Cunane live and up-close, it was clear she needs to improve her defense. She can drive with the ball well, can spot up shots and can especially score at the short corner. At Michigan State, she took on some ball-handling duties, so she could be slotted at either point guard or shooting guard. Indiana Fever (11) those of Louisville legend and WNBA superstar Angel McCoughtry. 3 is anyone's guess. How much has this affected her athleticism on defense, and how much of a concern is her health to talent evaluators? She has trouble finishing at the rim, has limited post moves on the block and shot 42 percent from the field last season. While her, three-point percentage exponentially increased. While scoring most likely won't be what she hangs her hat on at the next level, she can be relied upon to set a solid screen, roll and find the best look. The 2022 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft is approaching in April, and teams are preparing for what is sure to be an eventful draft day full of talented prospects. Beals perimeter defense is an obvious calling card, but dont sleep on her emerging offensive game she shot 38 percent from three this year on 2.7 attempts per game. Traded Draft Picks: Wings get Sky first round pick. Bonuses Bonuses Odds Odds. Questions the prospect raises: Inconsistency has been Williams' downfall throughout her college career and has prevented her from reaching her potential as a guard thus far. A'ja Wilson Has Always Done It All For The Aces. Top prospects NaLyssa Smith, Veronica Burton, and Lexie Hull spoke to Insider ahead of the draft. Projected draft position: Middle to late third round, 11. The 2024 WNBA Draft will take place in April of 2024. Aisha Sheppard (Virginia Tech, Guard, Graduate Student). What To Watch For In Each WNBA Semifinals Matchup, Politics Podcast: The Next Supreme Court Clash Over Abortion, The Rays' Dominance Goes Even Deeper Than Their 13-0 Start. Elissa Cunane (NC State, Center, Senior). This season from beyond the arc, she shot 38.7 percent, which places her in the 91st percentile, according to. 7:36 pm ET, the drama has already started with a blockbuster trade, Griner to pen book about Russian detainment experience, 2023 WNBA Draft: Full results, first-round grades, 2023 WNBA Draft winners and losers: Fever hit jackpot, WNBA expands charter flight program for upcoming season, 2023 WNBA Mock Draft: Aliyah Boston goes No. 2022; WNBA. Each player was slotted in that specific position in five of the six mock drafts. She'll also struggle to defend post-ups because of her slender 6'3" frame and how strong her pro opponents will be. Lorela Cubaj (Georgia Tech, Forward, Fifth Year). At 6'1", Jones showed the type of matchup problem she can create against smaller guards and slower bigs in NC State's Elite Eight double-overtime loss against UConn. 1 overall pick from the Washington Mystics. Pro-ready skill: All season, Smith was the Cardinals' go-to shot-maker, especially when the defenses collapsed on Hailey Van Lith, a more dynamic guard. Every WNBA draft has the potential to reshape the league. Skip to main content Skip to navigation > ESPN Search Welcome to ESPN India Edition WNBA. She is the consensus third-best player in this class, and the Mystics need some frontcourt depth. 3 and 14 selections this year, along with a 2023 first-round pick swap. Questions the prospect raises: While the 5'7" Pointer has proved herself as a talented scoring guard, her push passes at point guard could use work. WNBA Rankings - The Top 75 WNBA Rankings Analysis The Top Three Alright, now that we've got the rankings, let's talk about them, starting at the top. 7. Cunane isn't known for imposing her will physically, but Dodson struggled against her in the Sweet 16. She also struggles to recover on defense and isn't a great help defender. The 2022 WNBA Draft is officially underway. Their Lawmakers Are Delivering. Even with the addition of Dolson, they could still use some help in the frontcourt, though backcourt depth could also be an option. She can move well off the ball, making all sorts of cuts, and can slip quickly through ball screens toward the basket. 2022-04-10. NEW YORK, March 29, 2022 - The WNBA announced today the initial list of 88 players from colleges and universities who have formally filed for inclusion as candidates for the 2022 WNBA. Navigation Toggle NBA. 6. And LaDazhia Williams of LSU (No. Every WNBA draft has the potential to reshape the league. Questions the prospect raises: Sabally only played in two collegiate seasons due to two ACL tears, and during the 2021-2022 season, she reinjured her right knee. Some have debunked this issue as a product of the team she was on; Howard had to do a lot of Kentucky's heavy lifting throughout her career. Allen-Taylor has proved to be a staunch defender, playing in a system that is predicated upon its high-pressure defense. Rhyne Howard of Kentucky could be the No. Projected draft position: Early third round, 10. Projected draft position: Potential No. Top prospects from across the country got to audition for the pros during March Madness as South Carolina won its second ever NCAA title. I think there's a pretty clear top. Projected draft position: Draft lottery pick to mid-first round. Players whose college teams are still active will have 48 hours following the conclusion of their final game to renounce their remaining NCAA eligibility and declare themselves available for the 2022 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm. WNBA 2022 WNBA Draft Big Board: Ranking Top Prospects at Every Position Jackie Powell April 9, 2022 Destanni Henderson, South Carolina Senior Guard Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press. 3 and 14 picks and a future pick swap. All-Big 12 selection in both 2021 and 2022, Johnston is coming off a season in which he caught 60 passes for . Some have debunked this issue as a product of the team she was on; Howard had to do a lot of Kentucky's heavy lifting throughout her career. Even when Smith has a defender with similar size guarding her, what makes her unique is her ability to elevate above the defense and score at 6'4". Questions the prospect raises: While Hollingshed's shot has improved, it's still not mechanically as sound as it could be. The deal solidified their frontcourt and made their draft night less interesting. March 29, 2022. Offensively, Williams can score at all three levels and can be hard to guard when she's slashing through the paint. Bonuses Bonuses Odds Odds. 1 pick and within the draft lottery, 2. Pro-ready skill: Howard has a lot of skills that will allow her to have success in the W right now. Pro-talent evaluators will value that she has a shot from beyond the arc, although she wasn't always allowed to play as often on the perimeter. Questions the prospect raises: Defense is where Bell will struggle in the pros. Before we reveal our final mock draft the morning of draft day, we've compiled a big board of must-know prospects, outlined what makes them pro-ready and noted common concerns about the state of their game. When Williams is on, her athleticism, strength and speed can be difficult to stop. In addition, legendary center Sylvia Fowles plans to retire at the end of this season. Lets start with general manager Lin Dunns Fever, who have utilized the last two drafts masterfully after how do we put this? Howard Megdal is editor-in-chief of The Next, a womens basketball site, and founder of the womens sports newsletter The IX. Lorela Cubaj's decision to return to Georgia Tech for a fifth season was an impactful one. Home; Tickets; Schedule. While Paige Bueckers was out for a couple of months, Nelson-Ododa proved how versatile she can be as a point-post player. While South Carolina came out victorious in the national championship game against UConn, the concerns were mainly about the Gamecocks' spacing, which was an issue during the regular season and the SEC tournament. (3/23), Bleacher Report: 2022 WNBA Mock Draft: Pre-March Madness Predictions (3/16), Her Hoops Stats: 2022 WNBA Mock Draft 1.0 (2/28), W Basketball Blog: 2022 WNBA Mock Draft 3.0 (2/16), Beyond Womens Sports: WNBA Mock Draft 3.0: March Madness Edition (3/14). Player Rankings for the 2022 WNBA draft. But adding Breanna Stewart and Courtney Vandersloot did that back in free agency for the Liberty (along with the trade for Jonquel Jones earlier in the offseason), while Candace Parker and Alysha Clark did the same for the Aces. 2 pick Diamond Miller, a 6-foot-3 wing who can comfortably guard positions 1 through 4 while scoring at all three levels. In her final season, she registered. ET on ESPN. She took Michigan to the Elite Eight for the first time in 2022. Ramirez is an excellent spot-up shooter who canned. The opportunity to punt on adding talent to what is already a win-now roster, while getting extra picks in what most observers expect will be overstocked draft classes, was a vintage bit of Thibault strategy. During her senior season at UConn, there were some evenings when Westbrook showed potential when she was depended on as a primary ball-handler with all others unavailable to play because of injury. Her footwork while guarding players in the post is a bit lackadaisical, and sometimes she comes across as unfocused. 9 overall and a few second-rounders. At 6'1", Burrell possesses the length and athleticism that could lead to her being a key rotation piece. WNBA talent evaluators value prospects who can create a shot from multiple levels, both off the dribble and on a kickout, something Burrell can do with ease. 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures. 1 pick, 2. Offensively, Engstler's versatility is what makes her so valuable. Cartelli: 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Projected draft position: Late first round to mid-second round. Hillmon has underdeveloped perimeter skills as a 6'2" forward, as she's only able to score at one level. Moving to Serbian club Mega Basket last summer, Petrusev was named ABA League Most Valuable Player averaging 23 points and 7.6 rebounds. She also struggles to recover on defense and isn't a great help defender. She also has a reliable mid-range jumper. Khayla Pointer (LSU, Guard, Graduate Student), Pro-ready skill: Pointer can score at a very high level. A'ja Wilson And The Aces Finally Fulfilled Their Championship Potential. 3. On the floor, it's Hull's ability from beyond the arc that should make her a shoo-in for a spot in a WNBA training camp. Last month, they tried to accelerate the rebuild a bit by sending the Nos. They also added Gabby Williams and Briann January this winter in moves that should make their defense even stingier. If she starts hitting threes, shell be an All-Star. . Her competitive spirit and 40-minute focus in college could be a concern at the pro level. To that front it's worth noting that their roster looks largely set, they have 15 players coming to training camp and only about $12,000 in cap space and are all-in to win in Fowles' final season. Pro-ready skill: At 6'4", Staiti can stretch as a mid-range and three-point jump-shooter. A Sun-Aces WNBA Finals Feels Fated. The 2022 WNBA Draft will see hoops dreams realized Monday starting at 7 p.m. A Sun-Aces WNBA Finals Feels . The. She also can stretch the defense on a pick-and-pop and slips well on pick-and-rolls. 2022-23: Started all 33 game, joined Ali Patberg and Aleksa Gulbe as program's all-time winningest players (90), finished fourth in minutes in the Big Ten, sixth in assists and 11 th in scoring . Joanne Allen-Taylor (Texas, Guard, Senior). "You would expect she would certainly be in a camp.". This season from beyond the arc, she shot 38.7 percent, which places her in the 91st percentile, according to Her Hoops Stats. Collen's system was much closer to what Egbo would be put into at the pro level. Despite losing two All-Stars, the Aces still have one of the most talented rosters in the league and are among the contenders heading into next season. Let's check in on the seasons of 12 of the players regarded as top draft prospects in 2022: Rhyne Howard, Kentucky - The Wildcats 6-foot-2 guard likely could have been the No 1 pick in 2021. Questions the prospect raises: Smith's calling card is her raw shooting skills, but questions surround how she can use her 6'0" frame to contribute to the game in other ways besides shooting and scoring. Even if we don't get any other moves of that magnitude, this still figures to be an interesting draft. ET). The Mystics were hoping to compete for a title last season, but ended up in the lottery instead because they were cursed with an absolutely horrible injury situation. Projected draft position: Early second round, 4. Oregon forward Nyara Sabally, Georgia Tech forward Lorela Cubaj and Michigan forward Naz Hillmon appear on four of the six mock drafts. From the pre-draft activities, including the Hoopbus tour . Draft-lottery hopeful to middle of the first round. In addition to her prowess on the non-glamorous end, which includes solid rebounding and help defense, Hollingshed can expand opposing defenses with a three-point shot that she's been improving exponentially throughout her collegiate career. She can score at all three levels, handle the ball and distribute it when needed, play at least three positions (the 2, 3 and the 4) and use her 6'2" size and long arms to defend when she wants to. All of those players aren't going to make the roster, but they will have a bunch of chances to finally get things right in the draft. Meanwhile, Chennedy Carter was suspended for most of the season due to conduct detrimental to the team, while multiple players, including Courtney Williams and Crystal Bradford, were involved in a brawl outside a club. A big, athletic two-way. In her four years at Georgia, she didn't finish below the 97th percentile in blocks per game. She's an exceptional rim protector who can hedge in addition to function in drop coverages. She can guard multiple positions, play both on and off the ball, distribute as a ball-handler and score at all three levels. Lifelong dreams will be fulfilled as this year's talented pool of prospects finally hear their names called and find out where they will . Boston finished among the national leaders in every major defensive measure once again in 2022-23 for the Gamecocks top-ranked D, combining elite rim protection and defensive rebounding to single-handedly end many opposing possessions. 2022-04-10. In her entire collegiate career, her field-goal percentage hasn't been a hair below 53 percent. Although at 6'3" she has length and size as a post player, she also struggled with physicality and staying out of foul trouble. Hull's pro-ready skills are mostly based upon her intangibles, or the attributes that she has that can't be taught. Sjerven put her name on the map after three double-digit scoring performances against fellow W prospects in Shakira Austin, NaLyssa Smith and Naz Hillmon in the NCAA tournament. While her versatility is her blessing, she can be inconsistent in some of her roles. Enough said. Pro-ready skill: Sheppard is an excellent shooter who can make shots off the dribble and on catch-and-shoot attempts. Projected draft position: Middle to late second round, 7. The 2022 WNBA Draft is in the books, and as expected the Atlanta Dream got the night started by selecting Rhyne Howard out of Kentucky with the No. Jasmine Dickey (Delaware, Guard/Forward, Senior), Pro-ready skill: ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo expects Dickey to get a shot at a WNBA training camp because of her athleticism and ability to score at a high level. 5 overall it should give them a chance to add an impactful player. Gray can score at three levels and can especially create her own looks driving through the lane and on mid-range fadeaways. She also has the qualities of a tweener, a player who can theoretically play both power forward and small forward. She also is the type of player who does whatever is asked and takes on whatever role she's given willingly. As we've just seen once again, Thibault is not afraid to forge his own path, but the most likely scenario now is that the Mystics will take Shakira Austin at No. This winter, that finally led to some big changes, as Tamika Catchings stepped down from the front office and Lin Dunn was hired as interim general manager. Questions the prospect raises: Lewis proved how versatile and tough she is to guard during her graduate year at Baylor. While steals shouldn't wholly define what a player is or isn't defensively, Burton has still picked pockets at an impressive rate, racking up 117 of her. ESPN: NaLyssa Smith (Baylor, Forward, 6-4), Bleacher Report: Rhyne Howard (Kentucky, Guard, 6-2), Winsidr: Rhyne Howard (Kentucky, Guard, 6-2), Her Hoops Stats: Rhyne Howard (Kentucky, Guard, 6-2), W Basketball Blog: Rhyne Howard (Kentucky, Guard, 6-2), Beyond Womens Sports: Rhyne Howard (Kentucky, Guard, 6-2), ESPN: Rhyne Howard (Kentucky, Guard, 6-2), Bleacher Report: NaLyssa Smith (Baylor, Forward, 6-4), Winsidr: NaLyssa Smith (Baylor, Forward, 6-4), Her Hoops Stats: NaLyssa Smith (Baylor, Forward, 6-4), W Basketball Blog: NaLyssa Smith (Baylor, Forward, 6-4), Beyond Womens Sports: NaLyssa Smith (Baylor, Forward, 6-4), ESPN: Shakira Austin (Ole Miss, Center, 6-5), Bleacher Report: Shakira Austin (Ole Miss, Center, 6-5), Winsidr: Shakira Austin (Ole Miss, Center, 6-5), Her Hoops Stats: Shakira Austin (Ole Miss, Center, 6-5), W Basketball Blog: Ashley Joens (Iowa State, Guard/Forward, 6-1), Beyond Womens Sports: Shakira Austin (Ole Miss, Center, 6-5), ESPN: Nyara Sabally (Oregon, Forward, 6-5), Bleacher Report: Nyara Sabally (Oregon, Forward, 6-5), Winsidr: Ashley Joens (Iowa State, Guard/Forward, 6-1), Her Hoops Stats: Nia Clouden (Michigan State, Guard, 5-8), W Basketball Blog: Sika Kone (Mali, Forward, 6-3), Beyond Womens Sports: Kierstan Bell (Florida Gulf Coast, Guard, 6-1), ESPN: Elissa Cunane (North Carolina State, Center, 6-5), Bleacher Report: Emily Engstler (Louisville, Forward, 6-1), Winsidr: Naz Hillmon (Michigan, Forward, 6-2), Her Hoops Stats: Nyara Sabally (Oregon, Forward, 6-5), W Basketball Blog: Shakira Austin (Ole Miss, Center, 6-5), Beyond Womens Sports: Naz Hillmon (Michigan, Forward, 6-2), ESPN: Emily Engstler (Louisville, Forward, 6-1), Bleacher Report: Ashley Joens (Iowa State, Guard/Forward, 6-1), Winsidr: Elissa Cunane (North Carolina State, Center, 6-5), Her Hoops Stats: Naz Hillmon (Michigan, Forward, 6-2), W Basketball Blog: Destanni Henderson (South Carolina, Guard, 5-7), Beyond Womens Sports: Nia Clouden (Michigan State, Guard, 5-8), ESPN: Rae Burrell (Tennessee, Guard, 6-1), Bleacher Report: Kierstan Bell (Florida Gulf Coast, Guard, 6-1), Her Hoops Stats: Kierstan Bell (Florida Gulf Coast, Guard, 6-1), W Basketball Blog: Veronica Burton (Northwestern, Guard, 5-9), Beyond Womens Sports: Ashley Joens (Iowa State, Guard/Forward, 6-1), ESPN: Queen Egbo, Baylor University, Center, 6-3, Bleacher Report: Elissa Cunane (North Carolina State, Center, 6-5), Winsidr: Destanni Henderson (South Carolina, Guard, 5-7), Her Hoops Stats: Sika Kone (Mali, Forward, 6-3), W Basketball Blog: Lorela Cubaj (Georgia Tech, Forward, 6-4), Beyond Womens Sports: Sika Kone (Mali, Forward, 6-3), ESPN: Kierstan Bell (Florida Gulf Coast, Guard, 6-1), Bleacher Report: Rae Burrell (Tennessee, Guard, 6-1), Winsidr: Kierstan Bell (Florida Gulf Coast, Guard, 6-1), Her Hoops Stats: Evina Westbrook (Connecticut, Guard, 6-0), W Basketball Blog: Rae Burrell (Tennessee, Guard, 6-1), Beyond Womens Sports: Rae Burrell (Tennessee, Guard, 6-1), ESPN: Ashley Joens (Iowa State, Guard/Forward, 6-1), Bleacher Report: Christyn Williams (Connecticut, Guard, 5-11), Winsidr: Lorela Cubaj (Georgia Tech, Forward, 6-4), Her Hoops Stats: Elissa Cunane (North Carolina State, Center, 6-5), W Basketball Blog: Naz Hillmon (Michigan, Forward, 6-2), Beyond Womens Sports: Nyara Sabally (Oregon, Forward, 6-5), ESPN: Christyn Williams (Connecticut, Guard, 5-11), Bleacher Report: Evina Westbrook (Connecticut, Guard, 6-0), Winsidr: Nia Clouden (Michigan State, Guard, 5-8), Her Hoops Stats: Ashley Joens (Iowa State, Guard/Forward, 6-1), W Basketball Blog: Elissa Cunane (North Carolina State, Center, 6-5), Beyond Womens Sports: Lorela Cubaj (Georgia Tech, Forward, 6-4), Bleacher Report: Veronica Burton (Northwestern, Guard, 5-9), Winsidr: Rae Burrell (Tennessee, Guard, 6-1), Her Hoops Stats: Lorela Cubaj (Georgia Tech, Forward, 6-4), W Basketball Blog: Kierstan Bell (Florida Gulf Coast, Guard, 6-1), Beyond Womens Sports: Jade Melbourne (Australia, Guard, 5-10), ESPN: WNBA mock draft 2022, version 4.0: Did March Madness performances help or hurt draft prospects? After yet another playoff failure, the Aces made some big changes this winter, both on and off the court. And the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces didnt select until the third round though, lets just say they didnt need to, given the available talent on hand. Also, she has been known to struggle finishing over larger defenders. Through a series of previous trades they do not have a lottery pick, but they do have No. The player you see right now, or the last game I played, Im not going to be in another two years. Anybody that watches me knows that. In her six-year collegiate career, Lewis always had a free-throw rate (a percentage of two-point scoring trips that result in a trip to the free-throw line, according to Her Hoops Stats) in the. She also struggles to adapt to the physicality needed when she's faced with a double-team. There was plenty of big news, however, as Napheesa Collier announced she is pregnant and will miss at least part of the season with her baby due in May. It was exclusively televised on ESPN in the United States and on TSN3/5 in Canada. (For teams with picks in multiple rounds, the possible fits focus on the first-round selection.). Dodson played her best basketball with the Irish in 2021-22, but how she matched up against Elissa Cunane in her final collegiate game was concerning. For Minnesota, the haul began with No. Wells can score at all three levels, especially succeeding when she creates in space. But before they could add a potential franchise-changing talent, head coach and GM Mike Thibault made a stunning trade to send the first pick to the Dream in exchange for the Nos. Still, they have three picks and could use some extra depth in the backcourt and on the wing. In particular, a more defensive-minded guard would make sense after January's departure. Red State Voters Support Anti-Trans Laws. They responded by overhauling the entire organization, hiring Tanisha Wright as head coach and Dan Padover as general manager. Here's a way-too-early look at the first-round projections in the 2023 NBA draft and players to keep tabs on during the 2022-23 college basketball season. 1 to Fever, An inside look at the Wings' draft process, 2022 WNBA Draft: Teams needs and best fits, Aces' owner Davis denies improper payment reports, Brady acquires ownership stake in WNBA's Aces, Ionescu card sets new WNBA record for highest price. Pro-ready skill: Sjerven put her name on the map after three double-digit scoring performances against fellow W prospects in Shakira Austin, NaLyssa Smith and Naz Hillmon in the NCAA tournament. She was a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award alongside South Carolina's Aliyah Boston, Stanford's Cameron Brink and Northwestern's Veronica Burton. A skilled 7-foot center with a mature 235-pound frame . While Austin is listed as a center, her offensive game is more suited to power forward. 16 they took 6-foot-5 Dorka Juhsz from Connecticut. How much potential she has at her size is what might make Austin most exciting to WNBA talent evaluators. . 1 overall pick. In a call Friday, ESPN analyst LaChina Robinson communicated how valuable that quality is to talent evaluators: "I think whenever you have a player that can show up on the big stage when their number is called or their team needs some momentum, that's exciting for WNBA coaches and GMs," she said. That trio was joined by Iowa States Ashley Joens and Florida Gulf Coasts Kierstan Bell as the only players to appear in the first round on all six mock drafts. Pro-ready skill: Allen-Taylor has proved to be a staunch defender, playing in a system that is predicated upon its high-pressure defense. Questions the prospect raises: While her versatility is her blessing, she can be inconsistent in some of her roles. 9. Examining her performance in the national championship game against South Carolina versus her clutch showing in the Elite Eight against NC State illustrates those struggles. Round 1. For one, there's a lot of uncertainty. Smith is undoubtedly among the most skilled and most athletic prospects in the class. Last season was a complete disaster for the Dream, both on and off the court. Projected draft position: Late first round to early second, 4. Meanwhile, some good teams bided their time. The 2022 WNBA draft will be held in New York City Monday, April 11 at 7 p.m. Pro-ready skill: At only 19, Melbourne is an impressive lane slasher playing in the WNBL against WNBA pros Sami Whitcomb, Jackie Young and Marina Mabrey. While her three-point percentage exponentially increased during her collegiate career, Sjerven's 6'2" size will come into questionespecially defensively against taller and stronger centers. 2018's No. In four of her five collegiate years, Sjerven finished in the 93rd percentile or higher in total field-goal percentage. She was a. for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award alongside South Carolina's Aliyah Boston, Stanford's Cameron Brink and Northwestern's Veronica Burton. Pro-ready skill: In her fifth year of eligibility at Notre Dame, Dodson proved she can crash the offensive glass at a high level. 1 spot. Questions the prospect raises: While Hillmon has notable intangibles, she has glaring downsides. The roster is essentially a blank slate for the future, and the Fever enter draft night with four of the top-10 picks and seven selections overall. ET. In a blockbuster trade earlier this week, the Atlanta Dream acquired the No. 3. As Padover put it when he was hired, he is building things from the "ground up," and the team needs help in every single department. Smith's calling card is her raw shooting skills, but questions surround how she can use her 6'0" frame to contribute to the game in other ways besides shooting and scoring. To really appreciate Boston, though, youve got to watch her she simply doesnt miss defensive assignments. They head into draft night with just one meaningful pick, but at No. She's an elite rebounder (11.1 per game in 2021-22) and has impressive anticipation as a help defender. "The great thing about Pointer is she plays taller than she is," Dunn, . Her basketball IQ is very high, allowing her to make the proper reads on both sides of the floor. And while they won't want to eschew defense, they need someone who can put the ball in the basket after finishing last in the league in offense last season. The Fever came in with the. Smith's ceiling is so high because of the amount of athleticism she possesses in conjunction with her competitive spirit. WNBA talent evaluators value prospects who can create a shot from multiple levels, both off the dribble and on a kickout, something Burrell can do with ease. While Smith also can defend well, according to. 4. The Mercury head into draft night with just two third-round picks, so it's hard to imagine them finding much help. Sparks get Aces first round pick. Bibby's athleticism and lack of lateral quickness are things she'll struggle with if she makes it to a WNBA training camp. Engstler's defensive feel and anticipation. Questions the prospect raises: While she's an effective playmaker, her scoring ability has been inconsistent. The top-two prospects of the 2022 draft class are Baylor University forward NaLyssa Smith and University of Kentucky guard Rhyne Howard. 1. She can guard multiple positions, play both on and off the ball, distribute as a ball-handler and score at all three levels. Regardless of who they take, the Mystics will hope that with better health this season, they can get back into the playoff mix. WNBA mock draft 2022, version 5.0 - Will Baylor's NaLyssa Smith or Kentucky's Rhyne Howard go No. 1 pick. Questions the prospect raises: Throughout her college career, Wells was both turnover and foul prone. 3. Questions the prospect raises: Her competitive spirit and 40-minute focus in college could be a concern at the pro level. 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Rounds 2 and 3. After league talent evaluators have watched some of these prospects on film and in person for months upon months, all the hard work comes to a head. They added Grace Berger of Indiana at the seventh overall pick, who took over point guard duties for the Hoosiers once Ali Patberg left to begin collecting Social Security. Accordingly, the WNBA and the WNBPA previously agreed on an opt-in process for NCAA players who are otherwise eligible for the 2022 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm. Defense is what makes Burton pro-ready, and her, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors is convincing evidence. While Dunn raised that point, there must have been a reason the Washington Mystics, who value hard workers, traded out of the No. Bill Laimbeer stepped down as head coach and the team hired franchise legend Becky Hammon, who figures to change how the Aces play, especially on the offensive end. Her lateral movements are quite slow, and she struggles to execute and recover on hedges. Defensively, she's used her length and quickness to force turnovers and score off them in transition. Enough said. to speak about Naz Hillmon's upside as a WNBA prospect, he praised her motor and ability to finish around the rim and rebound at a high level using her 6'7" wingspan. 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