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WNBA Mock Draft 4.0: Final Edition

- by Todd Roman
Draft

There’s been a slight shakeup involving two lottery picks just days before the draft. The Washington Mystics have traded the first overall pick to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for the third overall pick and the fourteen pick. The trade also swaps first-round picks in the 2023 draft.

Now that March Madness has ended and South Carolina has cut down the nets to claim their title, it’s time to shift focus onto the WNBA. After the madness and a trade involving the top pick, who goes where and what prospect’s stock rose the most (or dropped) during the NCAA tournament?

Does Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard remain the top pick? Who does Washington look at taking now? Could there be a draft-day trade or two to shake things up? Here’s a look at how things could go down on Monday night (7:00 pm EST on ESPN).

FIRST-ROUND

#1. Atlanta Dream (trade with Washington) – Rhyne Howard, 6’2 SF, Kentucky

Howard averaged 20.5 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, 3.3 assists per game, 2.3 steals per game and 1.3 blocks per game in her senior season. Even after the Dream landed the number one pick, Howard remains the top choice and best fit for Atlanta. The Dream are in a complete rebuild and adding Howard can be the necessary building block for their future alongside Monique Billings and Aari McDonald.

#2. Indiana Fever – NaLyssa Smith, 6’2 PF, Baylor

Keeping Smith as the Fever’s pick remains locked in. She averaged 22.1 ppg, 11.5 rpg, and 1.1 bpg while shooting 55% from the field in her final season. Smith should be an immediate starter for Indiana despite Baylor’s early exit from the NCAA tournament. Under new general manager, Lin Dunn, NaLyssa should be the building block for the future of this Fever franchise.

#3. Washington Mystics (trade with Atlanta) – Shakira Austin, 6’5 C, Ole Miss

The Mystics weren’t confident in their need to keep the first pick. With an already crowded roster, Mike Thibault opted to exchange lottery picks with Atlanta, gain an early second-round pick and swap first-round picks in 2023. The longevity of Elena Delle Donne’s career appears shortened due to ongoing back injuries and Thibault needs to up his frontcourt with some young pieces. Re-signing Hines-Allen and drafting Shakira Austin could be the potential future frontcourt of the Mystics. Austin averaged 15.2 ppg, 9.0 rpg,1.2 spg and 2.1 bpg. There is no doubt a force inside with an incredibly high ceiling and a plethora of post moves. If Austin can improve her outside shooting, she’ll be among the next wave of dominant bigs in the league.

#4. Indiana Fever – Kierstan Bell, 6’1 SF, Florida Gulf Coast

Keeping Bell here as the Fever’s next pick. Bell brings immediate offense and the potential to start alongside NaLyssa, Kelsey Mitchell and Danielle Robinson. At 6’1, Bell is a handful to guard for opposing teams and can also cause havoc on the defensive end. Mid-majors tend not to get drafted this high due to lack of visibility. Florida Gulf Coast also saw a second-round exit from the NCAA tournament. Bell brought in 36 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 steals for their two games while shooting just 36.8%. Potentially, Bell’s ceiling appears very high. With the chance to play around with better talent and not have the offensive burden placed solely on her gives her endless possibilities.

#5. New York Liberty – Nyara Sabally, 6’3 PF/C, Oregon (Redshirt junior)

Sabally’s stick rose a significant amount during the PAC-12 and NCAA tournaments. In the three games, Nyara brought in 15 points and 15 rebounds against UCLA, 12 points and 12 rebounds against Utah and 31 points, 12 rebounds and 7 blocks against Belmont in Oregon’s first-round exit. With the Liberty’s new added depth in the post, this is a gamble they can take despite her past history with injuries. When healthy, her potential appears limitless and is well worth the risk to develop long-term.

#6. Indiana Fever – Destanni Henderson, 5’8 PG, South Carolina

The player that benefited the most from the NCAA tournament is South Carolina’s Destanni Henderson. Throughout the Gamecock’s championship run, Henderson couldn’t shine more and more as the tournament progressed. Through six games, Henderson would average 12.8 ppg, 2.1 apg and 1.3 spg. Henderson isn’t afraid to shoot, either. During their run, she shot 37.8 from three-point range and, despite her small frame, isn’t shy from attacking the basket. With the Fever having taken Smith and Bell, Indiana can look to boost its backcourt by adding a point guard. Henderson’s game, especially defensively, is similar to projected starter Danielle Robinson’s. Which makes this pick all the more a perfect match for Indiana.

#7. Dallas Wings – Veronica Burton, 5’9 PG, Northwestern

It’s still difficult to figure out what the Wings want with this pick. A team that’s already twelve deep might look for someone to develop long-term. With Moriah Jefferson on the final year of her contract, I see the Wings looking at a point guard. Burton’s a strong defensive point guard who won the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year three times. Giving the Wings the ability to have Arike Ogunbowale and Marina Mabrey play more off-the-ball could potentially increase the Wings’ offensive output. A legit scoring threat as well, Burton will be more or less asked to handle running the floor and guarding the opposing team’s best shooter.

#8. Minnesota Lynx – Sika Koné, 6’3 PF, Mali

Koné remains the Lynx’s selection. However, it appears as though she’ll be healthy enough to be able to come over this season. Might Cheryl Reeve piece together a draft day trade instead? With Minnesota in a very tight salary cap crunch, there’s too much talent on a team that will be forced to keep just ten active players plus Napheesa Collier on maternity leave. To use a pick this high without it being a deferral pick would be greatly unfortunate to the player drafted here.

#9. Los Angeles Sparks – Nia Clouden, 5’8 PG/SG, Michigan State

Clouden to Los Angeles is giving the Sparks the best available remaining player. Like Minnesota, it’ll be tough for this pick to make their final roster. With the team stacked inside with Cambage, the Ogwumikes, Zahui B., Lauren Cox and last year’s first-round select, Jasmine Walker, it’s best if Fisher looks at drafting a guard. Clouden can give solid competition with Te’a Cooper, Arella Guirantes and Lexie Brown for that final guard spot. Clouden is a better playmaker out of the four but the others have a better handle on running the floor and defending.

#10. Indiana Fever – Rae Burrell, 6’1 SF, Tennessee

This pick, like Minnesota’s, could also turn into a draft day trade. Adding in all four first-round picks for Indiana would give the 19 total players on their roster. It seems unlikely to see this pick crack the final roster even with late camp arrivals. Taking Tennessee’s Rae Burrell is likely the best possible fit based on the need for Indiana. Their weakest position is at small forward and Burrell is the best remaining player. Most of her senior season was sidelined due to injuries. However, during the Lady Vols’ NCAA tournament run, Burrell would average 15.3 ppg and 5.6 rpg. The Fever are loaded on training camp contracts and the small forward position seems the most wide-open.

#11. Las Vegas Aces – Emily Engstler, 6’1 SF, Louisville

Engstler had a remarkable senior season that saw her stock rise as it continued into the NCAA tournament. Although she is mainly known as a defensive player, her offensive game continued to blossom throughout the season. During Louisville’s five-game tournament run, she would average 14.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 4.6 spg and 1.8 bpg. If Engstler can translate these types of stats in the WMBA, she could end up the steal of the draft. The biggest question is whether she’ll be able to adjust as a small forward in the league, or might she be more like Dearica Hamby and settle in as a smaller post player.

#12. Connecticut Sun – Jade Melbourne, 5’10 PG, Australia

As mentioned in previous editions, the Sun don’t have the cap space to keep this pick. Unfortunately, as there are better players to take here. Melbourne falls under as a deferral pick and her rights would be held for future consideration. With some free agents off the books for 2023, Melbourne could be worth stashing for next year.

Second Round
#13. Minnesota – Naz Hillmon, 6’2 PF, Michigan

Hillmon’s drop may be a surprise. With Indiana, Atlanta and New York taking a post player, followed by most teams needing a guard or a wing, the Lynx luck out to have her drop down. Falling into the second round would make Hillmon slightly cheaper and can give solid competition to Jessica Shepard, last year’s first-round pick Rennia Davis and Natasha Mack. There’s also the question if Brazilian Damiris Dantas will be healthy enough at the start of the season. With this being Sylvia Fowles’ final season, it’s definitely best for Reeve to take the best available post player here. Hillmon is one of the best rebounders in this draft and if she can work to improve her shooting, she’ll stand a strong to ink her name onto the Lynx’s final roster.

#14. Washington – Jasmine Dickey, 5’10 SG, Delaware

With the Mystics taking Austin with the third pick, Thibault looks at taking a strong wing here. Dickey’s a high-volume shooter who can score at will and be a solid contribution for Washington. She needs to work on her defense and turnovers.

#15. Atlanta – Elissa Cunane, 6’5 C, NC State

The Dream still need help on the inside and Cunane is the best available. Averaged 14.8 ppg and 7.6 rpg. She is a solid shot-blocker that needs to work on her rebounding and physicality.

#16. Los Angeles – Lorela Cubaj, 6’4 PF/C, Georgia Tech

If Cubaj can figure out her offensive game in the WNBA, she’ll land on the Sparks roster. She essentially needs to beat out Lauren Cox and Jasmine Walker for a roster spot. A poor showing in the ACC and NCAA tournaments was a factor in her dropping into the second round.

#17. Seattle – Christyn Williams, 5’11 SG, UCONN

Gives Seattle added depth at the guard spot. With Bird, January and likely Prince retiring, the Storm need youth in their backcourt. Williams’s issue is with consistency and turnovers.

#18. Seattle – Hannah Sjerven, 6’3 C, South Dakota

Seattle could also use some depth in the post. Sjerven’s NCAA tournament run has propelled her into a second-round pick. A strong defensive player with an art of using the pick-and-roll. Averaged 17.6 ppg and 6.3 rpg in the tournament. She needs improvement in her footwork and rebounding.

#19. Los Angeles – Kiara “Kiki” Smith, 5’10 SG, Florida

A knee injury in the SEC tournament slides “Kiki” in as a deferral pick this year. A potential asset for 2023 as the Sparks would see almost its entire roster as free agents. A strong, athletic guard that can attack the basket.

#20. Indiana – Lexie Hull, 6’0 SG, Stanford

Solid combo guard to compete in the Fever’s training camp. She needs to be a more consistent scorer and attack the paint more.

#21. Seattle – Serena Kessler, 6’0 SG/SF, France

Deferral pick for future consideration. It could be a nice addition in 2023 on a mostly open Storm roster.

#22. Minnesota – Khayla Pointer, 5’7 PG, LSU

If Pointer can find her outside shot, she could stand a shot to beat out Crystal Dangerfield as the Lynx’s backup point guard and potential future starter.

#23. Las Vegas – Macee Williams, 6’2 PF, IUPUI

Added depth in the post. Williams could work out as the Aces’ fifth post. Three-time Horizon player of the year. Her conditioning and jump shot needs improvement.

#24. Connecticut – Bethy Mununga, 6’0 PF/SF, South Florida

A DeWanna Bonner-type of player. Long, athletic, pesky rebounder. She can struggle against stronger power forwards. She needs to transition into a small forward in the WNBA.

Third Round

#25. Indiana – Olivia Nelson-Ododa, 6’5 C, UCONN

#26. Phoenix – Queen Egbo, 6’3 C, Baylor

#27. Los Angeles – Aisha Sheppard, 5’9 SG, Virginia Tech

#28. Minnesota – Anna Makurat, 6’2 SF, Poland/UCONN *2019-2021

#29. New York – Katie Benzan, 5’6 PG, Maryland

#30. Dallas – Mya Hollingshed, 6’3 SF, Colorado

#31. Dallas – Reka Dombai, 5’11 SG, Hungary

#32. Phoenix – Evina Westbrook, 6’0 SG, UCONN

#33. Seattle – Jordan Lewis, 5’7 PG, Baylor

#34. Indiana – Kamila Borkowska, 6’7 C, Poland

#35. Las Vegas – Nicole Cardaño-Hillary, 5’6 PG/SG, Indiana

#36. Connecticut – Nancy Mulkey, 6’9 C, Washington

Follow Beyond Women’s Sports for 2022 WNBA content. Todd Roman is on Twitter too. Follow Todd @TBRBWAY.

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