2026 WNBA Mock Draft

The 2026 WNBA Draft is finally here, which means that we get my Mock Draft!  One year after draft class that appeared to be better than I expected, this draft is unique in that it includes several good players and no guaranty of who will be the top pick in the draft.  In this draft, there are 4 players who could be the top pick in the draft.  Most people are going to hype this draft as a 4-player draft, but I think there are 7 who are really good, with 2 who are the top 2; I’m not certain out of them who has All-Star potential, but I wouldn’t be surprised if 5 or 6 of those 7 end up being All-Stars.

As I do with all my mock drafts, these are an aggregate of several other drafts, and do not reflect my order.  The first round considers team needs as well as the order; I did not do this for the second or third rounds because most players after the first round are selected for training camp and then don’t make the roster.

With the addition of the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, there are now 15 picks in each round and 45 picks total.

 

 

1: Dallas Wings – Awa Fam (I)

Valencia (Spain), PF/C, 6’4, 19

Style Comp: More polished Dominique Malonga, Nneka Ogwumike if everything works out

I get that Azzi Fudd is a popular choice because she is dating Paige Bueckers and that Lauren Betts is the popular big amongst college fans due to her success in college, but Fam has the highest upside while also already being more polished than most players at her age.  She is an amazing athlete who has shown glimpses of so many aspects of her game while having great size, making her an exciting developmental project.  She is a crafty finisher, good rebounder, has shown glimpses of passing, and looks like a solid defender; I also think she is more WNBA ready than most players of her age.  However, I think she still needs some growth and a bit of an adjustment period; she is skinny, resulting in her not being the best rim protector, and is a bit reckless of a passer at times.  I think she is probably best suited with a good point guard to help her develop her game.

While many are saying Dallas should draft Fudd, their need for a big is more pressing than their need for a wing, especially when considering that Fam has a higher upside than Fudd.  Paige Bueckers has always had her most success when playing alongside a big who can set screens, which Fam can do.  On top of that, if Fam develops her passing, there are several plays they can draw with Bueckers off the ball and Fam passing out of the post.  I don’t think Betts will provide the same kind of upside that Fam can.  In the short term, I think she can give Arike Ogunbowale more spacing by learning how to set hard screens.

 

2: Minnesota Lynx (from CHI) – Azzi Fudd (I)

UConn, SG, 5’11, RS Sr

Style Comp: Kayla McBride with less ball handling, Sophie Cunningham

After a prolific high school career and some struggles with injuries, Fudd finished off her career at UConn as the potential top pick in the draft.  I think she is likely the best shooter in this class; she is someone who can shoot off the dribble, but is an elite shooter from anywhere on the court in the catch and shoot, which is valuable for just about any team.  She is an amazing shooter, is competitive, is improving as a defender (she was good in college, though I felt like it took some time to get there), and should fit easily alongside stars due to her skillset and the fact that she doesn’t demand the ball a ton.  My concerns with her are that she is limited on the ball, I’m not sold that her defense will translate cleanly immediately, and that she doesn’t have the best injury history; she also has never played 30 MPG in a season, so I could see her fading late in her first couple WNBA seasons.  I personally am lower on her ceiling than most are due to the fact that players who are not as strong on the ball are less likely to be All-WNBA players, but I still think she could be an All-Star; at worst, I feel good with the prediction that she will be a good starter.

Despite the loss of Bridget Carleton, Minnesota still has a good roster and will be competing for a championship.  As such, I don’t think it matters whether they draft based on need or fit.  In this case, Fudd makes sense to fit with any roster due to her shooter.  I think Fudd can raise Minnesota’s ceiling and open their spacing even more than it already was.

 

3: Seattle Storm (from LAS) – Olivia Miles (I)

TCU, PG, 5’10, RS Sr

Style Comp: Skylar Diggins

Despite her having been in college for a long time, I think Miles established herself as a clear star who has one of the highest ceilings in the W.  I think the combination of playmaking, rebounding, and scoring could make her a triple double threat while succeeding alongside teammates.  She also is a crafty finisher, has shooting upside, and has a great ability to push the pace after getting a defensive rebound, which will make her a great player in transition; I also think her defense can be better if she is the second option on a team, though she needs to prove this.  My concerns for her are that her defense isn’t good, her jumper can be streaky (I think this is partially due to shot selection), and had injury concerns throughout her college career; I think her concerns are not that glaring compared to how others make them out to be, but I think she needs to display improved defense first.

Despite it being early in free agency, Seattle is in a bit of trouble; after a few years of going all in for big names without caring about the fit, they’re left with more questions than anything.  I think Dominique Malonga has proven that she can be an amazing player in the W, and while Seattle should take the best player available without worrying about fit, Miles should also fit very well alongside Malonga while enhancing her ability.

 

4: Washington Mystics – Lauren Betts (I)

UCLA, C, 6’7, Sr

Style Comp: Kamilla Cardosa with the hopes that she has some Brionna Jones in her

After a dominant college career, Betts should be able to find success in the W, though I have some concerns related to how high her upside can be.  Her physicality and size will allow her to find success in the league, even if she doesn’t end up being a star.  That said, she is a good finisher at the rim and is a good drop defender and rim protector; at worst, I think she will be a starting level big, though I think she can become an All-Star.  That said, her game is limited outside of the paint on both ends, especially since I don’t see her being a good shooter, and she isn’t that good of a passer.  I do have questions about her upside due to her limitations, but I think the road map to success is if she plays like Jones, who has developed into a versatile enough big to play alongside other bigs and be an All-Star, even if she has her struggles in the playoffs.

Washington clearly has a strong core, as Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen were both All-Stars last year while having great rookie years (let’s reflect for a second on how I was low on both of them and didn’t think they’d ever be All-Stars…oops).  Since Washington is still so young, I think it makes sense to draft the best player available, though Betts could also fill a need if Washington and Shakira Austin do not come to a long-term agreement.

 

5: Chicago Sky (from CON) – Kiki Rice (I)

UCLA, PG, 5’11, Sr

Style Comp: Arike Ogunbowale with better decision making

Even though most are going to act like this draft has a huge drop off after the top-4, I think Rice is a strong option to have available at pick 5.  She is extremely fast and can utilize her speed to get downhill easily, but she also has a high IQ on both ends ends of the court, differentiating her from many players of this skillset at her age.  She is an underrated playmaker, never turns the ball over, is a great rebounder and finisher for a guard, and is improving as a shooter (she is also an excellent free throw shooter).  That said, she is still a streaky shooter and is improving as a playmaker; I think the could have some inconsistencies at first, though I am not worried about that at first.  I will admit that I’m not certain what her ceiling is and if she will reach an All-Star level, but I think she can have a great career either way.

After trading Angel Reese for a very poor return, Chicago is in a strange situation about what their present or future is, despite giving Skylar Diggins a contract.  They did just acquire Rikea Jackson, who already looks awesome, and they still have Kamilla Cardosa, who has been improving offensively though has struggled defensively, but their current young players are largely unproven or not great otherwise.  Rice gives them an option who can be a backup behind Diggs and Courtney Vandersloot while developing into a player who can compliment their other stars in the future.

 

6: Toronto Tempo – Flau’jae Johnson (I)

LSU, SG/SF, 5’11, Sr

Style Comp: What everyone hoped Diamond Miller would be

After an amazing junior season, Johnson seemed primed to have a breakout to the point where she would be considered the clear number one pick, but a disappointing season resulted in confusion about what she will be in the W.  Either way, she is an amazing athlete who is very explosive, and I think she has been able to utilize this well.  She is also a good shooter and has defensive upside due to her athleticism and tools.  That said, she is a poor playmaker, isn’t the best free throw shooter, is inconsistent at rebounding, has poor finishing ability for her athleticism, and makes a lot of mistakes on both ends of the court.  I think that the fact that she seems raw makes her have a low floor given her tools and age, which is something that is alarming and that I didn’t feel about her last year.

In general, it’s tough to know what an expansion team is thinking entering a draft, but Johnson’s upside could allow them to have a star.  If they develop her to her potential, they could have an interesting player.  Either way, their moves this offseason allow them to not need a rookie to star immediately, so they can take a patient approach with Johnson, which I think they need.

 

7: Portland Fire – Gianna Kneepkens (I)

UCLA, SG/SF, 6’0, RS Sr

Style Comp: Cecilia Zandalasini

There is one reason that I don’t think it’s a guarantee to say that Azzi Fudd is the best shooter in the class, and that is because Kneepkens is in this class.  She is an amazing shooter who can hit from anywhere on the court, especially when shooting off the catch.  She is also great at moving off the ball, is solid at boxing out on the glass, and has a high IQ; I think her skillset and low usage rate allows her to fit well with other players, especially if she displays some of the passing ability she showed as an off-ball mover (that is part of why I like the Zandalasini comp for her).  Some weaknesses in her game are that she is limited on the ball, is an inconsistent defender, and isn’t the best rebounder; I think she does have a limited ceiling and it will be tough for her to be an All-Star, though I think she will have a role on a team.

I have no idea whatsoever what Portland will do; on top of that, my draft had Kneepkens, Nell Angloma, Gabriella Jaquez, Ta’Niya Latson, and Raven Johnson all extremely close, so any of them could go here with this pick.  Either way, an expansion team could do worse than getting an elite shooter who can help a team win more games in their first season.  Even if they are hoping to develop talent, Kneepkens’ shooting ability can make future stars feel at ease with playing there.

 

8: Golden State Valkyries – Nell Angloma (I)

Basket Lattes (France), SF, 6’0, 19

Style Comp: Hailey Peters, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton if it works

Angloma is such a tough player to project what she will be in the W due to her low floor but high ceiling.  Right now, you can see the potential in her since there are several ways in which she has shown glimpses of what she can be, especially since she is so young.  She is a great athlete, has great tools, has a high IQ on both ends of the court for her age, and is improving as a shooter, especially at the free throw line.  That said, she is very raw, especially since she relies so much on athleticism while needing to improve her shooting, playmaking, handle, and comfort on defense; I think she has a low floor due to how raw she is and will need to be with a team who can be patient.  If a team is able to develop her, it could be worth it, but it is possible that she doesn’t get there with how raw she is; that said, one thing that is nice with her is that she’s so raw that they can shape her a bit into the mold that they want to play as.

Golden State proved that they have a good thing going after a year where they made the playoffs as an expansion team despite their star being injured for the second half of the season, which is unheard of.  While there are several directions they can go, I think it’s fair to take a swing on developing Angloma, especially if she doesn’t come over to the W immediately.  I’m not sure if they have an obvious star for the future (Veronica Burton was amazing last year though, and they just resigned her), so I think Angloma is a good player to take a swing on.

 

9: Washington Mystics (from SEA) – Gabriella Jaquez (I)

UCLA, SG/SF, 6’0, Sr

Style Comp: Bigger Julie Vanloo

While sometimes considered a forgotten player on a loaded UCLA team, Jaquez showcased what I think she will be in the W, which is a high-quality role player.  She is willing to do pretty much anything on the court while also playing pretty much any position from 2-4.  She has a high motor, is physical, is a great finisher, has shooting upside, is a good defender, and is low maintenance, which will likely make it easy for her to fit with any team.  However, she doesn’t shoot a ton of 3’s, struggles at creating her shots, and has limitations as a playmaker.  I think she’s going to be a starter, though I don’t see her being more than that; that said, that’s a good result to get from the 9^th pick in the draft.

Now that Washington has 2 stars in Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, as well as having selected Lauren Betts in this mock draft, they could use some nice role players who fit with them.  Jaquez makes a lot of sense to go here due to how easily she can fit on both ends of the court.  It’s worth noting that I think it’s possible that they trade at least one of their first-round picks.

 

10: Indiana Fever – Ta’Niya Latson (I)

South Carolina, SG, 5’8, Sr

Style Comp: JJ Quinerly, discount Courtney Williams

After putting up insane scoring numbers for some good Florida State teams, Latson joined an amazing South Carolina team and showed what she can do for a competitive team.  She is such an impressive scorer, but I think the reason that she is able to score with ease is because she is so explosive and fearless with getting buckets.  She is also willing to shoot or defer, has shooting upside, has improved as a finisher (I think that’s due to her having a better team and not needing to take every shot), and is a solid playmaker for a secondary guard.  That said, there are some issues, including her lack of size, her inconsistency with finishing while being a lead option, and her defense being a bit underwhelming; I’m also of the mindset that she might be too small to succeed as a shooting guard and not a good enough playmaker to be a point guard.  While Quinerly had success in her rookie year, I think the key to success is looking at players like Sug Sutton or Williams, who both improved as playmakers as their careers went on, allowing them both to find different levels of success as combo guards despite being small.

At this point in the draft, I would say that Indiana should take anyone who could help them considering how good of a team that they have.  I think Latson could have a lot of success as a scorer of the bench for Indiana.  They have multiple wings and guards who are bigger for their size, which helps cover for Latson defensively, and it could allow her to ease into the WNBA by having her do what she does best.  I think this will also allow her to improve her shooting consistency and playmaking.

 

11: Washington Mystics (from NYL) – Raven Johnson (I)

South Carolina, PG, 5’9, RS Sr

Style Comp: Bigger Jordin Canada

Johnson is an interesting player because she really wasn’t someone I thought would be a first round pick until having a breakout season this year.  Despite her improvement offensively, I think her calling card is going to be on defense, where she thrives due to her aggressiveness, quick reaction time, and her length.  She also has a high IQ on both ends, is a strong playmaker, rarely turns the ball over, is a good rebounder for her size, and shot the ball well this year.  While she isn’t someone who will score a lot in the WNBA due to the nature of her game, my biggest concerns actually relate to how real her improvement in shooting is and if it was improvement in her game or if it was because of being one of the older players out there; if it isn’t falling, I don’t know what her role offensively will be outside of playmaking.

Washington might seem like a strange place for Johnson to go, especially since they drafted Georgia Amoore last year, but I actually think this is a great fit for her.  First off, we have no idea what Amoore will look like coming off an ACL injury.  Second, I have questions about what Amoore will be in the WNBA given her size and inefficiency from the field at points.  Third, how often does the 11^th pick in the WNBA draft become a star player?  At this point, you can do worse than getting a great defensive guard who is also a good playmaker and doesn’t need to be the star of a team.

 

12: Connecticut Sun (from PHX) – Iyana Martin

Perfumerias Avenida (Spain), PG, 5’8, 20

Style Comp: Leila Lacan, early career Courtney Vandersloot

First off, I’m not saying Martin will be Vandersloot (though I am high on Martin), but rather am saying she reminds me a bit of her.  Even if not Vandersloot, I think she can be a really good player.  I genuinely think that the most important part of Martin’s game is that she has such a high IQ; she has utilized this to her advantage in several aspects of her game, making me think she is more developed than most players of her age.  She is a great playmaker (she is especially good at making reads in pick and rolls), good shooter, and is good at getting steals by reading defenses.  I think the biggest weakness is that she isn’t an elite athlete, which, coupled with the fact that she is a bit skinny, could cause her to struggle adjusting to defenses and finishing at the rim; it’s also worth monitoring that she had a dip in her shooting splits last season, though I’m not worried about this long-term.

Connecticut is at a point in their rebuild where talent acquisition is most important.  Even though they clearly have their backcourt of the future in Leila Lacan (the comparison and the team drafting was totally unintentional) and Saniya Rivers, but I think the team shouldn’t worry about that, especially since Martin has among the highest upsides out of all remaining players in the draft.  If she does thrive, the good news is that Lacan and Rivers are big enough that I think all three of them can play together.

 

13: Atlanta Dream – Madina Okot (I)

South Carolina, C, 6’6, Sr

Style Comp: Ezi Magbegor

While it’s a bit of a bummer for South Carolina that their appeal for Okot to return for one more year was denied by the NCAA, she was able to parlay her lone season at South Carolina into a potential first round draft selection.  She didn’t start playing basketball until 2020, but already looks like a good big who can find a clear role in the league.  She has great size and knows how to use it, as she is impressive at finishing, defending, and rebounding; there are also some glimpses of some ability to stretch the floor, though this might take some time to develop.  With her only having played basketball for 6 years, she is still raw in several aspects of the game; in particular, her passing ability is limited, she isn’t confident in her shot outside the paint, and she has some struggles guarding on switches, all of which can be improved with reps.  The biggest question I have is if she can reach her ceiling (which I think is high) due to how raw she is for her age.

After trading for Angel Reese, Atlanta has shown that they are trying to win, so it makes sense to select any player who can contribute in any way.  While she is unlikely to play a ton of minutes as a rookie, she can at least help out with defending and rim protection, two skills that will be valuable with Briona Jones’ injury that will likely keep her out for the season.

 

14: Seattle Storm (from LAV) – Cotie McMahon (I)

Mississippi, SF, 6’0, Sr

Style Comp: Hayley Jones if she were a 4, Myisha Hines-Allen

I have trouble figuring out exactly how McMahon will fit in the league, but she has the skillset and the college success to make a first round pick worth a shot.  She is strong, aggressive, a solid defender, and a solid playmaker.  I think the most important thing with her is that her playing style will likely transition better to the WNBA than it did in college because there is better spacing and more consistent shooters, allowing her drives to be more efficient and her passing to be highlighted.  That said, I do have several questions about her, including her shot (I don’t trust it, and it doesn’t seem like she does either) and her struggles with efficiency; my biggest concern is that she’s a bit small for someone who plays more like a 4 than a 3, which makes me wonder how her defense will transition in the W.

Unless Seattle pulls a rabbit out of a hat and somehow gets some star talent, they need to be in talent acquisition mode for a rebuild.  In their case, I think they can take a chance on McMahon at this point and not worry too much if she has struggles in the league; realistically, how often does the 14^th pick in the draft end up being a major role player in the WNBA?  As such, it’s not a massive risk.

 

15: Connecticut Sun (from MIN) – Angela Dugalic (I)

UCLA, PF, 6’4, RS Sr

Playing Comp: NaLyssa Smith

I’m a little bit torn on Dugalic as a prospect; there is a path for her to play a role like Smith has, especially in Vegas, but I think that there are serious questions about her game.  I think the thing people will hear the most is related to the fact that she was willing to take a lesser role for UCLA and come off the bench, which is beneficial to see for a WNBA team.  She is a strong finisher, a steady defender, doesn’t foul much, is a good free throw shooter, and has a positive assist-turnover ratio.  That said, she is a streaky shooter, had several injuries early in her college career, and has never reached 24 MPG in college; I also question how real her finishing is due to her having a breakout year with efficiency, making me question both her floor and ceiling.  My fear is that the reason she ends up being drafted high is because teams see that she is from UCLA (this happens sometimes in women’s basketball with big schools).

It will be interesting to see what Connecticut does in the draft, especially at this point, since they hired Kevin Pelton in their front office, who is more analytical than what the team has done in recent years, which included building more around physicality and defense.  For now, let’s assume that Connecticut is still looking to build more talent and is interested in more physicality and defense, in which case Dugalic is a good fit.

 

 

16: Seattle Storm (from DAL) – Janiah Barker

Tennessee, PF, 6’4, Sr

Barker is an interesting talent because she is so athletic, has great tools, is a great driver, is a strong finisher, and shot well last year; her athleticism makes her able to recover defensively and makes me believe she can succeed in transition.  On the other hand, her defensive motor is erratic for her age, her rebounding effort isn’t great for her size, and she often bails on going to the rim, preferring difficult shots away from the rim.  The biggest swing skill is her jumper; I don’t believe in it, though it was better last year.

 

17: Portland Fire (from CHI) – Marta Saurez (I)

TCU, SF/PF, 6’3, RS Sr

Saurez is such a competitive scorer, is adept in the pick-and-pop game, is a great free throw shooter (indicating 3-point upside), improving as a 3-point shooter, and is a solid passer for a 4, making her well-equipped to be a role player.  That said, she is an inconsistent defender, turns the ball over a lot, is a streaky shooter to this point, almost never gets to the line, and dealt with injury issues to start her career; I think her upside is capped since her skillset makes her unlikely to have success as a top-3 option on a team.

 

18: Connecticut Sun – Charlisse Leger-Walker

UCLA, PG, 5’10, RS Sr

Leger-Walker is an interesting prospect because it comes down to what she is at this point after her previous ACL injury.  She is an amazing playmaking, a good defender, is physical, and is improving as a shooter and finisher; I think she is an easy player to plug into a team due to her willingness to be a supporting cast member.  My biggest concern is that she doesn’t look as explosive after her ACL injury, which I think could hinder her play on both ends; additionally, she doesn’t get to the free throw line enough, and I don’t trust her shot.

 

19: Washington Mystics – Maggie Doogan

Richmond, SF, 6’2, Sr

Doogan’s successful season at University of Richmond has her flying up draft boards.  She is an amazing shooter, great scorer, good defensive rebounder, and has a knack for getting to her spots on the floor easily.  That said, she is a poor defender, inattentive offensive rebounder, and turns the ball over a ton; I think her weaknesses combined with having a big jump from Richmond to the W could result in her having a lower floor and ceiling than most prospects touted around this range.

 

20: Los Angeles Sparks – Frieda Bühner

Movistar Estudiantes (Spain), PF, 6’1, 21

Bühner could be an interesting prospect if a team wants a draft-and-stash player who could contribute in a couple years.  She is a solid shooter and rebounder who seems to be smart on the offensive end, making me think that she could be a solid role player.  However, she has almost no playmaking, isn’t that great of a defender, and goes through stretches where the shot isn’t there.

 

21: Chicago Sky (from POR) – Serah Williams

UConn, PF/C, 6’4, Sr

I’ll be totally transparent and admit that I don’t fully understand why Williams is listed as a first-round pick on draft boards, but I don’t think it’s insane having her in the third round.  She is a great rebounder and blocker who has a great presence in the paint, is long, and can be crafty with finishing; she also was a better free throw shooter in the past.  That said, she turns the ball over a ton, is limited outside the paint, and looks lost when playing in a faster paced offense.  The other concerns I have is that she dominated for 3 bad Wisconsin teams before transferring to UConn and only playing 17 MPG, making me wonder what she can even do at a pro level.

 

22: Toronto Tempo – Tonie Morgan

Kentucky, PG, 5’9, Sr

Tonie Morgan might have been one of the biggest winners of the transfer deadline since she joined a Kentucky team who lost a point guard Georgia Amoore being drafted, and she showcased her elite playmaking at another level.  She is an amazing playmaker, is a solid defender, is improving at shooting, is aggressive at getting to the midrange, gets fouled a good amount, and has shown ability to get to the rim; I think she would benefit from great spacing.  That said, I don’t trust her shot, she doesn’t have good shot selection, she struggles at finishing 2’s, and isn’t a good rebounder; I could see her struggling against size at first as well.

 

23: Golden State Valkyries – Ashlon Jackson

Duke, SG, 6’0, Sr

Jackson is an odd case study, as she’s someone who is skilled put poor when looking at analytics.  She is a good playmaker (even though she’s been more of a shooting guard, I think she’s good enough to be a point guard), has shooting upside, is a very good perimeter defender, and is good at getting where she wants to, especially from deep.  That said, she is an inefficient finisher, rarely goes to the rim, has stretches where her shot selection is poor, and isn’t that good of a defender inside the perimeter.

 

24: Los Angeles Sparks (from SEA) – Kara Dunn

USC, SG, 5’11, Sr

Dunn played a big part in USC’s surprise success this year and showed how she can find a role in the W.  She is a good shooter and perimeter defender who could be a solid 3-and-D wing, especially given how low maintenance she plays; she also is an efficient scorer inside the perimeter.  However, she has limited on-ball skills and isn’t great at defending inside the perimeter, which will likely make it tougher for her to defend while switched onto bigs; I think she could have a tougher path to being a starter as a result.

 

25: Indiana Fever – Rori Harmon

Texas, PG, 5’6, RS Sr

Harmon might end up being a player who has more success in college than in the W, but she is talented enough to warrant consideration in the draft.  She is an excellent playmaker, an aggressive defender who forces a lot of steals, avoids fouls, and is a competitive rebounder for her size.  That said, she is small, has a streaky shot, and has poor efficiency; I could see her having struggles on both end in the W.

 

26: Toronto Tempo (from NYL) – Darianna Littlepage-Buggs

Baylor, PF, 6’1, Sr

Littlepage-Buggs demonstrated that she is an incredible rebounder, as well as a solid midrange shooter, solid finisher, good defender (especially since she relies on IQ and picking up patiently getting steals rather than athleticism), and is improving as a passer.  That said, she is a poor shooter, turns the ball over a ton, doesn’t draw enough fouls, doesn’t go to the room enough, and could struggle at first since she’s not a good rim protector and has struggles defending 3’s.

 

27: Phoenix Mercury – Yarden Garzon

Maryland, SG/SF, 6’3, Sr

Garzon is an amazing shooter who is also a solid secondary playmaker, has nice size, and is a solid ball mover; I think she has a high floor for this point of the draft and should easily be able to play with other players due to low usage.  Some weaknesses in her game are that she is an underwhelming defender, rarely gets to the line and rim, and is unlikely to succeed on the ball, all of which will limit her ceiling.

 

28: Atlanta Dream – Shay Ciezki

Indiana, PG/SG, 5’7, Sr

Ciezki is a great shooter who could be a solid combo guard (she will need to be a point guard at her height), is a decent secondary playmaker, is a solid rebounder for her size, and Is shockingly efficient at the rim for her size; she also has shown success while utilizing a high usage rate.  I think her biggest weakness is that she could struggle to find a role due to being too small for a shooting guard but not a good enough playmaker to be a point guard; she is also a poor defender and has a negative assist to turnover ratio.

 

29: Las Vegas Aces – Lani White

Utah, SG, 6’0, Sr

White is a great shooter and a solid defensive rebounder who is good at getting fouled while demonstrating that she can succeed at a high usage rate.  However, she is a poor defender, doesn’t get to the rim a lot while struggling at the rim, doesn’t pass a ton, and also turns the ball over a lot more than I’d like to see.

 

30: Washington Mystics (from MIN) – Teonni Key

Kentucky, SF/PF, 6’3, RS Sr

I think Key’s success could also depend on her size, as I’ve seen her reported height fluctuate between 6’3 and 6’5.  Key is a great finisher at the rim, a good rebounder who is good at boxing out, can succeed with a high usage rate, is a solid shot blocker, and has cut back on fouls.  That said, she is a poor shooter, inconsistent defender, and underwhelming passer; she played the wing more in college but will need to play the 4 or 5 more in the W to succeed, making me think her height could play a big role in her path to success.

 

 

31: Dallas Wings – Reagan Beers

Oklahoma, C, 6’4, Sr

 

32: Chicago Sky – Saffron Shiels

Townsville (Australia), PF, 6’2, 20

 

33: Connecticut Sun – Justine Pissot

Vanderbilt, SF, 6’4, Sr

 

34: Washington Mystics – Laila Phelia

Syracuse, SG/SF, 6’0, RS Sr

 

35: Los Angeles Sparks – Hannah Stuelke

Iowa, PF, 6’2, Sr

 

36: Toronto Tempo – Payton Verhulst

Oklahoma, SG, 6’1, RS Sr

 

37: Portland Fire – Grace VanSlooten

Michigan State, PF, 6’3, Sr

 

38: Golden State Valkyries – Jessica Timmons

Alabama, SG, 5’8, RS Sr

 

39: Seattle Storm – Cassandre Prosper

Notre Dame, SF/PF, 6’2, RS Jr

 

40: Indiana Fever – Latasha Lattimore

Mississippi, PF/C, 6’4, RS Sr

 

41: New York Liberty – Ella Declercq

BBC Latem-De Pinte Donza (Belgium), SF, 6’1, 20

 

42: Phoenix Mercury – Kyla Oldacre

Texas, C, 6’6, Sr

 

43: Atlanta Dream – Ny’ceara Pryor

Texas A&M, PG, 5’3, Sr

 

44: Las Vegas Aces – Zee Spearman

Tennessee, PF/C, 6’4, Sr

 

45: Minnesota Lynx – Ella Ladine

Washington, SG, 5’11, Sr

 

 

Next 10

1.      Sa’Myah Smith: Virginia, PF, 6’2, Sr

2.      Madison St. Rose: Princeton, SG, 5’10, RS Jr

3.      Jordan Harrison: West Virginia, PG, 5’5, Sr

4.      Saylor Poffenbarger: Maryland, SG/SF, 6’2, RS Sr

5.      Mia Jacobs: Oregon, SF/PF, 6’2, Sr

6.      Christeen Iwuala: Mississippi, PF, 6’3, Sr

7.      Micah Gray: Oklahoma State, SG, 5’8, Sr

8.      Brooklyn Meyer: Oregon, SF/PF, 6’2, Sr

9.      Ines Pitarch-Granel: Tango Boures (France), SG, 5’11, 19

10.   Lina Sontag: Osnabrueck (Germany), PF, 6’3, 22

 

My Draft Board

1: Awa Fam

I think she has a high ceiling while also having a high floor for that age.  I think she is significantly better than several players being considered with the top pick.

 

2: Olivia Miles

I think the triple-double threat that Miles can produce make her such a valuable talent.  I also think the defense and shooting could improve with a better team around her.

 

3: Azzi Fudd

I cannot justify having Fudd lower since I believe she is the best shooter in the draft.  I think that she has All-Star upside, though I could also see her being a high-level starter who doesn’t make it a bunch.

 

4: Kiki Rice

Her IQ is higher than most downhill driver type players, something that allows good decisions to be made in a time that usually involves a lot of chaos.

 

5: Iyana Martin

I think Martin is developed for her age and is a really talented player already.  I don’t understand why so many people are low; I think they assume that international players are always raw.

 

6: Lauren Betts

I know that this is a controversial selection given Betts’ All-Starr upside and success in college, but I think that she could struggle due to her lack of talent outside the paint on both ends.

 

7: Gabriela Jaquez

I’ve often been low on do-it-all players since I’m not sure if they can rely on a skillset, but Sonia Citron really broke this mindset for me.  I think her floor is so high that she will easily find a role.

 

8: Flau’jae Johnson

The upside is enticing, which is why I thought Johnson would be the top pick entering the college season, but I am very concerned about how raw she appears, making me lower than most on her.

 

9: Gianna Kneepkens

I think her game will be very limited in the W, but I can’t have her lower due to her shooting ability.  She could be higher on this board if she improves her defense.

 

10: Reagan Beers

This spot might sound insane since I have Beers going in the 3^rd round in my mock draft, but I think there is a clear path for her given her finishing, rebounding, defense, and improving playmaking.

 

11: Marta Saurez

While there are concerns that can prevent her from finding a role in the W, I think she is well-equipped to be a role player due to her ability in the pick-and-pop, as well as improvement as a passer.

 

12: Madina Okot

While raw, Okot has an obvious path to success just by being a traditional big.  If she develops more, that’s icing on the cake and would show that she should’ve been higher on this board.

 

13: Ta’Niya Latson

I don’t love small guards, especially ones who are shooting guards, but JJ Quinerly’s success as a rookie is a good model, especially since I think Latson is better.

 

14: Raven Johnson

I have serious doubts about Johnson’s offense, but I think she will be a good defender in the league, allowing her to find a role.

 

15: Nell Angloma

As enticing as the upside is, the floor is so low.  I think it’s possible that she flames out if she’s not drafted by a team that is ready to develop her.

 

I also considered Yarden Garzon with the 15^th pick.  Some other players who I am high on include Tonie Morgan, Janiah Barker, Shay Ciezki, Frieda Bühner, Kara Dunn, and Amelia Hassett.

 

 

Who do you like in this draft?  Who do you think will be the top pick?  Let me know in the comments!