She can move well off the ball, making all sorts of cuts, and can slip quickly through ball screens toward the basket. Rhyne Howard, Kentucky senior guard/wing. Navigation Toggle NBA. The Atlanta Dream are on the clock with the No. Pro-ready skill: Hull's pro-ready skills are mostly based upon her intangibles, or the attributes that she has that can't be taught. 2022-23 Season Schedule; . After league talent evaluators have watched some of these prospects on film and in person for months upon months, all the hard work comes to a head. Questions the prospect raises: While Allen-Taylor showed out in the NCAA tournament, averaging 12.8 points in four contests, a glaring weakness in her game is her inefficiency from the three-point line, as she shot 33.3 percent last season. Hull's pro-ready skills are mostly based upon her intangibles, or the attributes that she has that can't be taught. Destanni Henderson (South Carolina, Guard, Senior). With the highest odds to get the No. Their Lawmakers Are Delivering. She'll need to work on getting a lot stronger to succeed. Enough said. Although at 6'3" she has length and size as a post player, she also struggled with physicality and staying out of foul trouble. On that night, 36 players will hear their names called and accomplish their dream of becoming professional basketball. national leaders in every major defensive measure once again. Aliyah Boston (5). All of those players aren't going to make the roster, but they will have a bunch of chances to finally get things right in the draft. What makes Aliyah Boston an elite WNBA draft prospect (0:23) Check out some of the top moments that have made South Carolina's Aliyah Boston a top prospect in this year's WNBA draft. The issue for Hull is her physicality (how strong she is and her ability to absorb contact) and athleticism (agility and quickness) aren't quite there for immediate success and impact. Hillmon is also a proven winner. The 2022 WNBA Draft is in the books, and as expected the Atlanta Dream got the night started by selecting Rhyne Howard out of Kentucky with the No. She's also proved she can take and make threes, although her shots have been more contested as the No. 2020-21 stats: 20.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3.8 apg After a bumpy start . those of Louisville legend and WNBA superstar Angel McCoughtry. Questions the prospect raises: This season Clouden has turned the ball over 2.9 times per game, which is a result of her new role as a facilitator. Projected draft position: Early second round, 4. After going just 8-24 in the 2021 season, Atlanta now gets its first choice of a player from the incoming draft class. 3 and 14 picks and a future pick swap. section: | slug: wnba-draft-2022-biggest-needs-and-potential-prospect-fits-for-all-12-teams | sport: wnba | route: article_single.us | Smith is undoubtedly among the most skilled and most athletic prospects in the class. Washington Mystics head coach and GM Mike Thibault and Atlanta Dream GM Dan Padover believe there will be many more serviceable players in this class than there were last April when multiple first-rounders didn't even make it to the All-Star break on a WNBA roster. Still, given Griner's situation it's probably worth taking a swing at some frontcourt prospects. Lets start with general manager Lin Dunns Fever, who have utilized the last two drafts masterfully after how do we put this? She also can stretch the defense on a pick-and-pop and slips well on pick-and-rolls. While Dunn raised that point, there must have been a reason the Washington Mystics, who value hard workers, traded out of the No. Maya Dodson (Notre Dame, Forward/Center, Graduate Student). 7. Pro-ready skill: At 6'1", Jones showed the type of matchup problem she can create against smaller guards and slower bigs in NC State's Elite Eight double-overtime loss against UConn. Enough said. Projected draft position: Middle of the third round, 1. Kayla Jones (NC State, Combo Forward, Graduate Student). Like, ever. 17) and Victaria Saxton of South Carolina (No. This ranking reflects the skill sets of players rather than team need, which will be included in our final mock draft. Full round 2023 WNBA mock draft projections, with trades and compensatory picks based on weekly team projections and college and amateur player rankings. The draft . Smith's ceiling is so high because of the amount of athleticism she possesses in conjunction with her competitive spirit. Tennessee guard Rae Burrell, NC State center Elissa Cunane and Mali forward Sika Kone each appeared on five of the six mocks. That won't get any easier in the W. Projected draft position: Late second round, 8. Her ability to read the opposing offense has set her apart. In four of her five collegiate years, Sjerven finished in the 93rd percentile or higher in, I had to do a double take when I saw that Sjerven is listed as a center. Offensively, Engstler's versatility is what makes her so valuable. Like many teams, the Sparks could really use some help on the wing. . Pro-ready skill: Egbo had difficulty adapting to new coach Nicki Collen's system at first, but according to Rebecca Lobo, talent evaluators appreciate the 6'3" Egbo's length and tenacity at the defensive end. Had . Pro-ready skill: Cubaj's most transferable pro skill set is on the defensive end. The deal solidified their frontcourt and made their draft night less interesting. She has trouble finishing at the rim, has limited post moves on the block and shot 42 percent from the field last season. 2022 WNBA draft lottery odds The four teams that do not make the playoffs are put in the lottery and odds are based on records over the past two regular seasons. Hillmon has underdeveloped perimeter skills as a 6'2" forward, as she's only able to score at one level. She also struggles to adapt to the physicality needed when she's faced with a double-team. Pro-ready skill: Defense is where Hollingshed stands out the most. After yet another playoff failure, the Aces made some big changes this winter, both on and off the court. Boston will join a former University of South Carolina teammate Destanni Henderson on the Indiana Fever roster. Cunane live and up-close, it was clear she needs to improve her defense. 12, the Lynx added 19-year-old Maa Hirsch, a 6-foot-5 center from France who was a highly coveted prospect in many WNBA war rooms, and at No. 5. 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Rounds 2 and 3. 8 and 13 picks to the Aces for Las Vegas' first and second-round picks in 2023. 8. Top prospects from across the country got to audition for the pros during March Madness as South Carolina won its second ever NCAA title. The Sparks missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade last season, and responded by making some major additions this winter. She also is the type of player who does whatever is asked and takes on whatever role she's given willingly. Pro-ready skill: Engstler's defensive feel and anticipation have been compared to those of Louisville legend and WNBA superstar Angel McCoughtry. The Storm's rotation is pretty much locked in, and they don't have any picks until the middle of the second round, so it should be a rather uneventful draft night. . 2022-04-10. 4. NaLyssa Smith (Baylor, Forward, Senior). At 6'1", she's a post player who can facilitate, move well off the ball and score fluidly in transition, and she's proved she can make a catch-and-shoot jump shot from beyond the arc. 9. It's possible this has impacted her explosiveness and lateral quickness. Following is an initial list of players who have filed for consideration as candidates for the 2022 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm. She took Michigan to the Elite Eight for the first time in 2022. These include her basketball IQ, her consistent motor and competitive toughness and her selflessness as a basketball player. They haven't made the playoffs since 2016, have won just six games in each of the last two seasons and have cut both of their last two lottery picks after a combined 44 games with the club. Rhyne Howard (Kentucky, Guard/Wing, Senior). Offensively, Williams can score at all three levels and can be hard to guard when she's slashing through the paint. Eligible international players (as that term is defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement) also are not required to opt in to the 2022 WNBA Draft in order to beselected. For one, there's a lot of uncertainty. Questions the prospect raises: While Nelson-Ododa stands at 6'5" and has long arms, she has struggled with physicality and strong finishes. 3. The event will begin Monday at 7 p.m. 1 pick, the Indiana Fever got the second overall pick, and with . Only a few players from last season's team remain. Pro-ready skill: Allen-Taylor has proved to be a staunch defender, playing in a system that is predicated upon its high-pressure defense. Indiana Fever (11) In her final season, she registered 2.7 fouls per game, the highest rate of her career. While Dunn raised that point, there must have been a reason the Washington Mystics, who value hard workers, traded out of the No. 6-2 | Guard. Even when Smith has a defender with similar size guarding her, what makes her unique is her ability to elevate above the defense and score at 6'4". And then on the flip side, there were games when Westbrook looked hesitant and afraid to play aggressively. But with Stewart healthy, and re-signed alongside Jewell Loyd and Sue Bird, the Storm should jump right back into the contender ranks. With the rotation largely set, it's going to be pretty difficult for any rookies to earn playing time in Connecticut this season, and that's if they even make the team. Sports Sports. (3/23), Bleacher Report: 2022 WNBA Mock Draft: Pre-March Madness Predictions (3/16), Her Hoops Stats: 2022 WNBA Mock Draft 1.0 (2/28), W Basketball Blog: 2022 WNBA Mock Draft 3.0 (2/16), Beyond Womens Sports: WNBA Mock Draft 3.0: March Madness Edition (3/14). During the 2021-2022 season, she only shot, Egbo had difficulty adapting to new coach Nicki Collen's system at first, but. 1 Baylor senior NaLyssa Smith is averaging 21.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, with 17 double-doubles on the . Sabally only played in two collegiate seasons due to two ACL tears, and during the 2021-2022 season, she reinjured her right knee. This season from beyond the arc, she shot 38.7 percent, which places her in the 91st percentile, according to. 2 and Ole Miss center Shakira Austin at No. Bill Laimbeer stepped down as head coach and the team hired franchise legend Becky Hammon, who figures to change how the Aces play, especially on the offensive end. Top prospects will take part live as the WNBA Draft presented by State Farm returns to an in-person event for the first time since 2019, with the acclaimed Spring Studios, located in the Tribeca section of New York and the home to such iconic events as Fashion Week and The Tribeca Film Festival, serving as the venue for the evenings events. Pro-ready skill: In her fifth year of eligibility at Notre Dame, Dodson proved she can crash the offensive glass at a high level. Her footwork while guarding players in the post is a bit lackadaisical, and sometimes she comes across as unfocused. Bell has been lauded for her physicality and versatility on offense. Her ability to read the opposing offense has set her apart. So me getting all the way to the rim in addition to my mid-range and my three is just going to hopefully serve me well in terms of making a roster and contributing.. Her basketball IQ is very high, allowing her to make the proper reads on both sides of the floor. Questions the prospect raises: Smith's calling card is her raw shooting skills, but questions surround how she can use her 6'0" frame to contribute to the game in other ways besides shooting and scoring. Is A Dynasty Next? Jasmine Dickey (Delaware, Guard/Forward, Senior), Pro-ready skill: ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo expects Dickey to get a shot at a WNBA training camp because of her athleticism and ability to score at a high level. Projected draft position: Within the draft lottery and potential No. Defensively, her footwork and quickness aren't where they need to be to help contain drives to the basket. And LaDazhia Williams of LSU (No. Howard has a lot of skills that will allow her to have success in the W right now. While Henderson was known to step up during critical games this season, her inconsistency, especially on offense, remains her largest weakness. Emphasis on the "wants to," which was exactly how Dream general manager Dan Padover. In any case, the Liberty will likely look for a defensive-minded player after finishing with one of the worst defenses in the league last season. I love that about her. On the floor, it's Hull's ability from beyond the arc that should make her a shoo-in for a spot in a WNBA training camp. She immediately made some notable moves to the roster, including trading Teaira McCowan, another former lottery pick, to the Wings. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs. She can drive with the ball well, can spot up shots and can especially score at the short corner. 1 name atop the scouting report. Olivia Nelson-Ododa (UConn, Forward/Center, Senior). Questions the prospect raises: Inconsistency has been Williams' downfall throughout her college career and has prevented her from reaching her potential as a guard thus far. to speak about Naz Hillmon's upside as a WNBA prospect, he praised her motor and ability to finish around the rim and rebound at a high level using her 6'7" wingspan. Jade Melbourne (Australia, Guard, International Prospect). Averaging five three-point attempts per game, Smith shot 36.7 percent, which. While Paige Bueckers was out for a couple of months, Nelson-Ododa proved how versatile she can be as a point-post player. Rhyne Howard of Kentucky could be the No. Every WNBA draft has the potential to reshape the league. Offensively, Williams can score at all three levels and can be hard to guard when she's slashing through the paint. Cartelli: 2022 NFL Mock Draft. The team will kickstart the 2022 WNBA Draft after trading for the No. Drafts Drafts. Pro-ready skill: Clouden is a three-level scorer, can create off the dribble and uses her quickness and vertical movements to elevate over defenders. Questions the prospect raises: Dickey has fine size as a guard but might be a bit undersized as a wing. Her lateral movements are quite slow, and she struggles to execute and recover on hedges. ET. WNBA 2022 WNBA Draft Big Board: Ranking Top Prospects at Every Position Jackie Powell April 9, 2022 Destanni Henderson, South Carolina Senior Guard Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press. 3 is anyone's guess. 1 pick in next year's WNBA draft, but she's still working on aspects of her game. But at the pro level, it's her 5'7" frame that presents her with a steeper challenge. At 6'1", Jones showed the type of matchup problem she can create against smaller guards and slower bigs in NC State's Elite Eight double-overtime loss against UConn. The 2022 WNBA Draft has finally arrived! Each player was slotted in that specific position in five of the six mock drafts. It was exclusively televised on ESPN in the United States and on TSN3/5 in Canada.