The true analysis of any draft comes after we have seen rookies carry out for a minimum of a 12 months or two. However Monday’s WNBA draft gave us a lot to ponder heading into the league’s thirtieth season, which begins Could 8.
Was Azzi Fudd the appropriate No. 1 alternative for the Dallas Wings? How a lot impression will the record-breaking six UCLA gamers chosen make on the WNBA? Who’re the potential franchise-changers? Who’re the steals?
The highest 4 picks sorted themselves out just a few days earlier than the draft, with Olivia Miles following Fudd at No. 2 to the Minnesota Lynx, Awa Fam Thiam at No. 3 to the Seattle Storm and Lauren Betts at No. 4 to Washington Mystics.
After that, there have been some sudden twists and turns. ESPN’s last mock draft had 13 of the 15 gamers who had been taken within the first spherical however predicted solely six within the right spots. The second and third rounds, as traditional, defied predictions.
Now, as the true work begins for the rookies and their groups, we take time to digest the draft particulars.
What do you make of Golden State’s beautiful commerce after drafting Flau’jae Johnson?
Michael Voepel: It was odd that Golden State Valkyries common supervisor Ohemma Nyanin appeared to wrestle with an evidence of this. Initially, she informed the media she wanted extra time earlier than explaining it, then later Monday informed ESPN’s Kendra Andrews that Golden State and Seattle had agreed to commerce these picks Monday earlier than the gamers — LSU guard Johnson at No. 8 and TCU ahead Marta Suarez at No. 16 — had been chosen.
Nyanin appeared cautious of sounding essential of Johnson, however she additionally would not say the commerce was a wage cap resolution … however it looks as if it was. The No. 8 choose will get $309,622 her first season, in comparison with $270,000 for second- and third-round picks reminiscent of Suarez. Nyanin may have simply stated there wasn’t a participant she thought crammed the Valkyries’ wants on the No. 8 wage, and that they may use the almost $40,000 distinction (in the event that they hold Suarez) in one other means. Contemplating Johnson went eighth, Golden State wasn’t the one crew to bypass her.
Kendra Andrews: This commerce would have been a shock regardless, due to Johnson’s stardom — however the shock worth blew up much more due to the fallout that ensued, as Voepel outlined. If the occasions main as much as the commerce had been made extra clear, it could not have change into such a giant story.
Sources informed ESPN that as a result of the commerce was agreed upon earlier than any choices had been made, Seattle instructed the Valkyries to take Johnson, after which Golden State did the identical, telling Seattle to pick out Suarez at No. 16. This sort of factor occurs the entire time on draft night time, however the best way it was dealt with was peculiar.
As for the match, Suarez provides the Valkyries a giant who may also stretch the ground — the form of participant they’d final season in Monique Billings, however misplaced in free company.
Which top-10 choose do you assume will make the most important speedy impression on her crew?
Voepel: No. 2 choose Olivia Miles of TCU could possibly be a giant a part of a youth motion for Minnesota. Even with veteran guards Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride returning, there’s house for Miles. She is a real level guard who will get to work with Lynx assistant Lindsay Whalen, a Corridor of Famer who is likely one of the finest level guards in ladies’s hoops historical past.
Andrews: I agree with Voepel — Miles is one to observe instantly. One other participant I am going to have my eyes on is Lauren Betts. There are solely a handful of conventional dominant bigs left within the league, and even fewer on the youthful aspect of the age spectrum. However teaming up with an thrilling younger core already in Washington — and reuniting together with her UCLA teammate Angela Ducalig — Betts ought to be capable of have an early impression. I do not see her being bullied down low, and she’s going to be capable of be disruptive within the defensive finish as nicely.
Alexa Philippou: Other than these gamers, I might level to Fudd. She will not be required to hold Dallas this 12 months, however I wish to see how she will be able to carry her 3-point prowess to a Wings crew that desperately wants it: They ranked eleventh out of 13 groups final season in 3-pointers per sport, in addition to twelfth in 3-point area purpose proportion.
The Solar’s rookies — Nell Angloma, Gianna Kneepkens, Charlisse Leger-Walker and Taylor Bigby — even have a possibility to make a splash for a franchise that’s unequivocally constructing towards its future. It may not be the type of impression that leads to playoff competition, however they may have a possibility to carve out significant roles for a crew with a ton of youth and management that needs to be keen to experiment.
Who’s the one participant you wish to plant your flag on as the most important steal of the draft?
Philippou: Perhaps the No. 3 choose cannot qualify as a steal — however there are lots of evaluators who imagine Fam Thiam has the best upside of anybody within the draft. And with Dallas and Minnesota opting to pick out guards, she was obtainable for the Storm, who gladly took her although they have already got a stacked frontcourt with Dominique Malonga (final 12 months’s No. 2 choose) and Ezi Magbegor (who simply signed essentially the most profitable contract in WNBA historical past), to not point out veteran heart Stefanie Dolson. It will be fascinating to see how Fam Thiam and Malonga develop long run and the way Storm coach Sonia Raman appears to unlock their particular person potential whereas additionally mixing their skills for the crew’s broader success.
Andrews: Does high 10 depend as a steal?! Raven Johnson’s choice by the Fever at No. 10 is an enormous win for Indiana. When the roster is wholesome, the Fever are an extremely balanced crew and weren’t in dire want of anyone factor. In order that they drafted the very best participant obtainable, and that participant occurred to be an elite defensive level guard who simply put up career-best capturing numbers.
Voepel: South Carolina guard Ta’Niya Latson, the No. 20 choose by Los Angeles. In three seasons at Florida State, she averaged 22.5 factors in 93 video games. This season, she averaged 14.1 factors at South Carolina with extra expertise round her. Her 48.6 capturing proportion was the very best of her profession, however she struggled to make 3-pointers (32.5%). She had ups and downs within the postseason. The most important downs got here in losses within the SEC last and the nationwide championship sport, although she performed nicely within the semifinal towards UConn. That inconsistency contributed to Latson dropping within the draft. Now she has the prospect to show she will be an efficient scorer on the professional stage.
What was your greatest takeaway from this draft?
Voepel: The patterns are set: WNBA groups are fairly clear on the forms of gamers they draft.
Conventional guards want a high-level offensive talent set. Defensive prowess is valued, however no guard can be picked just for protection. The 4 guards taken from UCLA — No. 5 Gabriela Jaquez, No. 6 Kiki Rice, No. 15 Gianna Kneepkens and No. 18 Charlisse Leger-Walker — present that. They’ll defend, however all carry vital offensive instruments that helped make the Bruins unstoppable within the NCAA last.
Massive gamers (6-3 or taller) who can reliably shoot 3-pointers often will get picked. Examples this 12 months had been No. 9 Angela Dugalic (UCLA), No. 16 Marta Suarez (TCU), No. 19 Cassandre Prosper (Notre Dame), No. 25 Justine Pissott (Vanderbilt) and No. 35 Amelia Hassett (Kentucky). One participant who match that invoice, Yarden Garzon of Maryland, wasn’t drafted. However she may nonetheless get an opportunity to play within the WNBA.
For conventional facilities, the percentages of being drafted are seemingly low. Three gamers listed at heart had been taken within the first spherical: No. 2 Awa Fam Thiam (Spain), No. 4 Lauren Betts (UCLA) and No. 13 Madina Okot (South Carolina). They’re all gifted past the normal low-block talent set. In the meantime, facilities reminiscent of Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers, Miami’s Ra Shaya Kyle and Texas’ Kyla Oldacre weren’t chosen. They may get coaching camp invitations as an alternative.
Similar goes for school gamers who aren’t from both a Energy 4 convention or UConn. Just one mid-major participant was chosen this 12 months: Davidson guard Charlise Dunn (No. 36). That had quite a bit to do together with her being Australian and recognized to Toronto coach Sandy Brondello, a longtime Australian nationwide crew coach.
Philippou: The rookie wage for final 12 months’s No. 1 WNBA draft choose, Paige Bueckers, was $78,831. The rookie wage for Fudd this 12 months is $500,000. The common first-year wage for first-round picks final 12 months was about $75,000, whereas the typical first-year wage for first-round picks this 12 months is $386,000.
It has been the case for the previous week with free brokers as they’ve signed the primary million-dollar contracts in league historical past, however it was undoubtedly a cool second Monday to acknowledge the large wage adjustments which have occurred beneath this new collective bargaining settlement, and what it will imply for the lives of incoming WNBA athletes.
On one other notice: Having free company begin the week earlier than the draft, which by itself is already simply six days earlier than coaching camp, is an train nobody throughout the league desires to relive once more. The excellent news is that the reward is in sight: in the end, a 2026 season.