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Mechelle VoepelESPN.com
The 2021 WNBA project 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 talented young internationals and Indiana throwing some unexpected curves that will prove either surprisingly bright or far from basic.
At most, there are only 144 places on the WNBA list of 12 teams. It is not expected that each team will have 12 players this year, however, due to contractual obligations and falling below the salary cap, so there could be even fewer places in the game. When you think about how good the lists are already, the chances for those who sign up to reach the league in its 25-year season will be difficult for most.
We saw international players like Kuier (Finland), Shyla Heal (Australia) and Iliana Rupert (France) participating in the first round. They are all 19 years old and already play professionally. It is not uncommon for international players to be recruited as soon as they are eligible (if they are at least 20 years old in the draft) and then wait a year before actually joining the WNBA.
We’ll have to see how many of this draft are played in the league in 2021, but it’s pretty certain that some teams have picked players knowing they probably won’t make a list this year, but they could in the future.
Here are the notes for the 11 teams that participated in the draft. Washington Mystics had no choice. The 2021 season gives advice on May 14th.
Dallas Wings: A-plus
Elections: 1. Charli Collier, Texas, C; 2. Awak Kuier, Finland, PF; 5. Chelsea Dungee, Arkansas, SG; 13. Dana Evans, Louisville, PG
Last year I gave Wings an A-plus and then they didn’t make the playoffs. However, that crowd of players and the group this year should complete a good foundation for the future of the Wings and at least bring them a post-season spot this year.
We’ll have to see how Collier and Kuier develop as big fast players – Collier and Kuier are both 6-legged – who have high ceilings. Dungee offers Wings another version of Arike Ogunbowale – a guard who can create his shot at any time. And Evans, who some thought might be a lottery pick, appears to be a second-round robbery.
For the new coach Vickie Johnson, the task is for all the elections in 2020 and 2021 to be paid.
Minnesota Lynx: A
Elections: 9. Rennia Davis, Tennessee, SF
With just one selection, it obviously wasn’t a busy draft for the four-time WNBA champions, but coach / general manager Cheryl Reeve must be happy that Davis, who seemed to have a lot of traction as a lottery selection, fell at No. 9.
No one will ever replace Maya Moore. But getting a 6-2 returnable wing that has good scoring potential seems exactly what Lynx was looking for.
Los Angeles Sparks: A-minus
Elections: 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
Based on what coach / general manager Derek Fisher said he wants to get into the draft, Sparks did pretty well. When they traded Wednesday with Dallas to get option no. 7, Walker was one of the goals Fisher hoped for.
But if Watts was a surprise in the first round, Guirantes was an even bigger surprise falling in the second. There was no player that the media projected above, but who came down less than Guirantes, so she could be really motivated.
Raca just finished 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 Sparks’ list this year.
1:14
Chicago Sky selects Shyla Heal from Australia as general election no. 8 in the WNBA draft.
Chicago Sky: A-minus
Elections: 8. Shyla Heal, Australia, PG; 16. Natasha Mack, Oklahoma State, PF
Heal showed great promise at an early age and it should be fun to see her learn from Courtney Vandersloot. In this sense, Sky got exactly what they were looking for in the project.
Getting Mack – a potential in the first round that led Division I in blocked shots this season – in the second round had to be a pleasant surprise. She has a lot of advantages and brings a necessary defensive mentality to the sky.
Las Vegas Aces: B-plus
Choose: 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, this is a good choice. The 19-year-old could be a center for the future for aces. Liz Cambage turns 30 in August and has missed several WNBA seasons since she was drafted in 2011, so it makes sense for Rupert to be part of a long-term plan.
The best use of choosing the Aces in the second round was on a guard, and we’ll see if Slocum can win a place on the list.
Seattle Storm: B
Elections: 18. Kiana Williams, Stanford, PG; 23. N’dea Jones, Texas A&M, PF; 35. Natalie Kucowski, Lafayette, PF
Storm took Aaliyah Wilson from Texas A&M in their first round in 11th place and then traded her to Indiana for former UCLA player Kennedy Burke, who could find a place with Seattle.
Williams offers the storm another guard option, one that is a prolific 3-point shooter. Jones was a double-double car for Aggies and it is worth taking a look at the professional level, just like Kucowski, who led Division I in the average recovery this season (13.3 RPG).
Connecticut Sun: B
Elections: 20. DiJonai Carrington, Baylor, SG; 21. Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan, PG; 30. Aleah Goodman, Oregon, SG
With no first-round picks, the Sun had to hope that at least one player fell shorter than expected – and that’s what happened to Carrington. She was outstanding for Baylor all season and showed especially weight and toughness during both the offensive and defensive NCAA tournaments.
Coach / general manager Curt Miller looked for an extra offensive punch, if possible, and Kelly (23.9 PPG) and Goodman (16.2 PPG) led each team in scoring this season.
2:13
Michaela Onyenwere’s grandmother gets up from the couch and bursts into some incredible dance moves after Onyenwere was drafted.
New York Liberty: B
Elections: 6. Michaela Onyenwere, UCLA, SF; 17. DiDi Richards, Baylor, PG; 25. Valerie Higgins, Pacific; SF; 29. Marine Fauthoux, France, PG
There’s nowhere to go for New York after last season’s 2-20 fight, and there’s at least a chance that both Onyenwere and Richards – both of whom will bring a lot of energy – will help Liberty. Onyen had to adapt to the role of wing player, but he is someone who can make things happen all over the field. Richards is not a shooter, but he has been one of the best overall defenders in college for the past two years and, offensively, runs the court well and creates opportunities for others.
Higgins started his career at USC before leaving for Pacific and is another player who you think would have a much better chance of being in the list if the league had a few more teams.
3:10
Aari McDonald is selected 3rd in the 2021 WNBA rankings by the Atlanta Dream, making him the first player in Arizona to be drafted in the first round.
Atlanta Dream: B-minus
Elections: 3. Aari McDonald, Arizona, PG; 15. Raquel Carrera, Spain, PF; 27. Lindsey Pulliam, Northwestern, SG
Yes, The Dream deals with Aari McDonald, whom we saw in this year’s NCAA tournament, the one we’ll see in the WNBA. And that Pac-12 player of the year will continue to improve. But does this choice give the Dream too many similar guardians? Or does a backyard that has McDonald’s, Chennedy Carter, Courtney Williams and Odyssey Sims (among others) produce the high octane pace that coach Nicki Collen wants?
Carrera, like some of the other European players, could choose to wait at least a year to join the WNBA.
Indian fever: D
Elections: 4. Kysre Gondrezick, West Virginia; PG; 11. Aaliyah Wilson, Texas A&M, SG; 19. Thompson unic, 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 deal with Seattle, Fever reached seven picks in this draft – including two that virtually no prognosis saw as the first round in Gondrezick and Wilson. Gondrezick led West Virginia in scoring 19.5 PPG this season, so maybe Fever is heading for something others aren’t.
Thompson was a constant double-double for Auburn and could be the best choice in Indiana.
General manager Tamika Catchings and coach Marianne Stanley might make everyone laugh, but the initial response to this project is “Huh?”
Phoenix Mercury: No degree
Elections: 32. Ciera Johnson, Texas A&M, C
Indeed, there are not many qualifiers for this draft, when all Mercury had was a choice in round three. Johnson was an inner stalwart for Aggies, but it will be difficult for her to make the list.
What will be judged on Mercury is the bringing of two former UConn players who were the previous first round picks, Kia Nurse and Megan Walker, in a February deal with New York for pick no. 6 this year (Liberty took Michaela Onyenwere) and a first round in 2022. We’ll see if the nurse and Walker flourish in Phoenix.