The 2019 draft is about to enter its fifth year in the WNBA. In total, 27 players have appeared in at least one game during this class’s four-year history. In 2022, 18 players appeared on a roster in total. Entering its fifth year, most are restricted free agents or have signed a contract extension already. This draft has also produced three All-stars.
FIRST ROUND
#1. Las Vegas Aces: Jackie Young, SG, Notre Dame
new pick: no change
Young had a rough rookie season as Bill Laimbeer made her the default starting point guard. This wasn’t a role she wasn’t accustomed to at Notre Dame. In 2020, Young came off the bench and proved more valuable by averaging 11 points per game on 49.2 percent shooting. Furthermore, in 2021, she would be slotted into the starting position at small forward. Young’s defense would be critical in their run during the season and she shot a career-high of 50.7 percent. During the Aces’ championship, Young would average career highs of 15.9 ppg, 43.1 percent from three-point range and 4.4 rebounds per game.
#2. New York Liberty: AD (Asia) Durr, SG, Louisville
new pick: Arike Ogunbowale, SG, Notre Dame
Durr was the correct choice at the time. A solid career while at Louisville saw AD as a solid offensive player who was also capable of running the floor. Their rookie season saw Durr average 9.7 ppg, 1.7 assists per game, and 1.6 rpg. Unfortunately, in 2020, COVID-19 would hit Durr and sideline them for all of 2020 and 2021. AD would finally return to the court in 2022 with New York, only to be traded to Atlanta mid-season. Durr recently signed a contract extension with the Dream.
𝙇𝙊𝘾𝙆𝙀𝘿 𝙄𝙉.🔒@A_Hooper25 has officially re-joined their hometown team for the 2023 season👏 pic.twitter.com/0k4Dr90J8f
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) February 1, 2023
Drafting Notre Dame’s Ogunbowale would have given the Liberty an elite offensive player. While at Dallas, Arike would be named an All-Star in 2021 and 2022. Prior to the 2022 season, Dallas would sign Arike to a multi-year contract extension and lock her in as their long-term leader. The potential to play alongside Sabrina Ionescu a year later would be a gift to the basketball world.
#3. Indiana Fever: Teaira McCowan, C, Mississippi State
new pick: Napheesa Collier, SF, UCONN
The Fever needed a true post presence and took Mississippi State’s McCowan. A dominant player inside that can block shots and clog the paint. In 2021, McCowan would nearly average a double-double with 11.3 ppg and 9.6 rpg. However, Dallas GM Greg Bibb would trade for Teaira in 2022 and, most recently, signed a multi-year extension with the Wings to be their long-term force inside.
Though McCowan didn’t work out with Indiana, drafting Connecticut’s Napheesa Collier instead may have worked out better. The Fever already had Kelsey Mitchell and Tiffany Mitchell in the backcourt, with Erica Wheeler at point guard. Sliding Collier over to power forward would have allowed Indiana to run a more uptempo game alongside Candice Dupree.
#4. Chicago Sky: Katie Lou Samuelson, SF, UCONN
new pick: Brianna Turner, PF/C, Notre Dame
Samuelson going fourth overall was questionable at the time. Chicago already had Allie Quigley, Diamond DeShields and Kahleah Copper. A possible addition in the post would have worked out better for Chicago in drafting Notre Dame’s Brianna Turner. Samuelson would last only one season in Chicago before being traded to Dallas in 2020. She would also end up in Seattle in 2021 and Los Angeles in 2022. Samuelson is under contract with the Sparks through the 2023 season.
Having Turner from the beginning could have solidified a frontcourt with Cheyenne Parker or their 2020 acquisition, Azurá Stevens. Turner signed a contract extension with the Phoenix Mercury on May 14, 2022.
#5. Dallas Wings: Arike Ogunbowale, SG, Notre Dame
new pick: Marina Mabrey, SG, Notre Dame
The Wings opted to select fellow Notre Dame player in Marina Mabrey now that Ogunbowale dropped down to second overall. Mabrey was originally selected 19th overall by Los Angeles. Her rookie year saw little activity and would end up traded to Dallas in 2020. Mabrey’s numbers have been consistent since landing in Dallas. A solid defender, a three-point threat and a ball handler. Marina is currently a restricted free agent and could possibly head to Minnesota or Chicago if Dallas opts not to re-sign her.
Marina Mabrey was in her bag last night in the Dallas Wings W! @mmabrey1 pic.twitter.com/LnQnmGcomF
— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) August 9, 2022
#6. Minnesota Lynx: Napheesa Collier, SF/PF, UCONN
new pick: Teaira McCowan, C, Mississippi State
The Lynx would receive a gift, with McCowan dropping to sixth overall. A necessary backup for Sylvia Fowles, that could have benefitted from learning from the 8-time All-star. Now with Fowles retired, having locked in McCowan here would have helped Minnesota long-term.
#7. Los Angeles Sparks: Kalani Brown, C, Baylor
new pick: Ezi Magbegor, C, Australia
Brown never materialized into a solid post player like she was at Baylor. After just one season with the Sparks, Brown would be traded to the Atlanta Dream. In 2021, after just one game with Atlanta, she would be waived. For 2022, she would sign a training camp contract with the Aces only to be waived prior to the start of the season due to an injury. Brown recently signed a training camp deal with Dallas.
Insert Australia’s Ezi Magbegor instead. Ezi wouldn’t show up for the 2019 season but would wait until 2020 to play her first game with Seattle. Magbegor has turned into a solid defensive player for Seattle and saw career highs in 2022 of 9.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 1.8 blocks per game. Currently, Seattle has extended a qualifying offer to Magbegor for 2023.
#8. Phoenix Mercury: Alanna Smith, PF, Stanford
new pick: Sophie Cunningham, SG, Missouri
Smith never produced much at the WNBA despite a solid career at Stanford. Following three seasons in Phoenix, the Mercury would waive her in 2022, and she would get signed by Indiana. After only nine games, Indiana would subsequently waive Smith and she would not return to the WNBA that season. Insert Sophie Cunningham, the Mercury’s 13th overall pick, and drop Smith into the second round.
Cunningham would be a key player off the Mercury’s bench for her first three years. Then, in 2022, she would be inserted into their starting lineup and excel. That season, she would average 12.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.6 apg, and one steal per game. Recently, Cunningham signed a two-year contract keeping her in Phoenix.
🌶 Sophie Cunningham to re-sign with the Phoenix Mercury, her agent, Navarro Thompson, told Alexa Philippou (ESPN)#WNBA #WNBAFreeAgency pic.twitter.com/txGQbtE22d
— AllThingsWNBA (@AllThingsWNBA) February 2, 2023
#9. Connecticut Sun: Kristine Anigwe, PF, California
new pick: Katie Lou Samuelson, SF, UCONN
Anigwe never materialized into a solid player in the WNBA. On occasion, there would be glimpses of her potential. However, Anigwe would bounce around the league on four different teams in four years (Connecticut, Los Angeles, Dallas and Phoenix). Anigwe has not currently been signed for the 2023 season.
Adding in Samuelson would have given the Sun some needed offense off the bench. But, like Anigwe, Samuelson has also bounced around the league on four different teams. On the other hand, Katie Lou seems to have found her home with the Sparks after signing a contract extension in 2022.
#10. Washington Mystics: Kiara Leslie, SG, NC State
new pick: Natisha Hiedeman, PG, Marquette
NC State’s Kiara Leslie never panned out for the Mystics. She suffered an injury to her right knee toward the end of the 2019 NCAA season and would not play in 2019. In 2020, she would make her debut and play 15 games for Washington, averaging 5.5 ppg and 3 rpg. For 2021, her numbers would decline and she would play only nine games before being waived on June 28, 2021. Leslie did not play in the WNBA in 2022.
Plug in Marquette’s Hiedeman instead here. Originally the 19th pick by Minnesota, Hiedeman going tenth to Washington would give Natasha Cloud a reputable backup. Hiedeman was limited in playing time during her rookie year but would go on to increase her production every year through 2022. Now a top restricted free agent, the Sun have said their intention is to re-sign Hiedeman for 2023.
Rebecca Lobo reports that the Connecticut Sun are looking to re-sign Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) February 1, 2023
#11. Atlanta Dream: Brianna Turner, PF/C, Notre Dame
new pick: Bridget Carleton, SG, Iowa State
Turner going much higher than anticipated to Chicago at fourth overall allows Atlanta to select Iowa State’s Bridget Carleton instead. In her rookie season, Carleton was waived by the Sun in July. The Lynx would select Carleton off of waivers and remain with the team through the 2022 season. A solid player for Minnesota off the bench that can cover multiple positions. Carleton is currently a restricted free agent for 2023.
#12. Seattle Storm: Ezi Magbegor, C, Australia
new pick: Han Xu, C, China
Since Magbegor dropped to seventh overall, the Storm took a chance and drafted China’s Han Xu. Han’s rookie year would be limited in adjusting to the WNBA style and would average only 3 ppg and 0.8 rpg on 41.4 percent shooting. Han would elect not to come over in 2020 and 2021. However, her return in 2022 with the Liberty would be a breakout season. In 32 games, Han would bring in 8.5 ppg and 3.6 rpg on 49.3 percent shooting. A high-ceiling project that would have been worth waiting for had Han fallen into the first round. Han is expected to be re-signed by the Liberty for 2023.
SECOND ROUND
#13. Phoenix Mercury (via Fever): Sophie Cunningham, SG, Missouri
new pick: Jessica Shepard, PF, Notre Dame
#14. New York Liberty: Han Xu, C, China
new pick: Megan Gustafson, PF, Iowa
#15. Chicago Sky: Chloe Jackson, PG, Baylor
new pick: Kennedy Burke, SG, UCLA
#16. Minnesota Lynx (via Aces): Jessica Shepard, PF, Notre Dame
new pick: Kristine Anigwe, PF, California
#17. Dallas Wings: Megan Gustafson, PF, Iowa
new pick: Kalani Brown, C, Baylor
#18. Minnesota Lynx: Natisha Hiedeman, PG, Marquette
new pick: Alanna Smith, PF, Stanford
#19. Los Angeles Sparks: Marina Mabrey, SG, Notre Dame
new pick: AD (Asia) Durr
#20. Minnesota Lynx (via Mercury): Cierra Dillard, PG, Buffalo (cut in training camp)
new pick: Paris Kea, PG, UNC (25th pick by Indiana, 2 seasons/22 games from 2019-2020)
#21. Connecticut Sun: Bridget Carleton, SG, Iowa State
new pick: Kiara Leslie, SG, NC State
#22. Dallas Wings (via Mystics): Kennedy Burke, SG, UCLA
new pick: Maite Cazorla, PG, Oregon
#23. Atlanta Dream: Maite Cazorla, PG, Oregon
new pick: Li Yueru, C, China (35th pick by Atlanta, 1 season/16 games with Chicago in 2022)
#24. Seattle Storm: Anriel Howard, SF, Mississippi State (1 season/3 games in 2019)
new pick: Chloe Jackson, PG, Baylor
NOTE: Only other players to play a minimum of one game in the league are Megan Huff (26th by New York, 1 season/7 games in 2020); Kenisha Bell (30th pick by Minnesota, 1 season/3 games in 2019); and Arica Carter (32nd pick by Phoenix, 1 season/6 games in 2019).
For the redrafts of previous years:
The Final part in this series, the 2020 Redraft, is due out on Monday, Feb. 6.
Check out Beyond Women’s Sports for more women’s sports coverage. Todd Roman is on Twitter too. Follow Todd @TBRBWAY.
