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Mechelle VoepelESPN.com
As the countdown continues to Thursday’s 2021 WNBA draft (19:00 ET, ESPN / ESPN App), the biggest question is not focused on which player can be selected first. Charli Collier, junior junior in Texas, remains the predicted number 1 pick.
But as the Wings trade the No. 7 pick for the Los Angeles Sparks ahead of Wednesday’s draft deadline, we now wonder: which player are the Sparks aiming for? Dallas still holds four of the first 13 picks, but now the Sparks have two in the first round.
Can Los Angeles follow a local star in UCLA’s Michaela Onyenwere? If point guards Aari McDonald and Dana Evans are in the top six, and Onyenwere is still available, she could be the Sparks at number 7. Los Angeles coach / general manager Derek Fisher said he wants playmakers and versatile defenders. Players like Onyenwere and DiJonai Carrington can also fit that account.
With the league launching on Tuesday, the picture of the 2021 season remains in focus. It’s going to be very difficult for a large number of Thursday concepts to make a WNBA series. But we will soon find out which players get 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, shooting 51.1% off the field. With Dallas’ need for more power inland, Collier fits the bill. As a junior eligible for the draft, she could stay in Texas for another season. But with the chance to go number 1, it makes sense that she goes to the pro level. There will be a lot to learn and improve, but as Dave Wilson told ESPN, “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 is 6 foot-5 with the ability to score in many ways and he grew up modeling her game after twice WNBA MVP Candace Parker. Kuier is only 19, which is why she scratches the surface of her talent. She currently plays professionally with Ragusa in Italy, and she knows she will have to get stronger for the WNBA. As Kuier told Sean Hurd of The Undefeated: ‘I like players who like to play hard against me. I know it will help me in the future. ‘
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Atlanta Dream: Arella Guirantes, SG, Rutgers
Guirantes is known for her scoring talent, but she is also a good all-round player who needs to be able to jump in fairly quickly and make an impact. She finished her senior season averaging 21.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists. The Dream already has several offensive threats, including Chennedy Carter, the No. 4 pick last year, but another tax defense scorer could be an excellent addition for Atlanta.
4. Indiana Fever: Rennia Davis, SF, Tennessee
The Fever are still putting together what kind of team they will be in the second season of coach Marianne Stanley. But it would seem that the 6-foot-2 Davis, who is a multidimensional scorer and a good defender, could be a benefit to the fever. She finished her senior season averaging 17.3 points and 8.8 rebounds, but she shot just 26% from behind the arc, something she will have to improve on.
5. Dallas Wings: Aari McDonald, PG, Arizona
Choose Dallas here for a point guard, and if so, which one? McDonald finished her senior season averaging 20.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists, with a national championship game. McDonald’s defense is off the top shelves, but how will she perform offensively without the ball? If Dallas feels her speed, defense and the skim-on-the-shoulder attitude she plays with are strong enough points in her favor, the Wings might be able to pick her.
6. New York Liberty: Dana Evans, PG, Louisville
The Liberty selected Sabrina Ionescu with the first pick last season, but they could take another point well this year. If Evans is still available, she could join three other Louisville players in the New York series. Evans averaged 20.1 points and 3.9 assists this season, and she finished strong in the NCAA Tournament, with 29 points in a Sweet 16 victory over Oregon and then 24 in ‘ an Elite Eight defeat against Stanford.
Los Angeles Sparks: Michaela Onyenwere, SF, UCLA
Onyenwere will have to improve her waiting skills in the WNBA, but she is aware of it and has worked on it. This includes her 3-point shot. Onyenwere, a 6-foot-tall tweener who averaged 19.1 points and 7.2 rebounds as a senior, does not necessarily fit perfectly into any WNBA position coming out of college. But that may not matter: she has a great car, can protect a variety of players and tends to make things happen on the track. If she’s still available, that could be one reason the Sparks traded on Wednesday.
8. Chicago Sky: Kiana Williams, PG, Stanford
If there’s one thing that seems almost certain in this draft, it’s that Chicago is interested in a rugby point that Courtney Vandersloot will play. Williams could be the answer. She won an NCAA title with Stanford, who scored the cardinal in the score (14.0 PPG), assists (3.1 per game) and minutes played (32.3 per game). She finished with a program-best 311 3 points in her college career.
9. Minnesota Lynx: Jasmine Walker, PF, Alabama
If both Walker and Chelsea Dungee are still available here, the Lynx might be able to go with the size (6-3) and the tremendous shooting ability from the 3-point range. She averaged 19.1 PPG and 9.4 RPG this season, and she was 78 out of 196 from behind the arc (39.8%). The Lynx have a solid contingent of mail players, and Cheryl Reeve, Lynx coach, said they are really looking to the future with the choice. Walker is perhaps the type of player that Reeve sees developing well in her system.
10. Los Angeles Sparks: Chelsea Dungee, SG, Arkansas
Dungee is an elite scorer and plays fast, which is what the Sparks want. She may not have shown as much about play and bounce yet (she has scored 41 assists up to 70 times and had an average of 3.9 RPG as a senior), but this can be attributed to the Razorbacks’ style of play and staff. But we know what Dungee can bring: her 22.3 PPG this season shows she could be a real threat in the open floor at a pro.
11. Storm in Seattle: DiJonai Carrington, SG, Baylor
Carrington averaged 14.1 points and 4.9 rebounds for Baylor and played really well in the NCAA Tournament. The Storm lost defensive stalwart Alysha Clark due to free agency. The 5-foot-11 Carrington – who has often taken over the role of defensive stopper for Baylor this past season – may be able to help fill the void left by the defending champions, while also scoring a point.
12. Las Vegas Ace: Natasha Mack, PF, Oklahoma State
It’s not fair to compare any rookie to Natasha Howard, a key part of Seattle’s past two championships now at New York. But perhaps Mack has a number of Howard-like characteristics. Mack is a little taller at 6 feet-4, and with her long wing span, she was the Division I leader in blocks this season (112, 4.0 per game). As a senior, she averaged 19.8 points and 12.4 rebounds, and her defensive prowess allowed her to make a good pass with Las Vegas.
Second round
13. Dallas Wings: Iliana Rupert, C, France
14. Las Vegas Ace: 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. Storm in Seattle: 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
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 Bait: Micaela Kelly, PG, Central Michigan