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Mechelle VoepelESPN.com
As the countdown to Thursday’s 2021 WNBA draft continues (7pm ET, ESPN / ESPN app), the biggest question doesn’t focus on which player could be selected first. Texas junior Charli Collier remains the No. 1 pick.
But with the Wings switching to No. 7 pick against the Los Angeles Sparks ahead of Wednesday’s negotiation deadline, we now wonder: which player are the Sparks targeting for that selection? Dallas still has four of the top 13 picks, but now the Sparks have two in the first round.
Could Los Angeles look for a local college star at UCLA’s Michaela Onyen? If guardians Aari McDonald and Dana Evans go through the top six and Onyenwere is still available, it could be Sparks ’pick at No. 7. Los Angeles coach / CEO Derek Fisher said he wants players and defenders versatile. Players like Onyenwere and DiJonai Carrington could also adapt to that bill.
With the launch of the league calendar on Tuesday, the image of the 2021 season continues to focus. It will be very difficult for a large number of Thursday’s draft picks to make a WNBA roster. But we will soon find out which players can have the best chance and where.
First round
1. Dallas Wings: Charli Collier, C, Texas
Collier finished the season averaging 19.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 51.1% from the field. With Dallas needing more strength inside, Collier adapts to the bill. As a draft-eligible junior, he could have been one more season in Texas. But with the opportunity to reach number 1, it makes sense for him to move to the professional level. There will be a lot to learn and improve, but, as he told ESPN’s Dave Wilson, “I’ve shown all my life that I can compete against the best of the best.”
2. Dallas Wings: Awak Kuier, PF, Finland
Like Collier, Kuier has 6 feet and five with the ability to score in many ways and grew up modeling his game after twice WNBA MVP candidate Candace Parker. Kuier is only 19, so he’s scratching the surface of his talent. He currently plays professionally with Ragusa in Italy, he knows he will have to be stronger for the WNBA. As Kuier told Sean Hurd of The Undefeated, “I like players who like to play with me. I know it will help me in the future.”
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3. Atlanta Dream: Arella Guirantes, SG, Rutgers
Guirantes is known for her scoring talent, but she is also a good player who should be able to intervene quite quickly and make an impact. He finished the senior season averaging 21.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists. The Dream already has several offensive threats, including last year’s No. 4 pick Chennedy Carter, but another tax defense scorer could be a great addition to Atlanta.
4. Indiana Fever: Rennia Davis, SF, Tennessee
The Fever continue to put together what kind of team they will form in coach Marianne Stanley’s second season. But it looks like incorporating the 6-foot-two Davis, who is a multi-dimensional scorer and a good defender, could be a benefit to Fever. He finished the senior season averaging 17.3 points and 8.8 rebounds, but shot just 26% behind the arc, which will have to improve.
5. Dallas Wings: Aari McDonald, PG, Arizona
Dallas opts for a punter here and if so, which one? McDonald finished his senior season averaging 20.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists, with an appearance in the national championship. McDonald’s defense is top notch, but how will he act offensively without the ball? If Dallas believes his speed, defense, and chip-in-shoulder attitude with which he plays are strong enough in his favor, the Wings could pick her up.
6. New York Liberty: Dana Evans, PG, Louisville
The liberties selected Sabrina Ionescu with the first selection last season, but this year they could take another strut. If Evans is still available, he could join three other Louisville players on the New York roster. Evans averaged 20.1 points and 3.9 assists this season, and achieved a strong NCAA tournament final, with 29 points in a Sweet 16 win over Oregon and then 24 in an Elite loss Eight vs. Stanford.
7. Los Angeles Sparks: Michaela Onyenwere, SF, UCLA
Onyenwere will have to improve his guard skills in the WNBA, but he is aware of it and has been working on it. This includes his three-point shot. Onyenwere, a 6-foot-tall tweener who averaged 19.1 points and 7.2 rebounds as a senior, doesn’t necessarily fit perfectly into any WNBA position coming out of college. But maybe it doesn’t matter: he has a fantastic engine, can protect multiple players, and tends to make things happen on the court. If it’s still available, it could be a reason Sparks did the trade on Wednesday.
8. Chicago Sky: Kiana Williams, PG, Stanford
If there’s one thing that seems virtually certain in this draft, it’s that Chicago is interested in a point of protection to star in Courtney Vandersloot. Williams could be the answer. He won an NCAA title with Stanford, leading the Cardinal in scoring (14.0 PPG), assists (3.1 per game) and minutes played (32.3 per game). He finished with the best 311-triple program of his college career.
9. Minnesota Lynx: Jasmine Walker, PF, Alabama
If Walker and Chelsea Dungee are still available here, the Lynx can go with Walker size (6-3) and great shooting ability from 3 points away. This season he averaged 19.1 PPG and 9.4 RPGs this season and was 78th out of 196 behind the arc (39.8%). The Lynx have a solid contingent of message players, and Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said they are really looking to the future with this selection. Walker could be the kind of player Reeve sees developing well in his system.
10. Los Angeles Sparks: Chelsea Dungee, SG, Arkansas
Dungee is an elite scorer and plays at a fast pace, which the Sparks want. It’s true that he hasn’t shown as many things in terms of gameplay or rebounding (he had 41 assists at 70 spins and had an average of 3.9 RPGs as a senior), but that could be attributed to the style of game and the staff of the Razorbacks. But we know what Dungee can bring: its 22.3 PPG this season proves it could be a real threat to a professional’s free floor.
11. Seattle Storm: DiJonai Carrington, SG, Baylor
Carrington averaged 14.1 points and 4.9 rebounds for Baylor and played very well in the NCAA tournament. The storm lost Alysha Clark, a defensive back, to free agency. The 5-foot, 11-foot Carrington, who often took on the role of Baylor’s defensive cap last season, could perhaps help fill that gap for the defending champions, while at the same time giving a shot at goal.
12. Ace of Las Vegas: Natasha Mack, PF, Oklahoma State
It’s not fair to compare any novel with Natasha Howard, a key part of the last two Seattle championships she is now in New York. But maybe Mack has some qualities similar to Howard. Mack is a little taller at 6 feet-4 and, with her wingspan, was the leader in Division I in blocked shots (112, 4.0 per game) this season. He averaged 19.8 points and 12.4 rebounds as a senior, and his defensive ability could make him a good fit with Las Vegas.
Second round
13. Dallas Wings: Iliana Rupert, C, France
14. Las Vegas Aces: Destiny Slocum, PG, Arkansas
15. Atlanta Dream: Unique Thompson, PF, Auburn
16. Chicago Sky: Lindsey Pulliam, SG, Northwest
17. New York Liberty: Janelle Bailey, C, North Carolina
18. Seattle Storm: Shyla Heal, PG, Australia
19. Indiana Fever: Chelsey Perry, PF, UT Martin
20. Connecticut Sun: Stephanie Watts, SG, North Carolina
21. Connecticut Sun: Ivana Raca, SF, Wake Forest
22. Los Angeles Sparks: DiDi Richards, PG, Baylor
23. Seattle Storm: Raquel Carrera, PF, Spain
24. Indiana Fever: Ciera Johnson, C, Texas A&M
Third round
25. New York Liberty: Aleah Goodman, SG, Oregon State
26. Indiana Fever: Selena Lott, PG, Marquette
27. Atlanta Dream: Tiana Mangakahia, PG, Syracuse
28. Los Angeles Sparks: Aaliyah Wilson, SG, Texas A&M
29. New York Liberty: Kysre Gondrezick, PG, West Virginia
30. Connecticut Sun: Jenn Wirth, PF, Gonzaga
31. Indiana Fever: N’dea Jones, PF, Texas A&M
32. Phoenix Mercury: Natalie Kucowski, PF, Lafayette
33. Indiana Fever: Valerie Higgins, SF, Pacific
34. Los Angeles Sparks: Sierra Campisano, PF, Cal Poly
35. Seattle Storm: Trinity Baptiste, SF, Arizona
36. Las Vegas Aces: Micaela Kelly, PG, Central Michigan