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Mechelle VoepelESPN.com
As the countdown to Thursday’s 2021 WNBA draft (19:00 ET, ESPN / ESPN) continues, the biggest question is not focusing on the player who could be selected first. Texas junior Charli Collier remains the No. 1 draft pick.
But with Wings trading option no. 7 in Los Angeles Sparks before Wednesday’s trading deadline, we now ask ourselves: which player is Sparks targeting for that choice? Dallas still has four of the top 13 picks, but now Sparks have two in the first round.
Could Los Angeles be following a local UCLA college Michaela Onyen star? If goalkeepers Aari McDonald and Dana Evans enter the top six, and Onyenwere is still available, she could be Sparks’ choice at number 7. Los Angeles coach / general manager Derek Fisher has said he wants versatile players and defenders. Players like Onyenwere and DiJonai Carrington could also fit this bill.
Once the league launches its program on Tuesday, the image of the 2021 season continues to focus. It will be very difficult for a large number of projects on Thursday to make a WNBA list. But we will soon find out which players could 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. Needing Dallas for more inside strength, Collier fits the bill. As a junior eligible for the project, he could have stayed another season in Texas. But with the chance to move to 1st place, it makes sense for her to move to the professional level. There will be a lot to learn and improve, but as Dave Wilson told ESPN, “I’ve shown my whole 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 has grown by modeling his game after twice WNBA MVP Candace Parker. Kuier is only 19, so he scratches the surface of his talent. Currently playing professionally with Ragusa in Italy, he knows that he will have to become stronger for the WNBA. As Kuier told Sean Hurd of The Undefeated, “I like players who like to play hard with me. I know it will help me in the future. “
– Complete coverage of the project: player ranking, team needs
– For Charli Collier’s top designed choice, determination is a family trait
– The 12 mandatory games in the 2021 WNBA regular season
3. Dream of Atlanta: Arella Guirantes, SG, Rutgers
Guirantes is known for her talent for scoring, but she is also a good player who should be able to get in pretty quickly and have 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 choice no. 4 last year, Chennedy Carter, but another marker of tax defense could be a big plus for Atlanta.
4. Indian fever: Rennia Davis, SF, Tennessee
Fever is still organizing what kind of team will be in the second season of coach Marianne Stanley. But it seems that bringing in Davis, who is a multidimensional scorer and a good defender, could be a benefit for Fever. She finished her senior season averaging 17.3 points and 8.8 rebounds, but only shot 26% from behind the arc, which will have to improve.
5. Dallas Wings: Aari McDonald, PG, Arizona
Dallas opts for a guard here and, if so, which one? McDonald finished his senior season on average with 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 it behave offensively without the ball? If Dallas feels that the speed, defense and attitude with which she plays are strong enough in her favor, Wings could select her.
6. New York Liberty: Dana Evans, PG, Louisville
Libertatea selected Sabrina Ionescu with the first choice last season, but she could take another guard this year. 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 had a strong NCAA final with 29 points in a Sweet 16 win over Oregon and then 24 in an Elite Eight loss. in front of Stanford.
7. Los Angeles Sparks: Michaela Onyenwere, SF, UCLA
Onyen will have to improve his guard skills in the WNBA, but he is very aware of this and has worked on it. That includes her 3-point shot. Onyenwere, a 6-foot-tall tweener with an average of 19.1 points and 7.2 rebounds as a senior, doesn’t necessarily fit perfectly into any WNBA out-of-college position. But it may not matter: he has an excellent engine, can guard a variety of players and tends to make things happen on the field. If it’s still available, it could be a reason Sparks made the deal Wednesday.
8. Chicago Sky: Kiana Williams, PG, Stanford
If there’s one thing that seems almost certain in this sketch, it’s that Chicago is interested in a backup guard to play Courtney Vandersloot. Williams could be the answer. She 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 3-point program in his college career.
9. Minnesota Lynx: Jasmine Walker, PF, Alabama
If both Walker and Chelsea Dungee are still available here, Lynx could go with Walker’s size (6-3) and his extraordinary 3-point shooting ability. She averaged 19.1 PPG and 9.4 RPGs this season and was 78-of-196 behind the arc (39.8%). Lynx has a solid contingent of fast players, and Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said she is really looking forward to the future with this choice. Walker could be the type of player Reeve sees developing well in her system.
10. Los Angeles Sparks: Chelsea Dungee, SG, Arkansas
Dungee is an elite scorer and plays at a fast pace, which Sparks want. Of course, it didn’t look as good in terms of gameplay or recovery (it had 41 assists at 70 turnovers and had an average of 3.9 RPGs as a senior), but this could be attributed to the style of game and Razorbacks staff. But we know what Dungee can bring: its 22.3 PPG this season shows that it could be a real open-ended threat to a professional.
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 master, in favor of the free agent. The 5-and-11-foot Carrington – who often took on the role of defensive stopper for Baylor last season – can help fill the gap for the champions in action, while bringing in a punch.
12. Ace of Las Vegas: Natasha Mack, PF, Oklahoma
It’s not fair to compare any newcomer to Natasha Howard, a key part of Seattle’s last two championships, who is now with New York. But maybe Mack has qualities like Howard. Mack is a little taller at 6 feet-4 and, with the wingspan of his long wings, has been the leader of Division I in blocked shots (112, 4.0 per game) this season. She averaged 19.8 points and 12.4 rebounds as a senior, and her defensive skills could make her a good match for Las Vegas.
Second round
13. Dallas Wings: Iliana Rupert, C, France
14. Las Vegas Aces: Destiny Slocum, PG, Arkansas
15. Atlanta Dream: Thompson Unique, PF, Auburn
16. Chicago Sky: Lindsey Pulliam, SG, Northwestern
17. New York Liberty: Janelle Bailey, C, North Carolina
18. Seattle Storm: Shyla Heal, PG, Australia
19. Indian 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. Indian Fever: Ciera Johnson, C, Texas A&M
Third round
25. New York Liberty: Aleah Goodman, SG, Oregon
26. Indian 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. Indian Fever: N’dea Jones, PF, Texas A&M
32. Phoenix Mercury: Natalie Kucowski, PF, Lafayette
33. Indian 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