WNBA Pseudo Draft 2023: Player Selection and Prediction

news7g04/07/2023

5 7 minutes read

WNBA Pseudo Draft 2023: Player Selection and Prediction

9:35 a.m. Eastern time

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More than a week after Tigers LSU crowned national champion, the WNBA will hold its annual draft on Monday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN App) as we find out where this season’s rookies will begin their professional career.

Due to the COVID-19 exemption from 2020-21, seniors from this season and the next can choose to play their fifth year in college. The combination of that, the limited jobs opening up in the 12-team WNBA and the possibility of NIL compensation has changed the personnel available in this draft. And it will certainly do the same for 2024.

On Thursday, the WNBA announced the list of players who will join the final draft of 2023. ESPN analysts Rebecca Lobo and LaChina Robinson spoke to the media on Thursday about the development. draft outlook, as well as WNBA coaches and executives from Atlanta Dream, Indiana fever, Dallas Wings And Lynx Minnesota.

Here’s the latest look at ESPN’s first round predictions, plus a look at the second and third rounds.

First round

South Carolina fighting cock | PF | 6 foot-5 | elder

Boston didn’t win the national championship for a second time, but she’ll be motivated to change the fortunes of Fever, who hasn’t been in the post-season since 2016. She hasn’t budged. 1 since her first draft in November. She averaged 13.0 PPG and 9.8 RPG this season. And as ESPN’s Lobo pointed out, Boston should have a more offensive chance in the pro game, where she won’t be three-teamed.

“I’m excited to watch Aliyah Boston play under the WNBA rules,” Lobo said. “For four years, teams can surround her defensively and fall to her, and in W you have three seconds to defend. You have a wider lane.”

Check out Diamond Miller’s WNBA draft file

Take a look at some of the top moments that made Maryland’s Diamond Miller a top prospect in this year’s WNBA draft.

Maryland Topography | SG | 6 foot-3 | elder

There’s speculation that Miller’s favorable odds could be as high as anyone in this draft if she can expand her range and maximize her defensive skills. Her size and agility can make her a very tough opponent. ESPN’s Robinson praised Miller’s attacking mindset in attack, her wingspan and her ability to play multiple positions.

“If she can improve her ability to handle pressure and traffic,” says Robinson, “I think that will help her improve a lot.”

See what makes Maddy Siegrist a top WNBA lead

Take a look at some of the top moments that made Villanova’s Maddy Siegrist the top prospect in this year’s WNBA draft.

Villanova forest cat | PF | 6 foot-2 | elder

Siegrist is up two places from our most recent mock-up based on speculation that Wings might worry that if they wait until 5th, it will give the Washington Mystics a chance to take her. Siegrist leads Division I with 29.2 PPG this season for the Wildcats, which made it to the Sweet 16. She finished with a school-record 2,896, while also scoring another 1,102 rebounds.

Wings chairman Greg Bibb said: “She was absolutely one of the best players in the squad. “She has a skill set that translates well to several teams in the WNBA, including us.”

Iowa State Tornado | C | 6 feet-6 | elder

It depends on whether the Mystics think Soares – who is not expected to play this season after suffering an ACL injury in January – is worth the wait and whether they have a What other potential lottery options do they value more? Washington had 6-5 Shakira Austin, the 3rd draft pick last season, but Soares has a lot of potential.

During her brief stay in Division I after four NAIA seasons, Soares impressed Lobo: “When I first saw her, I was blown away… her incredible size, mobility, versatility active. Her shot is beautiful. She can really pass. She can drive in the basket.”

See what makes Jordan Horston a top WNBA prospect

Take a look at some of the top moments that made Jordan Horston of Tennessee one of the top prospects in this year’s WNBA selection.

Tennessee Lady Vols | SG | 6 foot-2 | elder

Horston looks like the right fit for a Wings team that is expected to focus on defense under new coach Latricia Trammell. She plays hard and is capable of defending multiple positions. Surprisingly, Horston has a lot of skill to work with, and she played well in the post-season and improved her draft.

Lynx coach and basketball executive president Cheryl Reeve said Horston was, “An avid player, very confident. She finds herself in this league, that’s how she knows she belongs.”

See why Haley Jones is a top WNBA prospect

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Cardinal Stanford | PG | 6 feet-1 | elder

Jones was not predicted to be the draw, in part because of concerns about her potential as a 3-pointer. That said, there’s still a lot to like about how she plays with her size, instincts, and vision.

“They liked the way she pushed the ball with speed on an empty floor, the way she was able to find teammates,” Lobo said of how WNBA coaches and executives rate Jones.

South Carolina fighting cock | SG | 6 feet-1 | elder

The real Beal doesn’t fall into an easily identifiable position. We’re listing her as shooting guard, but she’s probably like a versatile, defensive wing for South Carolina. But she has room to develop her offensive abilities — she was a very good offensive player in high school — as she matures into the professional game. Fever general manager Lin Dunn may select more than one South Carolina player in this draft.

“I think there’s a reason why Lin Dunn likes the Gamecocks, and it’s because of the style they play at the bottom of the defensive floor,” Lobo said.

South Carolina fighting cock | PF | 6 foot-4 | elder

Like Beal, Amihere is flexible enough that she doesn’t necessarily fit for a position and selfless enough to take on whatever role the Gamecock needs in her. As a pro, she can attack more as she played everywhere from point-to-point midfielder to striker while in college.

“She’s still determining what kind of player she’s going to be,” said Reeve, who as coach of the US national team faced off against Amihere on Team Canada. “But at the very least, I’ve seen her change the game with her aggressiveness. She’s fearless. She’s ambitious in the way she chooses to attack defenders and has an innate confidence. born there.”

Indiana Hoosiers | PG | 6 pins-0 | elder

Berger is the tough, determined, highly motivated type of player that coaches love. But she is not only a good worker but also very good. Berger doesn’t hit three as many as some other top defenders, but she has the work ethic to add more to her game on a professional level. And she can help Storm reshape their identities after Sue Bird retires and Breanna Stewart leaves the agency for free.

“One of the things I love about Grace is her ability to play three positions,” Dunn said. “She can play season 2, part 1, part 3. She’s physically strong, tough.”

Iowa State Tornado | SF | 6 feet-1 | elder

Jones won the Cheryl Miller Award three times as the country’s top minor forward and finished his Iowa State career with more than 3,000 points and 1,300 bounces. She and Indiana’s Berger are similar in that they are both naturally quiet players who don’t show much emotion but will do anything to help their team.

“I’ve seen so many advancements in her ball handling. She’s been a great own-goal, just a tireless worker,” Robinson said of Jones. “She reminds me of Penny Taylor, the great WNBA, because she can play both inside and out.”

UConn Huskies | SG | 6 feet-1 | elder

After four seasons at Fairfield, Lopez Sénéchal took to the big stage at UConn and thrived in her one year with the Huskies. Things would have been much more difficult for traumatized UConn without her. She is the Huskies’ best 3-pointer (77 out of 175.44%), which is something that could help the Wings.

Lobo said the opportunity for Lopez Sénéchal to show off her skills to Huskies made a clear difference to her draft arsenal: “She was able to show what she could do.”

UConn Huskies | | 6 foot-5 | elder

Juhász is another player that UConn has relied on heavily both this season and the last season after her move to join the Huskies. She averaged 14.2 points and 9.9 rebounds. Given Minnesota’s track record of success with UConn players, she could be the Lynx’s pick here – though they could also go in some other directions.

“Having been able to watch Dorka over the last two years, I think her skill set and what she brings to the table… she’s someone I would say has probably changed a bit,” Coach of Dream, Tanisha Wright talks about how Juhász adapts to going to UConn.

Second half

Zia Cooke’s WNBA Draft Profile

Take a look at some of the top moments that made South Carolina’s Zia Cooke a top prospect in this year’s WNBA draft.

13. Indiana Fever: SG Zia CookeSouth Carolina fighting cock

14. Sparks Los Angeles: SG Taylor Mikesell, Buckeye State of Ohio

15. Atlanta Dream: PG Alexis MorrisTigers LSU

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16. Minnesota lynx: C Maia Hirsch, France

17. Indiana Fever: OLD Monika Czinano, Iowa Hawkeye

18. Hurricane Seattle: PF Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, South Florida Bulls

19. Dallas Wings: SF Madi Williams, Oklahoma Sooners

20. Washington Mystic: SG Abby Meyers, Maryland Topography

21. Hurricane Seattle: SG Brown leigha, Michigan Werewolf

22. Connecticut sun: SG Taylor RobertsonOklahoma Sooners

23. Chicago sky: PG Diamond Battle, Georgia Lady Bulldogs

24. Minnesota Lynx: PG Claudia Contell, Spain