Probably the most WNBA-ready prospect not named Paige Bueckers …
Kiki Iriafen seems like a plug-and-play ahead whose agility, rebounding instincts and face-up scoring will make her an instantaneous asset. She will defend throughout positions and has a dependable mid-range sport. After transferring to USC, she showcased polish and poise towards top-tier competitors, traits that may translate rapidly to the professional degree. Her 36-point outburst within the second spherical of the NCAA Match after JuJu Watkins went down with a knee harm solely solidified her standing. BAG
Dominique Malonga, and never simply because she’s extensively anticipated to be the No 2 choose. At 19, Malonga is about to change into the highest-drafted international participant in WNBA historical past and defines versatility: she will be able to dunk, her capturing is elite, and she will be able to drive – and she or he’s nowhere close to her peak. SK
Hailey Van Lith. The 23-year-old proved to be some of the dynamic guards in faculty basketball this season, averaging 17.9 factors and 5.4 assists for TCU. She proved so long as the ball is in her arms, she’s going to excel at any degree. OW
This can be an excellent draft for …
This can be a robust draft for versatile wings and combo forwards. With growth looming and a number of groups rebuilding, gamers like Saniya Rivers, Sonia Citron and Justė Jocytė – who can guard a number of spots and deal with the ball – can be at a premium. Groups craving flexibility and upside will discover loads of choices. BAG
I’m actually intrigued about what the Washington Mystics are about to do. They’ve No 3, 4, and 6 within the first spherical. This draft class is powerful, and Citron and Iriafen are incredible gamers if out there – each are the 2 finest choices by way of their positions. If the Mystics can, drafting Shyanne Sellers at No 6 could be a steal. SK
The Dallas Wings. Including Bueckers to a backcourt alongside Arike Ogunbowale instantly vaunts the Wings into the “finest backcourt within the league” dialog. Regardless of shedding Satou Sabally in free company, Bueckers permits the Wings to rapidly retool and attempt to win on the 28-year-old Ogunbowale’s timeline. OW
Whose inventory has risen essentially the most within the final month?
Sania Feagin has surged into first-round consideration. Given extra minutes after Ashlyn Watkins’ ACL harm, the 6ft 3in ahead showcased her defensive vary and scoring contact for South Carolina’s nationwide runners-up. Lengthy overshadowed by the Gamecocks’ different frontcourt stars, she’s now seen as a sleeper massive who might contribute early, particularly for groups skinny within the publish. BAG
Hailey Van Lith. She was already a robust second-round prospect firstly of the season, however she has since confirmed she absolutely deserves to be drafted within the first spherical. SK
Throughout a formidable three years at Louisville, Van Lith seemed each a part of a first-round WNBA draft choose. Nonetheless, a regrettable switch to LSU left her WNBA future doubtful till she got here hovering again on to the scene at TCU this season, serving to the Horned Frogs go 34-4 and attain their first Elite Eight. OW
Who’s the very best match for Caitlin Clark in Indiana (in the event that they don’t commerce)?
Madison Scott may very well be a sneaky-good second-round match. The 6ft 2in Ole Miss wing is a defensive ace who thrives in transition and doesn’t want touches to make an influence. Clark’s offensive gravity would let Scott feast on cuts and mismatches whereas giving Indiana one other switchable perimeter defender. BAG
The Fever aren’t more likely to be main gamers on this draft, however there are a number of robust choices for his or her second-round picks. Annika Soltau could be an superior addition: she’s tall (6ft 4in) and defensively robust – she doesn’t all the time get a whole lot of minutes however when she does, she makes them depend. SK
Sarah Te-Biasu. Like many gamers from Montreal, Te-Biasu performs a bodily model of protection regardless of being simply 5ft 5in. In the meantime, her offensive sport progressed this season at Maryland, the place she shot 45% from deep and scored in double figures in 12 of her final 15 video games, main the Terrapins to the Candy 16. OW
Which worldwide participant might shock?
Justė Jocytė has actual star potential. The 6ft 1in Lithuanian guard already excels in EuroLeague play, showcasing superior reads, vary and maturity past her 19 years. If she joins the WNBA this yr, she might crack a rotation by midseason. If stashed, she’s nonetheless one of many class’s higher long-term bets. BAG
I’m undoubtedly stunned by any mock draft that doesn’t have Ajsa Sivka within the first spherical. She’s 6ft 3in and may guard nearly anybody on the court docket, her three-point capturing is phenomenal and, like Malonga, she’s solely 19 – so there’s loads of time for her to develop. SK
Annika Soltau. The German ahead averaged 21.2 factors, 9.6 rebounds and a couple of.8 STOCKS for Baden Basket 54 of the Swiss Basketball League, enjoying so properly that she obtained a call-up to the German nationwide workforce. There isn’t a lot precedent for a 20-year-old being that productive abroad, making Soltau a worthwhile wager. OW
Decrease-round gem to look at …
Harmoni Turner is the mid-major playmaker to look at. The Harvard standout lit up Ivy League defenses and was some of the environment friendly pick-and-roll scorers within the nation. Her means to generate offense off the bounce and defend throughout the backcourt might make her a worthwhile second-unit weapon. BAG
Turner has made a significant identify for herself in the previous couple of weeks and Deasia Merrill was some of the thrilling gamers to look at throughout the NCAA Match (which is saying one thing, contemplating how properly TCU performed). SK
Te-Hina Paopao. Whereas Paopao may slip resulting from being on the smaller and older aspect of the draft, the 22-year-old guard performs a mature, two-way model of basketball that noticed her shoot 40% from three all through her five-year faculty profession, together with the ultimate two as a starter for Daybreak Staley’s South Carolina. OW
The workforce who drafted finest final yr had been …
Positive, it will have been laborious to screw up, but it surely’s the Indiana Fever, who landed Caitlin Clark at No 1 to pair with 2023 Rookie of the Yr Aliyah Boston. Clark’s elite capturing and playmaking stuffed a obtrusive want and immediately remodeled Indiana right into a must-watch workforce with playoff potential. The franchise-altering choose everybody anticipated. BAG
Clearly the Fever, full cease. Will there ever be sufficient phrases to completely describe Clark’s influence on the WNBA? I’m trying ahead to Cameron Brink having the chance to indicate the world what she will be able to actually do, and in addition will eternally be in awe of the Sky managing to snag Angel Reese at No 7. SK
Los Angeles Sparks. Brink seemed each bit the modern-day unicorn she was projected to be popping out of Stanford, averaging 2.3 blocks earlier than a torn ACL restricted her to fifteen video games. Rickea Jackson, in the meantime, showcased her on-ball juice by averaging 13.4 factors whereas capturing 49.8% from two and 34.7% from three. OW
The primary spherical can be:
1) Dallas Wings – Paige Bueckers, guard, UConn
2) Seattle Storm – Dominique Malonga, forward-center, France
3) Washington Mystics – Sonia Citron, guard, Notre Dame
4) Washington Mystics – Kiki Iriafen, ahead, USC
5) Golden State Valkyries – Saniya Rivers, guard, NC State
6) Washington Mystics – Shyanne Sellers, guard, Maryland
7) Connecticut Solar – Aneesah Morrow ahead, LSU
8) Connecticut Solar – Justė Jocytė, guard, Lithuania
9) Los Angeles Sparks – Georgia Amoore, guard, Kentucky
10) Chicago Sky – Te-Hina Paopao, guard, South Carolina
11) Chicago Sky – Sania Feagin, ahead, South Carolina
12) Dallas Wings – Sarah Ashlee Barker, guard, Alabama BAG
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1) Dallas Wings, Paige Bueckers, guard, UConn
2) Seattle Storm, Dominique Malonga, forward-center, France
3) Washington Mystics, Sonia Citron, guard, Notre Dame
4) Washington Mystics, Kiki Iriafen, ahead, USC
5) Golden State Valkyries, Aneesah Morrow, ahead, LSU
6) Washington Mystics, Shyanne Sellers, guard, Maryland
7) Connecticut Solar, Ajsa Sivka, ahead, Slovenia
8) Connecticut Solar, Hailey Van Lith, guard, TCU
9) Los Angeles Sparks, Georgia Amoore, guard, Kentucky
10) Chicago Sky, Saniya Rivers, guard, NC State
11) Chicago Sky, Sarah Ashlee Barker, guard, Alabama
12) Dallas Wings, Justė Jocytė, guard, Lithuania SK
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1) Dallas Wings, Paige Bueckers, guard, UConn
2) Seattle Storm, Dominique Malonga, forward-center, France
3) Washington Mystics, Kiki Iriafen, ahead, USC
4) Washington Mystics, Sonia Citron, guard, Notre Dame
5) Golden State Valkyries, Saniya Rivers, guard, NC State
6) Washington Mystics, Hailey Van Lith, guard, TCU
7) Connecticut Solar, Aneesah Morrow, ahead, LSU
8) Connecticut Solar, Shyanne Sellers, guard, Maryland
9) Los Angeles Sparks, Aziaha James, guard, NC State
10) Chicago Sky, Georgia Amoore, guard, Kentucky
11) Chicago Sky, Justė Jocytė, guard, Lithuania
12) Dallas Wings, Sedona Prince, Middle, TCU OW
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