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Mechelle VoepelESPN.com
The Draft WNBA 2022 will be greatly appreciated in terms of degree Indiana Fever improved after dominating the first round with four picks. The Fever has seven picks overall, and players who land a spot on the roster will have the chance to be a change of interest for a franchise that hasn’t been in the knockouts since 2016.
With so many options on Monday, it’s no surprise that Fever tops ESPN’s WNBA rankings. Indiana threw a curveball to most prognosticators in participating Cardinal Stanford guard Lexie Hull in the first round. But The Fever wants players who want to be on the pitch to make a difference, and Hull has such an on-pitch personality.
While it was a busy night for some teams, Chicago sky just a draft observer as the defending WNBA champion had no choice. The Minnesota Lynx and Phoenix Mercury there were four picks between them, three of them in the third round, so those picks might not make much of a difference.
How come teams like Atlanta Dream and Las Vegas Aces, who made the trades to achieve certain draft date targets, fair Monday? Did Washington Mystics done correctly in dealing with choice number 1?
Here are our 2022 WNBA draft scores, dissecting all of that.
Selection: 2. NaLyssa Smith, Baylor, PF; 4. Emily Engstler, Louisville, PF; 6. Lexie Hull, Stanford, SG; ten. Queen Egbo, Baylor, C; 20 Destanni Henderson, South Carolina, PG; 25. Ameshya Williams-Holliday, State of Jackson, C; 34. Ali PatbergIndiana, SG
General manager Lin Dunn said she wanted energetic young players who could deliver defensively, and she seems to have achieved that. Hull surprised to be third out of four picks in the first round of Fever, but Dunn clearly trusted his motives. Hull leads the Cardinals in steals (78) this season. Smith and Egbo have been teammates at Baylor for four seasons, so they get along really well. The always-moving Engstler is a defensive force and plays as if she was made to compete for Dunn.
Even after a stellar performance in the Final Four, Henderson made it to the second round. But if she can make the list, Henderson will also play the kind of defense that Fever is looking for. It will be difficult for Williams-Holliday to earn a spot on the list, but her pick is a driving force behind HBCUs everywhere.
Selection: first. Rhyne Howard, Kentucky, SG; 15. Naz HillmonMichigan, PF
The Dream is under new management and a new coaching staff, they know what they want from Howard and are willing to trade for her. It would energize Howard to know how much Dream trusted her to do so. It’s a huge legacy to be the #1 pick, and Howard has the ability to fill that role. New Dream coach Tanisha Wright is highly respected for her leadership and protection as a WNBA player, and she should be a great mentor to Howard.
As an outstanding player like Hillmon in college, her second round selection confirms WNBA teams have concerns about her size and shooting range. What they can’t fully measure is her heart and maturity – and both are off the charts. Those qualities will help her land her spot on the list and prove that she can keep adding to her game.
Selection: 3. Shakira Austin, Ole Miss, C; 14. Christyn WilliamsUConn, SG
The deal worked out for the Mystics: Dealing with the #1 pick still makes them an elite Austin card player, whose sky is the limit if she’s steadily progressing as a pro. And Washington also has the added option and opportunity to choose Williams, who has the UConn pedigree for her.
Much has always been made up of Williams’ ups and downs in college, but the former Huskies’ track record in the league couldn’t be more impressive. On a team like Washington, she can thrive without much pressure.
1:22
The Washington Mystics used the third pick in the WNBA draft to select Ole Miss’ Shakira Austin.
Selection: 9. Rae Burrell, Tennessee, SG; 16. Kianna Smith, Louisville, SG; 19. Olivia Nelson-Ododa, UConn, C; 27. Amy AtwellHawaii, SF
The Sparks are frustrated by not making it to the knockout stages last year. But they made the big moves in the off-season by gaining Liz Cambage and Chen Kennedy Carterand has the ability to fulfill some needs with drafts. Burrell has good size and skill on the wing, and Smith and Nelson-Ododa both have Final Four experience.
Big West Player of the Year Atwell is well worth considering in camp. They may not have completed the list, but Sparks made the most of their draft slots.
Selection: 5. Nyara Sabally, Oregon, PF; 18. Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech, PF; 29. Sika Kone, Mali, C
Liberty needed size and inner strength, and they got it. Sabally, if she can stay healthy, is a versatile addition that New York’s bodyguards can exploit as another target.
Cubaj was the anchor for Georgia Tech’s first defense success. Kone’s gone later than many expected, but she’s only 19 years old and could be a player for Liberty’s future.
1:57
The Atlanta Dream picks Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard with the first pick in the 2022 WNBA draft.
Selection: twelfth. Nia Clouden, State of Michigan, SG; 24. Jordan Lewis, Baylor, PG; 36. Kiara SmithFlorida, SG
Clouden is a strong scorer and Lewis is a very good distributor. It’s always been a game of numbers with lineups, but having younger depth on the guard is a positive for the Sun. Smith is an option for the future, as she suffered a season-end knee injury during the SEC tournament in March.
Selection: 7. Veronica Burton, Northwest, PG; 30. Jasmine DickeyDelaware, SG 31. Bond jazz musicNorth Florida, PF
Considering all of the Wings’ draft picks over the past few years, they don’t have a lot of space on the list. But Burton’s selection alone, they scored well. The Big Ten’s three-time defense of the year adds the extra end-of-field toughness the Wings need.
Dickey and Bond are the types of players you really wish you had more chances to catch, but the sheer number of rosters is frustrating.
Selection: 17. Elissa Cunane, State NC, C; 21. Evina Westbrook, UConn, PG; 33. Jade Melbourne, Australia, PG
Cunane is likely the best 3-pointer among centers in the draft. Despite falling to the second round, she has a lot of potential to find her way in the WNBA if she can make the Storm roster.
Some think Westbrook could be a bit taller with a 6-0 size and ability to be a composite guard. She’s a player who always gives her best, and that can make all the difference. Melbourne is 19 years old and most likely an option for the future.
Selection: 8. Mya Hollingshed, Colorado, PF; 11. Kierstan Bells, Florida Gulf Coast, SG; 13. Khayla Pointer, LSU, PG; 23. Aisha Sheppard, Virginia Tech, SG; 35. Faustine AifuwaLSU, OLD
The point may not be good, but it comes down to this: The Aces struck a deal on Sunday with Minnesota to get the 8th and 13th picks; Have they made the most of those options? If Hollingshed proves to be as good as Aces thinks she is, then yes. If not, then the score can be quite accurate.
The size of the bell on the circumference should be a good choice. Hollingshed, Pointer, Sheppard and Aifuwa are all fifth year students, so they bring maturity, though it’s unlikely they’ll all stick together.
Selection: 22. Kayla Jones, State of NC, SF; 28. Hannah SjervenSouth Dakota, OLD
By trading picks 8 and 13 for the Aces picks for the 2023 picks, Lynx made it clear that this draft won’t be a big deal for them. That makes sense, considering their limited space. Jones and Sjerven are both hard-working players who’ve had great college seasons, with NC State reaching the Elite Eight and South Dakota the Sweet 16. Both are worth considering in the camp, but it would be difficult to name book.
Selection: 26. Maya Dodson, Notre Dame Cathedral, PF; 32. Macee WilliamsIUPUI, OLD
Mercury is in a similar situation to Lynx, don’t expect much from this draft. Both Phoenix picks were in the third round. With Brittney Griner incarcerated indefinitely in Russia, it is likely that Mercury will become popular with their picks, and both Dodson and Williams have had a really good season. Again, the positions on the list will be on the high end, but at least both can fit the need.
