-
Mechelle VoepelESPN.com
The 2021 WNBA draft could be best remembered for three things: a potential dynamic duo for the Dallas Wings with 1-2 picks Charli Collier and Awak Kuier, teams betting on young international talent, and Indiana throwing balls of unexpected curve that will turn out to be either. surprisingly bright or off base.
At most, there are only 144 places on the 12-team WNBA roster. Not all teams are expected to bring in twelve players this year, however, due to contractual obligations and salary cap adjustment, so there may be even fewer places to take. Given the good level the lists have, the chances for players to qualify to reach the league in their 25th anniversary season will be difficult for most.
We saw international players like Kuier (Finland), Shyla Heal (Australia) and Iliana Rupert (France) come out in the first round. They are all 19 years old and already play professionally. It is not uncommon for international players to be selected as soon as they are eligible (if they are at least 20 years old in the year the draft is held) and possibly wait a year before they join the WNBA.
We’ll have to see how many play in this draft in the league in 2021, but it’s safe to say that some teams picked players knowing they aren’t likely to make a roster this year, but they can in the future.
Here are the notes from the 11 teams that participated in the draft. The Washington Mystics had no choice. The 2021 season is reached on May 14th.
Dallas Wings: A-plus
Selections: 1. Charli Collier, Texas, C; 2. Awak Kuier, Finland, PF; 5. Chelsea Dungee, Arkansas, SG; 13. Dana Evans, Louisville, PG
We also gave the Wings an A-plus rating last year, and then they didn’t make the playoffs. Still, this group of players and this year’s group should fill a good foundation for the Wings ’future and at least get them a postseason spot this year.
We’ll have to see how Collier and Kuier develop as great post players (Collier and Kuier are 6 feet-5) and have high ceilings. Dungee gives the Wings another version of Arike Ogunbowale: a guard who can always create his shot. And Evans, who some thought could be a lottery selection, looks like a second-round robbery.
For new coach Vickie Johnson, the task is to make all of these 2020 and 2021 selections bear fruit.
Minnesota Lynx: A
Selections: 9. Rennia Davis, Tennessee, SF
With only one selection, it was obviously not a busy draft for the four-time WNBA champions, but coach / general manager Cheryl Reeve should be happy that Davis, who seemed to have a lot of traction as a lottery, fell in No. . 9.
No one will ever replace Maya Moore. But getting a 6-2 wing that can bounce back and have good scoring potential seems exactly what the Lynx were looking for.
Los Angeles Sparks: A-minus
Selections: 7. Jasmine Walker, Alabama, PF; 10. Stephanie Watts, North Carolina, SG; 22. Arella Guirantes, Rutgers, SG; 28. Ivana Raca, Wake Forest, SF; 34. Aina Ayuso, Spain, PG
According to what coach / general manager Derek Fisher said he wanted to get into the draft, the Sparks did pretty well. When they traded with Dallas on Wednesday to reach No. 7, Walker was one of Fisher’s expected targets.
But if Watts was a surprise in the first round, Guirantes was an even bigger surprise that fell in the second. There was no player that the media projected higher, but that was inferior to Guirantes, so I could really be motivated.
Raca just completed a good career at Wake Forest and Ayuso spent his only college season in Oregon in 2017-18 before becoming a professional. But not all of these players will make the Sparks roster this year.
1:14
The Chicago Sky selected Shyla Heal of Australia as No. 8 in the WNBA draft overall selection.
Chicago Sky: A-minus
Selections: 8. Shyla Heal, Australia, PG; 16. Natasha Mack, Oklahoma State, PF
Heal has shown great promise at an early age and it should be fun to see her learn from Courtney Vandersloot. In that sense, Sky got exactly what they were looking for in the draft.
Getting Mack, a potential first-rounder who led the first division in blocked shots this season, in the second round had to be a pleasant surprise. It has many advantages and provides a necessary defensive mindset to the sky.
Ace of Las Vegas: B-plus
To pick up: 12. Iliana Rupert, France, C; 14. Destiny Slocum, Arkansas, PG; 36. Kionna Jeter, Towson, G
Like many European players, Rupert could choose to wait at least a year to play in the WNBA. But even if he doesn’t play in the league in 2021, it’s a good choice. The 19-year-old could be a center of the future for the Asos. Liz Cambage turns 30 in August and has missed several WNBA seasons since she was drafted in 2011, so it makes sense to have Rupert as part of a long-range plan.
The best use of the Aces second round selection was a top one, and we’ll see if Slocum can win a place on the list.
Seattle Storm: B
Selections: 18. Kiana Williams, Stanford, PG; 23. N’dea Jones, Texas A&M, PF; 35. Natalie Kucowski, Lafayette, PF
The Storm caught Aaliyah Wilson of Texas A&M with his first round at No. 11 and then traded her to Indiana for former UCLA player Kennedy Burke, who could find a spot with Seattle.
Williams gives Storm another option as a guard, one who is a prolific 3-point shooter. Jones was a double-double machine for the Aggies and it’s worth taking a look at the professional level, as is Kucowski, who led Division I in the average rebound this season (13.3 RPG).
Connecticut Sun: B
Selections: 20. DiJonai Carrington, Baylor, SG; 21. Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan, PG; 30. Aleah Goodman, Oregon State, SG
With no first-round picks, the Sun had to expect at least one player to fall more than expected, and that happened with Carrington. He was excellent for Baylor all season, and especially showed endurance and toughness during both the offensive and defensive NCAA tournament.
Coach / CEO Curt Miller was looking for some added offense if possible, and Kelly (23.9 PPG) and Goodman (16.2 PPG) led their teams in this season’s score.
2:13
Michaela Onyenwere’s grandmother gets up from the couch and explodes some incredible dance moves after Onyenwere was drafted.
New York Liberty: B
Selections: 6. Michaela Onyenwere, UCLA, SF; 17. DiDi Richards, Baylor, PG; 25. Valerie Higgins, Pacific; SF; 29. Marine Fauthoux, France, PG
There’s nowhere else to go in New York after last season’s 2-20 fight, and there’s at least the possibility that both Onyenwere and Richards, who bring a lot of energy, can help Liberty. Onyen has to adapt to being a wing player, but he is someone who can make things happen all over the court. Richards is not a shooter, but she has been one of the top general defenders at the university for the past two years and offensively runs the field well and creates opportunities for others.
Higgins started his career at USC before going to the Pacific and is another of those players who you think would have a lot more chances on the roster if the league had a few more teams.
3:10
Aari McDonald is named No. 3 in the 2021 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream, making her the first Arizona player to be selected in the first round.
Atlanta Dream: B-minus
Selections: 3. Aari McDonald, Arizona, PG; 15. Raquel Carrera, Spain, PF; 27. Lindsey Pulliam, Northwestern, SG
Yes, the Dreams are betting on the Aari McDonald we saw in the NCAA tournament this year, which we will see in the WNBA. And that Pac-12 player of the year will continue to improve. But does this option give the Dream a few similar guards? Or could a backstage that has McDonald’s, Chennedy Carter, Courtney Williams and Odyssey Sims (among others) produce the high-octane pace that coach Nicki Collen wants?
Carrera, again like some of the other European players, could choose to wait at least a year to join the WNBA.
Indiana Fever: D
Selections: 4. Kysre Gondrezick, West Virginia; PG; 11. Aaliyah Wilson, Texas A&M, SG; 19. Single Thompson, Auburn, PF; 24. Trinity Baptiste, Arizona, SF; 26. Chelsey Perry, UT Martin, PF; 31. Florencia Chagas, Argentina, PG; 33. Maya Caldwell, Georgia, G
By adding Wilson to a trade with Seattle, the Fever finished with seven picks in that draft, including two in which virtually no prediction saw Gondrezick and Wilson as first. Gondrezick led West Virginia in scoring 19.5 PPG this season, so maybe the Fever are in for something that others aren’t.
Thompson was a constant double-double for Auburn, and could be Indiana’s best selection.
General manager Tamika Catchings and coach Marianne Stanley might have the last laugh at everyone, but the initial response to this draft is, “Huh?”
Phoenix Mercury: no degree
Selections: 32. Ciera Johnson, Texas A&M, C
There really isn’t much to qualify for this draft when all Mercury had was a third-round pick. Johnson was a firm person for the Aggies, but it will be difficult for him to make the list.
What will be judged at Mercury is the addition of two former UConn players who had been selected in the first round, Kia Nurse and Megan Walker, in a February negotiation with New York for this year’s No. 6 pick ( the Liberty took Michaela Onyenwere) and a first round of 2022. We’ll see if the Nurse and the Walker flourish in Phoenix.