The centerpiece of Indianas rebuild is Boston, a 6-foot-5 big out of South Carolina who was both the consensus best player available and fit the largest needs of the team. 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. According to Em Adler at, Sheppard is an excellent shooter who can make shots off the dribble and on catch-and-shoot attempts. They responded by overhauling the entire organization, hiring Tanisha Wright as head coach and Dan Padover as general manager. In addition, they parted ways with head coach Sandy Brondello and replaced her with Vanessa Nygaard. 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. 1 spot. Her basketball IQ is very high, allowing her to make the proper reads on both sides of the floor. In her entire collegiate career, her field-goal percentage hasn't been a hair below 53 percent. She grabbed 115 offensive rebounds last season, finishing within the top 20 in the country. Pro-ready skill: Ramirez is an excellent spot-up shooter who canned 40.2 percent from three while averaging 6.5 attempts per game in her final collegiate season. Her lateral movements are quite slow, and she struggles to execute and recover on hedges. WNBA; NBA 2K League; Basketball Africa League; Sign In. ET on ESPN. Her footwork for a 6'4" big is impressive as she excels at preventing dribble drives. NEW YORK, April 6, 2022 - The WNBA announced today that additional players from colleges and universities have formally filed for inclusion as candidates for the 2022 WNBA Draft presented. 25) will give Sides extra competitors for her frontcourt slots during training camp. Sign in with NBA ID; Select TV . Joens has been gathering accolades since her very first year at Iowa State. My Bets My Bets More More . While her versatility is her blessing, she can be inconsistent in some of her roles. The only major change was signing Courtney Williams to replace Briann January. Defense is what makes Burton pro-ready, and her, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors is convincing evidence. 1. Bibby's athleticism and lack of lateral quickness are things she'll struggle with if she makes it to a WNBA training camp. 2022-04-10. 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. Pointer can score at a very high level. In her final season, she registered 2.7 fouls per game, the highest rate of her career. Lifelong dreams will be fulfilled as this year's talented pool of prospects finally hear their names called and find out where they will . It's still not entirely clear whether Rhyne Howard or NaLyssa Smith go No. 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. 2022-23 Season Schedule; . At 6'1", she's a post player who can facilitate, move well off the ball and score fluidly in transition, and she's proved she can make a catch-and-shoot jump shot from beyond the arc. How much potential she has at her size is what might make Austin most exciting to WNBA talent evaluators. 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. Although at 6'3" she has length and size as a post player, she also struggled with physicality and staying out of foul trouble. For one, there's a lot of uncertainty. I think Im just never satisfied, Miller said following the draft. Emphasis on the "wants to," which was exactly how Dream general manager Dan Padover. It was exclusively televised on ESPN in the United States and on TSN3/5 in Canada. After a trade with the Aces on Sunday, they now have two first-round picks and five selections overall. So how will they approach the draft? I think there's a pretty clear top. While the Liberty ended up backing into the playoffs, last season was fairly disappointing given all of the talent they added. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: wnba | pageType: stories | 26 overall recruit ( ESPN HoopGurlz) and Miss Basketball for the state of Iowa, Joens averaged 11.7 points . Kitley could have been a first-round draft pick this season if she didn't elect to come back to Virginia Tech for a fifth year. The player you see right now, or the last game I played, Im not going to be in another two years. The 2022 WNBA draft will be held in New York City Monday, April 11 at 7 p.m. Kayla Jones (NC State, Combo Forward, Graduate Student). 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. How These WNBA Prospects Can Improve Their 2022 Draft Stock. (For teams with picks in multiple rounds, the possible fits focus on the first-round selection.). Pro-ready skill: Bell has been lauded for her physicality and versatility on offense. Projected draft position: Draft lottery pick to mid-first round. Lewis proved how versatile and tough she is to guard during her graduate year at Baylor. During the 2021-2022 season, she only shot 25.7 percent on 35 total attempts. Cunane isn't known for imposing her will physically, but Dodson struggled against her in the Sweet 16. The team will kickstart the 2022 WNBA Draft after trading for the No. Rhyne Howard, Kentucky. 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. Traded Draft Picks: Wings get Sky first round pick. 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. Pro-ready skill: 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. Engstler's defensive feel and anticipation. 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. Dickey has fine size as a guard but might be a bit undersized as a wing. That won't get any easier in the W. Projected draft position: Late second round, 8. 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. 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. She'll also struggle to defend post-ups because of her slender 6'3" frame and how strong her pro opponents will be. 5 overall it should give them a chance to add an impactful player. Pro-ready skill: In her fifth year of eligibility at Notre Dame, Dodson proved she can crash the offensive glass at a high level. She has trouble finishing at the rim, has limited post moves on the block and shot 42 percent from the field last season. began the season with a leg injury, which she might not be completely healed from. Her footwork for a 6'4" big is impressive as she excels at preventing dribble drives. 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. Pro-ready skill: For a big, the 6'2" Bibby can stretch the floor and hit three-point shots at a clip above 30 percent on around four to five attempts per game. 1, followed by Baylor forward NaLyssa Smith at No. Round 2. The event will begin Monday at 7 p.m. Pro-ready skill: Wells can score at all three levels, especially succeeding when she creates in space. Projected draft position: Late first round to mid-second round. My Bets . During her senior season, Boston hit 58.7 percent of her twos. 4. She can drive with the ball well, can spot up shots and can especially score at the short corner. In particular, a more defensive-minded guard would make sense after January's departure. Elissa Cunane (NC State, Center, Senior). Regardless of who they take, the Mystics will hope that with better health this season, they can get back into the playoff mix. I love that about her. 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: Defense is where Bell will struggle in the pros. Projected draft position: Early second round to mid-second round, 6. A'ja Wilson Has Always Done It All For The Aces. Chloe Bibby (Maryland, Forward/Guard, Graduate Student). While Paige Bueckers was out for a couple of months, Nelson-Ododa proved how versatile she can be as a point-post player. 6. The 2022 WNBA Draft is officially underway. Boston will join a former University of South Carolina teammate Destanni Henderson on the Indiana Fever roster. Questions the prospect raises: While her versatility is her blessing, she can be inconsistent in some of her roles. Pro-ready skill: Sheppard is an excellent shooter who can make shots off the dribble and on catch-and-shoot attempts. 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. Guides Guides. 2022 WNBA Draft Lottery Winners and Losers: WNBA.com: Dec. 15: Early 2022 Draft Prospects: Draft History: WNBA Draft: Year: 1st Round: 2nd Round: 3rd Round: 4th Round: 2022 Mya Hollingshed (8) Kierstan Bell (11) Khayla Pointer (13) Aisha Sheppard (23) Faustine Aifuwa (35) 2021: Iliana Rupert (12) Questions the prospect raises: When I saw Cunane live and up-close, it was clear she needs to improve her defense. Dunn has noted defense as something she's focusing on, but other than that the Fever will be able to go best player available all night long starting, likely, with NaLyssa Smith at No. 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. In her final collegiate season, Gray shot. The 2022 WNBA Draft is one day away, but the drama has already started. Had . 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. (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). What set her apart during her collegiate career was her ability to create off the dribble along with her exceptional footwork and a laundry list of pro-ready moves, such as her hesi and crossover. 4 pick Stephanie Soares to the Wings for Dallass second-round pick in 2024 and Atlantas first-round pick in 2025. ", While the 5'7" Pointer has proved herself as a talented scoring guard, her push, at point guard could use work. Still, though the Sparks are much more talented than they were last season, they could still use some help in the draft. Cunane isn't known for imposing her will physically, but Dodson struggled against her in the Sweet 16. She'll need to work on getting a lot stronger to succeed. Her efficiency from deep will also need to improve at the pro level. Jenna Staiti (Georgia, Center, Graduate Student). 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. The 2024 WNBA Draft will take place in April of 2024. 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. She's an effective screener and makes intelligent reads on the floor. Smith, who averaged . Shes always in the right place and will be an instant boon to new Fever head coach Christie Sidess defensive scheme. She recorded a triple-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in her fourth game. Draft-lottery hopeful to middle of the first round. 1 pick.After going just 8-24 in the 2021 season, Atlanta now gets its first choice of a player from the incoming draft class. They had three different head coaches, finished 8-24 and missed the playoffs for a third straight season. 1 pick, the Indiana Fever got the second overall pick, and with . Pro-ready skill: Cunane is a solid post scorer who thrives with her back to the basket. 1 pick. "As the game goes along, you'd swear she's 5'9", 5'10". 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. The top-two prospects of the 2022 draft class are Baylor University forward NaLyssa Smith and University of Kentucky guard Rhyne Howard. , talent evaluators appreciate the 6'3" Egbo's length and tenacity at the defensive end. If she simply retains the efficiency she showed in her final year at Maryland, shell be an immediate contributor for Cheryl Reeves Lynx in Year 1 of the post-Sylvia Fowles Era. In her four years at Georgia, she didn't finish below the 97th percentile in blocks per game. 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". 3 is anyone's guess. "You would expect she would certainly be in a camp.". She has trouble finishing at the rim, has limited post moves on the block and shot. If someone had set about sabotaging the Fever over the last few years, it would have been hard for them to leave the team in a worse position than it is now. March 29, 2022. not doing that prior to her arrival. Pro-ready skill: Defense is where Hollingshed stands out the most. Questions the prospect raises: While Smith has developed her game quite quickly after only a season under former WNBA coach Nicki Collen, her perimeter play still has a ways to go if she is to reach her potential. Im just constantly trying to develop and be a sponge to the game and constantly find new things.. Projected draft position: Late first round to early second round, 2. TCU WR Quentin Johnston is the biggest boom-or-bust receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft. It all made for a fascinating reshuffling of the leagues talent base, just a week after the NCAA Final Four and a little over a month until the 2023 season begins on May 19. Another question is: Will she improve her lateral quickness to defend other 3s when she plays on the wing rather than in the post? Kierstan Bell (Florida Gulf Coast University, Guard, Junior). 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. WNBA 2022 Draft Tracker Round by round results of the 2022 WNBA Draft , including rookie contract details. Pro-ready skill: Defense is what makes Burton pro-ready, and her three consecutive Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors is convincing evidence. Thats 11 players that finished among the top 12 in more than half of the mock drafts surveyed. 6-keys: media/spln/wnba/reg/free/stories, at My 2022 WNBA Draft betting preview will give you early information on the key details, contenders for the No. Questions the prospect raises: While Nelson-Ododa stands at 6'5" and has long arms, she has struggled with physicality and strong finishes. How much has this affected her athleticism on defense, and how much of a concern is her health to talent evaluators? 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. Apr 11, 2022. Once again, however, they fell short in the playoffs, this time to the eventual champion Sky in the semifinals. 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. 1 overall pick to the Atlanta Dream for the. WNBA Draft (15) All Rights Reserved. The draft order will be determined after the season ends (inverse order of standings) with the top four spots in the draft determined by a draft lottery (selected from the four teams not making the playoffs). Christyn Williams (Connecticut, Guard, Senior). 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. Ramirez can clearly shoot well from deep, but her field-goal percentage from everywhere else is troubling, as in her college career her two-point field-goal percentage. 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