remains to be seen. Atlanta . Questions the prospect raises: She's not the most efficient inside scorer, although her overall field-goal percentage has exponentially increased over the years. 1 name atop the scouting report. Canada Canada. Although at 6'3" she has length and size as a post player, she also struggled with physicality and staying out of foul trouble. Every WNBA draft has the potential to reshape the league. Jasmine Dickey (Delaware, Guard/Forward, Senior), Pro-ready skill: ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo expects Dickey to get a shot at a WNBA training camp because of her athleticism and ability to score at a high level. The 2023 WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) Draft, the WNBA's draft for the 2023 WNBA season and 28th draft in WNBA history, was held following the 2022-23 NCAA Division I women's basketball season.The 2023 draft took place at Spring Studios New York on April 10, 2023. Berger promptly put up a 31 percent assist rate while hitting 65.4 percent of her shots at the rim, according to CBB Analytics. Her speed, her quickness, her ability to score in a lot of different ways.". Amber Ramirez (Arkansas, Guard, Redshirt Senior). It's possible this has impacted her explosiveness and lateral quickness. Even now, I know I have so much more to develop. While Hollingshed's shot has improved, it's still not mechanically as sound as it could be. How much potential she has at her size is what might make Austin most exciting to WNBA talent evaluators. While scoring most likely won't be what she hangs her hat on at the next level, she can be relied upon to set a solid screen, roll and find the best look. Projected draft position: Middle of the third round, 1. while averaging 6.5 attempts per game in her final collegiate season. 9 overall and a few second-rounders. Howard Megdal is editor-in-chief of The Next, a womens basketball site, and founder of the womens sports newsletter The IX. When Williams is on, her athleticism, strength and speed can be difficult to stop. Averaging five three-point attempts per game, Smith shot 36.7 percent, which, according to Her Hoops Stats, put her in the 83rd percentile. 3 and 14 selections this year, along with a 2023 first-round pick swap. Full round 2023 WNBA mock draft projections, with trades and compensatory picks based on weekly team projections and college and amateur player rankings. Her basketball IQ is very high, allowing her to make the proper reads on both sides of the floor. "The great thing about Pointer is she plays taller than she is," Dunn said. She'll need to work on getting a lot stronger to succeed. They added Grace Berger of Indiana at the seventh overall pick, who took over point guard duties for the Hoosiers once Ali Patberg left to begin collecting Social Security. section: | slug: wnba-draft-2022-biggest-needs-and-potential-prospect-fits-for-all-12-teams | sport: wnba | route: article_single.us | 6. While her versatility is her blessing, she can be inconsistent in some of her roles. The Mystics were hoping to compete for a title last season, but ended up in the lottery instead because they were cursed with an absolutely horrible injury situation. Questions the prospect raises: Smith's calling card is her raw shooting skills, but questions surround how she can use her 6'0" frame to contribute to the game in other ways besides shooting and scoring. Christyn Williams (Connecticut, Guard, Senior). But get excited for the teams that added the WNBAs next generation of stars including a Boston-led group that might turn the league on its head sooner than you think. . @howardmegdal, Basketball (353 posts) Due to those factors, it was not surprising to see them trade the Nos. While Nelson-Ododa stands at 6'5" and has long arms, she has struggled with physicality and strong finishes. The way she approaches crashing the boards is the sum of those parts. Smith, who averaged . Her competitive spirit and 40-minute focus in college could be a concern at the pro level. Like many teams, the Sparks could really use some help on the wing. Guides Guides. By Eric Nemchock. NEW YORK, March 29, 2022 - The WNBA announced today the initial list of 88 players from colleges and universities who have formally filed for inclusion as candidates for the 2022 WNBA. She has trouble finishing at the rim, has limited post moves on the block and shot 42 percent from the field last season. She grabbed 115 offensive rebounds last season, finishing within the top 20 in the country. Eligible international players (as that term is defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement) also are not required to opt in to the 2022 WNBA Draft in order to beselected. ET). The 2022 WNBA draft will be held in New York City Monday, April 11 at 7 p.m. Kianna Smith (Louisville, Guard, Redshirt Senior). She immediately made some notable moves to the roster, including trading Teaira McCowan, another former lottery pick, to the Wings. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the draft picks live on ESPN. 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 NEW YORK, April 6, 2022 - The WNBA announced today that additional players from colleges and universities have formally filed for inclusion as candidates for the 2022 WNBA Draft presented. During her senior season at UConn, there were some evenings when Westbrook showed potential when she was depended on as a primary ball-handler with all others unavailable to play because of injury. And then on the flip side, there were games when Westbrook looked hesitant and afraid to play aggressively. Pro-ready skill: Sjerven put her name on the map after three double-digit scoring performances against fellow W prospects in Shakira Austin, NaLyssa Smith and Naz Hillmon in the NCAA tournament. When Mystics head coach and general manager Mike Thibault. 26 overall recruit ( ESPN HoopGurlz) and Miss Basketball for the state of Iowa, Joens averaged 11.7 points . Kayla Jones (NC State, Combo Forward, Graduate Student). She'll need to work on getting a lot stronger to succeed. 8 and 13 picks to the Aces for Las Vegas' first and second-round picks in 2023. Questions the prospect raises: While Nelson-Ododa stands at 6'5" and has long arms, she has struggled with physicality and strong finishes. But with Stewart healthy, and re-signed alongside Jewell Loyd and Sue Bird, the Storm should jump right back into the contender ranks. Aisha Sheppard (Virginia Tech, Guard, Graduate Student). Offensively, Williams can score at all three levels and can be hard to guard when she's slashing through the paint. And the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces didnt select until the third round though, lets just say they didnt need to, given the available talent on hand. My Bets My Bets More More . Its a departure from what Fowles gave the Lynx, but lets be real: Theres only one Sylvia Fowles. Her footwork for a 6'4" big is impressive as she excels at preventing dribble drives. WNBA talent evaluators value prospects who can create a shot from multiple levels, both off the dribble and on a kickout, something Burrell can do with ease. She's an exceptional rim protector who can hedge in addition to function in drop coverages. During the 2021-22 collegiate season, she shot, Throughout her college career, Wells was both turnover and foul prone. Defensively, her footwork and quickness aren't where they need to be to help contain drives to the basket. Questions the prospect raises: In college, she struggled to defend larger power forwards because of their size and strength, as The Next's Em Adler noted. Top prospects from across the country got to audition for the pros during March Madness as South Carolina won its second ever NCAA title. Projected draft position: Draft lottery pick to mid-first round. 8. Jordan Lewis (Baylor, Guard, Graduate Student). Evina Westbrook (UConn, Combo Wing, Redshirt Senior). The Sparks missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade last season, and responded by making some major additions this winter. Will a WNBA team play her at the 5 for her defense or the 4 for her offense? Questions the prospect raises: While Allen-Taylor showed out in the NCAA tournament, averaging 12.8 points in four contests, a glaring weakness in her game is her inefficiency from the three-point line, as she shot 33.3 percent last season. The centerpiece of Indianas rebuild is Boston, a 6-foot-5 big out of South Carolina who was both the consensus best player available and fit the largest needs of the team. "As the game goes along, you'd swear she's 5'9", 5'10". Examining her performance in the national championship game against South Carolina versus her clutch showing in the Elite Eight against NC State illustrates those struggles. Pro-ready skill: Egbo had difficulty adapting to new coach Nicki Collen's system at first, but according to Rebecca Lobo, talent evaluators appreciate the 6'3" Egbo's length and tenacity at the defensive end. Skip to main content Skip to navigation > ESPN Search Welcome to ESPN India Edition WNBA. In a call Friday, ESPN analyst LaChina Robinson communicated how valuable that quality is to talent evaluators: "I think whenever you have a player that can show up on the big stage when their number is called or their team needs some momentum, that's exciting for WNBA coaches and GMs," she said. ET. 3 is anyone's guess. Engstler's limits on offense, especially her ability to score on the inside, might prevent talent evaluators from taking a chance on her. 4. Pro-ready skill: Gray can score at three levels and can especially create her own looks driving through the lane and on mid-range fadeaways. Apr 11, 2022. At 6'4", Staiti can stretch as a mid-range and three-point jump-shooter. Destanni Henderson (South Carolina, Guard, Senior). During the 2021-22 collegiate season, she shot 46.1 percent from beyond the arc on 76 attempts. She's an elite rebounder (11.1 per game in 2021-22) and has impressive anticipation as a help defender. In her final collegiate season, Gray shot. Questions the prospect raises: While Hillmon has notable intangibles, she has glaring downsides. Pro-ready skill: In her six-year collegiate career, Lewis always had a free-throw rate (a percentage of two-point scoring trips that result in a trip to the free-throw line, according to Her Hoops Stats) in the 92nd percentile or above. Pro-ready skill: Cunane is a solid post scorer who thrives with her back to the basket. In addition, the team let veterans Liz Cambage and Angel McCoughtry (missed last season due to a torn ACL) walk in free agency and did not make any major additions to replace them. Unfortunately, it's impossible to discuss the Mercury's prospects for the season without mentioning that Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia on suspected drug charges since February, and it's unclear when she'll be released. Nia Clouden, Michigan State senior guard. 1 pick. Joens has been gathering accolades since her very first year at Iowa State. A Sun-Aces WNBA Finals Feels . In four of her five collegiate years, Sjerven finished in the 93rd percentile or higher in total field-goal percentage. In addition, they parted ways with head coach Sandy Brondello and replaced her with Vanessa Nygaard. Projected draft position: Early second round, 4. Her efficiency from deep will also need to improve at the pro level. Her footwork for a 6'4" big is impressive as she excels at preventing dribble drives. Wells can score at all three levels, especially succeeding when she creates in space. In addition to her prowess on the non-glamorous end, which includes solid rebounding and help defense, Hollingshed can expand opposing defenses with a three-point shot that she's been improving exponentially throughout her collegiate career. Defensively, she's used her length and quickness to force turnovers and score off them in transition. This season from beyond the arc, she shot 38.7 percent, which places her in the 91st percentile, according to Her Hoops Stats. Pro-talent evaluators will value that she has a shot from beyond the arc, although she wasn't always allowed to play as often on the perimeter. Let's check in on the seasons of 12 of the players regarded as top draft prospects in 2022: Rhyne Howard, Kentucky - The Wildcats 6-foot-2 guard likely could have been the No 1 pick in 2021. 3. 2022-04-10. Round 1. Pro-ready skill: Bell has been lauded for her physicality and versatility on offense. Last month, they tried to accelerate the rebuild a bit by sending the Nos. Players whose college teams are still active will have 48 hours following the conclusion of their final game to renounce their remaining NCAA eligibility and declare themselves available for the 2022 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm. 1 overall pick, and potential steals. Hull's pro-ready skills are mostly based upon her intangibles, or the attributes that she has that can't be taught. a 6-foot-5 center from France who was a highly coveted prospect in many WNBA war rooms, . While Austin is listed as a center, her offensive game is more suited to power forward. The 2022 WNBA Draft is just one day away, but the drama has already started with a blockbuster trade that saw the Washington Mystics send the No. 14 overall pick, plus rights to swap 2023 draft picks. Her ability to read the opposing offense has set her apart. They haven't made the playoffs since 2016, have won just six games in each of the last two seasons and have cut both of their last two lottery picks after a combined 44 games with the club. 12, the Lynx added 19-year-old Maa Hirsch, a 6-foot-5 center from France who was a highly coveted prospect in many WNBA war rooms, and at No. Projected draft position: Draft-lottery hopeful to middle of the first round, 2. She is the consensus third-best player in this class, and the Mystics need some frontcourt depth. Chloe Bibby (Maryland, Forward/Guard, Graduate Student). 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