The 2020 WNBA Draft class is entering its fourth year. In total, there have been two All-stars produced, while the third overall pick was waived prior to the 2022 season. Only eight first-round picks played in 2022, while just four second-round picks played last season. In total, 25 players from this draft have played in at least one game. Here’s the final piece in the five-part series.
FIRST ROUND:
#1. New York Liberty: Sabrina Ionescu, PG, Oregon
new pick: no change
Ionescu was the clear-cut top pick in this draft and easily remains the first pick. Her rookie season came with heartbreak, though. In her third game, Ionescu injured her left ankle and would miss the remainder of the season. However, for 2021, Ionescu would return and play 30 games where she would average 11.7 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game and 6.1 assists per game. Ionescu would also record a triple-double on May 18 with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.
Ionescu was named an All-star for the first time in 2022. Furthermore, this season would see Sabrina record career highs with 17.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg and 6.3 apg. Additionally, Ionescu would record two more triple-doubles this season. For 2023, the Liberty has added Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Courtney Vandersloot in free agency and are looking to win the Liberty’s first championship. Sabrina will be a restricted free agent following the 2023 season.
#2. Dallas Wings: Satou Sabally, PF, Oregon
new pick: no change
The Wings had a need inside and Sabally was a highly touted post player from Oregon. Despite her injury record, Satou remains the pick here for Dallas. Sabally has yet to play a full season in the WNBA due to recurring injuries. Her rookie season saw her play 16 (out of 22) games. Meanwhile, for 2021, she played in 17 games only due to injuring her Achilles and would miss a month of games.
Despite this, Sabally was named an All-star in 2021 and returned in time for the Wings’ playoff game. In 2022, Sabally played in only eleven games due to an ankle injury but, again, would return in time for the playoffs. Sabally will be a restricted free agent following the 2023 season.
#3. Indiana Fever: Lauren Cox, PF, Baylor
new pick: Chennedy Carter, PG, Texas A&M
Cox’s game at Baylor never translated to the WNBA. Her rookie season with Indiana would have her play just 14 games. The following season would see her waived by the Fever on June 27. Luckily, the Los Angeles Sparks would acquire her off of waivers and she would spend the remainder of the season with them. However, the Sparks would then waive Cox prior to the start of the 2022 season and she is currently unsigned for the 2023 season.
Drafting Chennedy Carter would have been a more logical choice for Indiana. Enabling Carter to be the backup to guards Danielle Robinson and Kelsey Mitchell could have locked Carter in for the future. In addition, after only two seasons in Atlanta, she would be traded to the Sparks prior to the beginning of the 2022 season.
#4. Atlanta Dream: Chennedy Carter, PG, Texas A&M
new pick: Crystal Dangerfield, PG, UCONN
With Carter going third overall, the Dream looks at UCONN’s Crystal Dangerfield to fill their need at point guard. Dangerfield ended up named the 2020 Rookie of the Year and, overall, surprised everyone with her production her rookie year. However, for 2021, Dangerfield would see a smaller role due to the additions of Rachel Banham and Layshia Clarendon. Just prior to the 2022 season, the Lynx would waive Dangerfield in a questionable move for Minnesota. Indiana would pick up Crystal shortly after and signed her for a 7-day contract.
On May 21, Dangerfield then signed with the New York Liberty and would be key to the Liberty’s run for the rest of the season. In 30 games with New York, she would average 5.4 ppg, 2.5 apg and 2.1 rpg. Allowing Ionescu to play more off-the-ball would get the Liberty into the playoffs yet again. Most recently, she would be traded to the Dallas Wings as part of a trade to acquire Jonquel Jones. Furthermore, shortly after the trade, Dangerfield would sign a multi-year contract with Dallas to keep her there through 2024.
Source confirms that Crystal Dangerfield’s deal with the Dallas Wings is two years, unprotected, $80,000/$80,000. Dangerfield was reserved, so Dallas had exclusive negotiating rights. #WNBA #WNBAFreeAgency
— Richard Cohen (@RichardCohen1) February 3, 2023
#5. Dallas Wings: Bella Alarie, C, Princeton
new pick: Tyasha Harris, PG, South Carolina
Alarie going fifth to the Wings was questionable at the time. The Wings already selected Sabally second overall and already rostered with Megan Gustafson, Isabelle Harrison, and Astou Ndour-Fall. Subsequently, despite playing in all 22 games in 2020, she was limited to averaging 2.7 ppg and 2.9 rpg. For 2021, Alarie would start eleven games and play in 31 total games for the season. Her averages would remain relatively unchanged from her rookie year. In 2022, Alarie would opt out of the season and then, in 2023, would announce her retirement from basketball.
— Bella Alarie (@bella_alarie) February 2, 2023
Though the Wings would eventually select Ty Harris seventh overall, having her drop two spots would benefit them in securing her as a potential backup point guard. During her three seasons with Dallas, Harris would see averages of 5.2 ppg, 2.7 apg and 1.2 rpg. Recently, Harris was traded to Connecticut as part of the three-team deal to send JJ to New York. Following this season, she’ll be a restricted free agent.
#6. Minnesota Lynx: Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, PF, South Carolina
new pick: Ruthy Hebard, C Oregon
Harrigan’s college game never materialized in the WNBA. In her rookie season, she averaged 3.9 ppg and 2.3 rpg. The following season she ended up traded to the Seattle Storm in 2021 and played one game before announcing she’d miss the season due to pregnancy. Seattle would waive her prior to the 2022 season. Most recently, she signed a training camp contract with Connecticut.
Instead, the Lynx would draft Oregon’s, Ruthy Hebard. Hebard has put up respectable numbers with Chicago in her three years. Hebard might have been able to secure more minutes in Minnesota. With a potential rebuild in Chicago for 2023, this might be her breakout season. After 2023, Hebard will be a restricted free agent.
#7. Dallas Wings: Tyasha Harris, PG, South Carolina
new pick: Beatrice Mompremier, C, Miami
At this point in the draft is where selections are based, more or less, on a player’s longevity in the league. Harris sliding down to fifth overall would allow Miami’s Mompremier to drop to the first round. The Sparks initially selected her 20th overall, but she ended up being waived and later picked up by Connecticut. Her production would be limited in her two years with the Sun. Then, in 2022, Connecticut would waive her and she would be claimed by Atlanta. She’s currently unsigned for the 2023 season.
#8. Chicago Sky: Ruthy Hebard, C, Oregon
new pick: Joyner Holmes, PF/C, Texas
Holmes would replace Hebard as their pick here to give the Sky some post-help off the bench. Joyner was originally selected by Seattle 19th overall but would be waived and later signed by New York. For 2021, Holmes would play in only five games with New York before being released. She would later be signed by Las Vegas on several 7-day contracts and play in only four games. In 2022, Holmes would be signed by Connecticut and play in 26 games while averaging 2.0 ppg and 1.3 rpg. Joyner has re-signed with the Sun for the 2023 season.
#9. New York Liberty: Megan Walker, SG/SF, UConn
new pick: Jocelyn Willoughby, SF, Virginia
Walker declared early for this draft but would see limited time in the WNBA. Her rookie year saw her average 3.3 ppg and 1.5 rpg. Walker was traded to Phoenix in 2021 and ended up starting in seven games for the Mercury. Unfortunately, the Mercury would waive her in 2022 prior to the season, but she ended up being picked up by Atlanta. Walker was once again traded, after only twelve games, back to New York, only to be waived immediately. She is currently unsigned for the 2023 season.
Willoughby was originally acquired by the Liberty via a trade with Phoenix. Her rookie year saw her play in 22 games and averaged 5.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg and 0.7 steals per game. However, in 2021 she injured her leg and was diagnosed with a partial tear of her left quadriceps tendon. Willoughby returned to New York for 2022 but saw limited action and played only 11 games. She is currently under contract with New York through the end of the 2023 season.
New York Liberty guard/forward Jocelyn Willoughby was diagnosed with a partial tear of her left quadriceps tendon by the Liberty’s medical staff @HSpecialSurgery. She underwent a PRP injection and is estimated to return in approximately six weeks.
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) May 19, 2022
🔗: https://t.co/0wk4D25Wmh pic.twitter.com/UlC35u6iC7
#10. Phoenix Mercury: Jocelyn Willoughby, SF, Virginia
new pick: Lauren Cox, PF, Baylor
Selecting Lauren Cox here could have seen her WNBA career elongated further. A possible backup post to play behind Brittney Griner and Brianna Turner. Time will tell if Cox returns to the WNBA.
#11. Seattle Storm: Kitija Laksa, SG/SF, South Florida
(Laksa sat out 2020 and then was waived prior to the 2021 season)
new pick: Kylee Shook, C, Louisville
Laksa was selected by the Storm as a deferral pick, knowing she wasn’t planning on coming over in 2020. In addition, Laksa would appear in the Storm’s training camp for 2021 but would be waived prior to the start of the season. She has not appeared in a game in the WNBA but continues to play overseas and is currently in Italy with Bologna.
Shook would have been a better selection, even though the Storm had limited roster space. Shook played two seasons with New York in 2020 and 2021, where she averaged 5.0 ppg and 3.5 rpg. Shook elected to sit out the 2022 and currently remains unsigned for the 2023 season.
#12. New York Liberty: Jazmine Jones, SG, Louisville
new pick: no change
Jones remains the Liberty’s pick here. Her rookie year saw her average 10.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 1.4 spg. Those numbers would earn her a spot on the league’s All-Rookie team. In 2021, Jones would see a lessened role with the Liberty and play in only 27 games. For 2022, New York would waive Jones and she would go on to play in Indiana, Connecticut and Washington. Recently, she was re-signed by the Mystics for the 2023 season.
SECOND ROUND:
#13. New York Liberty: Kylee Shook, C, Louisville
new pick: Megan Walker, SG/SF, UCONN
#14. Indiana Fever: Kathleen Doyle, PG, Iowa
new pick: Kaila Charles, SG, Maryland
#15. New York Liberty: Leaonna Odom, PF, Duke
new pick: Bella Alarie, C, Princeton
#16. Minnesota Lynx: Crystal Dangerfield, PG, UCONN
new pick: Te’a Cooper, PG, Baylor
Congrats to Crystal Dangerfield for signing a multi-year deal with the @DallasWings 🦾 pic.twitter.com/EYceEzXfpt
— PGSports.eth (@PGSports) February 3, 2023
#17. Atlanta Dream: Brittany Brewer, C, Texas Tech
new pick: Leaonna Odom, PF, Duke
#18. Phoenix Mercury: Te’a Cooper, PG, Baylor
new pick: Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, PF, South Carolina
#19. Seattle Storm: Joyner Holmes, PF/C, Texas
new pick: Kamiah Smalls, SG, James Madison (28th pick by Indiana, 2 seasons/10 games in 2020 and 2022 total)
#20. Los Angeles Sparks: Beatrice Mompremier, C, Miami
new pick: Stella Johnson, PG, Rider (29th pick by Phoenix, 2 seasons/15 games with Chicago and Washington in 2020 and 2021 total)
#21. Dallas Wings: Luisa Geiselsoder, C, Germany
new pick: Kathleen Doyle, PG, Iowa
#22. Los Angeles Sparks: Leonie Fiebich, SF, Germany
new pick: Sug Sutton, PG, Texas (36th pick by Washington, 1 season/12 games in 2020)
#23. Connecticut Sun: Kaila Charles, SG, Maryland
new pick: Brittany Brewer, C, Texas Tech
#24. Washington Mystics: Jaylyn Agnew, SF, Creighton
new pick: no change
NOTE: Haley Gorecki (31st pick by Seattle) is the only other player from this draft to appear in a game. Gorecki played three games for Phoenix in 2021.
For the redrafts of previous years:
The next WNBA Mock Draft will be out on Friday, Feb.10, two months before the actual draft.
Check out Beyond Women’s Sports for more women’s sports coverage. Todd Roman is on Twitter too. Follow Todd @TBRBWAY.
