In the first of a five-part series, I revisit the 2016 WNBA Draft and will end with a redraft of the (not so good) 2021 draft.
With the 2023 draft coming up and the college basketball season in full swing, it’s time to reflect on the good, the bad and the questionable choices made during previous drafts. Furthermore, with the free agency period underway, most of these players are either available, re-signed with their current team, or have departed for a new team. Beyond Women’s Sports current 2023 Mock Draft is available with an updated version due out after most of the free agency news breaks.
FIRST ROUND
#1. Seattle Storm: Breanna Stewart, PF, UCONN
new pick: no change
The 2018 MVP remains Seattle’s pick without question. The two-time champ and Finals MVP has played in Seattle her entire career. However, Stewart is the hottest free agent this off-season and could end up elsewhere (New York, Minnesota).
#2. San Antonio Stars: Moriah Jefferson, PG, UCONN
new pick: Jonquel Jones, C, George Washington
San Antonio had a point guard hole and Jefferson was the likely pick here. However, shifting gears and drafting 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones could have established a solid frontcourt before the Stars relocated to Las Vegas. Jefferson would be injured for parts of the 2017 and 2018 seasons and, subsequently, would be traded to the Dallas Wings at the start of the 2019 season. Opting to sit out in 2019, Jefferson would return to play in 2020 before injuring her right knee and would miss the rest of the season.
On May 9, 2022, the Wings would waive her and be picked up by the Minnesota Lynx four days later. Jefferson is an unrestricted free agent and could see offers from teams needing a point guard(Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago). Jones was recently traded from Connecticut to the New York Liberty.
#3. Connecticut Sun: Morgan Tuck, PF, UCONN
new pick: Kahleah Copper, SF, Rutgers
Tuck had an injury-plagued WNBA career. The Sun had numerous holes in their roster and Tuck had a solid senior year at UCONN. However, in her rookie season, she missed the final month of play due to a knee injury. The Sun’s new pick here would be Rutgers’ Kahleah Copper. Despite being part of the trade that would send Copper to Chicago for Elena Delle Donne, Copper would have provided a solid offense for the Sun. Tuck would go on to be injured again in 2017, missing two months, but would play the entirety of the 2018 season.
For 2019, Tuck played in 33 games and would be traded to the Seattle Storm prior to the 2020 season. 2020 would be her final season and she would announce her retirement in 2021. Tuck is now the Sun’s Director of Franchise Development.
#4. Connecticut Sun: Rachel Banham, SG, Minnesota
new pick: Courtney Williams, SG, South Florida
Banham never ended up as the shooting specialist that the Sun wanted. Meanwhile, Williams would be traded from the Mercury to Connecticut after eight games in favor of center Kelsey Bone and a 2017 second-round pick. In 2018, Banham would have her best season with Connecticut, but Williams would see more playing time. An avoidable situation had Connecticut drafted Williams fourth overall. Both Banham and Williams are unrestricted free agents for 2023.
#5. Dallas Wings: Aerial Powers, SF, Michigan State
new pick: no change
Powers remains the Wings’ pick here, even though she would ask for a trade midway through the 2018 season. Possibly Tiffany Mitchell slides down to the fifth pick? Powers would be named to the All-Rookie team with Stewart, Jefferson, Tiffany Mitchell and Imani Boyette. After three seasons with the Mystics, Powers would sign with the Minnesota Lynx in 2021.
#6. Los Angeles Sparks: Jonquel Jones, C, George Washington
new pick: Morgan Tuck, PF, UCONN
Tuck ended up being picked by the Sparks here due to their need in the post but would still end up with Connecticut via their trade for Chelsea Gray. Additionally, after the Sun drafted Copper and Williams, trading for Tuck would give them added depth in the post.
#7. Washington Mystics: Kahleah Copper, SF, Rutgers
new pick: Tiffany Mitchell, SG, South Carolina
The Mystics needed additional depth in their backcourt. Adding in Tiffany Mitchell would give additional support off the bench. The 2016 season was seen as a continuation of a rebuild. This young Mystics’ team was being built around Emma Meesseman, Stefanie Dolson and Tayler Hill. The following off-season would see the Mystics acquire Delle Donne from the Chicago Sky, which likely would involve trading Mitchell and another rebuild would occur.
#8. Phoenix Mercury: Courtney Williams, SG, South Florida
new pick: Moriah Jefferson, PG, UCONN
The Mercury looked to add some depth at point guard and selected Jefferson to ease the burden on Diana Taurasi. Phoenix added Lindsey Harding and Noelle Quinn to their backcourt, but both would end up injured during the season. A shift in the lead guard was necessary to have Taurasi play more off-the-ball. Furthermore, Jefferson’s health would be questionable, like Harding and Quinn’s. However, Jefferson could have been a solid prospect for the Mercury to develop long-term.
#9. Indiana Fever: Tiffany Mitchell, SG, South Carolina
new pick: Rachel Banham, SG, Minnesota
Banham would be the best remaining guard for Indiana to select. A solid three-point threat that’s also capable of running the point. Playing with Tamika Catchings in her final season could have been an asset for Banham on the defensive end. Tiffany Mitchell is also an unrestricted free agent for 2023 and isn’t expected to re-sign with the Indiana Fever.
#10. Chicago Sky: Imani Boyette, C, Texas
new pick: Julie Allemand, PG, Belgium (33rd pick by Indiana)
The Chicago Sky needed to fill every position despite making the playoffs in 2015. They would add Jessica Breland in free agency but needed a backup point guard. Like any international prospect, Julie Allemand would be only 20 years old on draft day. With Jamierra Faulkner returning, Allemand would be worth drafting and bringing in for a future season. Consequently, Allemand wouldn’t show up until 2020 with Indiana, but with a different team might she have shown up earlier? Additionally, the Sky would trade for her prior to the 2022 season. Allemand’s current status for 2023 is unknown.
#11. Atlanta Dream: Bria Holmes, SG, West Virginia
new pick: no change
Holmes had a solid, five-year career in the WNBA. She would remain the Dream’s pick here and would provide added depth in the backcourt. After sitting out in 2018 due to pregnancy, Holmes would find herself with Connecticut for 2019 and 2020 and then the Sparks and Aces in 2021. She continues to play overseas in the Czech Republic.
#12. New York Liberty: Adut Bulgak, C, Florida State
new pick: Imani Boyette, C, Texas
Bulgak would play in just seven games for the Liberty in her rookie year. New York would waive Adut in August and she would get picked up by Minnesota the following year. She remains the only South Sudanese player ever in the history of the WNBA. However, her collegiate and overseas play never translated well in the WNBA. Here’s where Imani Boyette (now McGee-Stafford) would have helped the Liberty more.
A solid shot blocker and defender, Boyette would have played behind Tina Charles and wouldn’t have had as much of a burden as she did in Chicago. In addition, McGee-Stafford would step away from basketball following the 2019 season but would return in 2022 on a training camp contract with the Chicago Sky.
SECOND ROUND
In general, 12 remaining players from the draft would play at least one game, with seven of them playing more than one season. Here’s a quick redraft of the season round.
#13. Atlanta: Rachel Hollivay, C, Rutgers (2 seasons/39 games, 2016-17)
new pick: Temi Fagbenle, C, USC (35th pick overall by Minnesota. Played three seasons and 69 games with Minnesota from 2017-19)
#14. Minnesota: Jazmon Gwathmey, PG, James Madison (3 seasons/60 games, 2016-18)
new pick: no change
#15. Los Angeles: Whitney Knight, SG, Florida Gulf Coast (1 season/10 games, 2016)
new pick: Jamie Weisner, SG, Oregon State
#16. Atlanta: Courtney Walker, SF, Texas A&M (cut in training camp)
new pick: Rachel Hollivay, C, Rutgers
#17. Connecticut: Jamie Weisner, SG, Oregon State (1 season/7 games, 2016)
new pick: Bashaara Graves, PF, Tennessee
#18. Dallas: Ruth Hamblin, C, Oregon State (1 season/10 games, 2016)
new pick: no change
#19. Washington: Lia Galdeira, SG, Washington State (cut in training camp)
new pick: Whitney Knight, SG, Florida Gulf Coast
#20. Phoenix: Jillian Alleyne, PF, Oregon (2 seasons/7 games in 2019 and 2021 total)
new pick: Adut Bulgak, C, Florida State
#21. Indiana: Brene Moseley, PG, Maryland (1 season/8 games, 2016)
new pick: no change
#22. Minnesota: Bashaara Graves, PF, Tennessee (2 seasons/22 games, 2016-17)
new pick: Jillian Alleyne, PF, Oregon
#23. Los Angeles: Brianna Butler, SG, Syracuse (cut in training camp)
new pick: Nirra Fields, PG, UCLA (32nd pick; 1 season/4 games in 2016 with Phoenix)
#24. New York: Ameryst Alston, PG, Ohio State (2 seasons/3 games total with New York)
new pick: no change
After Fagbenle, Fields and Allemand, no other players from the third round ever played a game in the WNBA.
Check out Beyond Women’s Sports for more women’s sports coverage. Todd Roman is on Twitter too. Follow Todd @TBRBWAY.
