By: Emily Herard
After what turned out to be a historic and exciting NCAA Tournament, the stars of women’s college basketball will have an opportunity to achieve their dreams at the WNBA draft this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. on EPSN2.
Here are my first round predictions for the 2017 WNBA Draft:
1. San Antonio Stars: Kelsey Plum
College: Washington
Position: Guard
Height: 5-8
There is no doubt in my mind that Plum will be the number one overall pick in the draft. After leading Washington to the Sweet 16, Plum won the John R. Wooden Award. She had a historic offensive season, breaking Missouri State’s Jackie Stile’s career and single-season scoring records. Plum was the NCAA’s leading scorer this season, averaging 31.7 points per game and finished with 3,527 career points and 1,109 points this season. Shooting 53% from the field, it would be crazy for the Stars to pass up on this instant offense.
2. Chicago Sky (from Washington Mystics): Allisha Gray
College: South Carolina
Position: Guard
Height: 6-0
After a winning the NCAA Tournament and averaging 16.5 points on 58% shooting and grabbing 8.3 rebounds in the tournament, junior Gray decided to enter the draft early.
The Sky traded star Elena Delle Donne to the Washington Mystics for center Stefanie Dolson, guard Kahleah Cooper, and this year’s second overall pick. Looking for a Delle Donne replacement at shooting guard/small forward, the Sky would benefit from Allisha Gray’s dynamic scoring and rebounding abilities (13.7 PPG and 5 RPG).
3. Dallas Wings: Alaina Coates
College: South Carolina
Position: Center
Height: 6-4
Coates lead the Gamecocks in rebounding, averaging 10.7 rebounds a game and adding 12.9 points per game. She will help the Wings establish strength in the post, freeing up Dallas’s scorers Skylar Diggins and Odyssey Sims.
4. Dallas Wings (from Connecticut Sun via LA Sparks): Shatori Walker-Kimbrough
College: Maryland
Position: Guard
Height: 5-11
Walker-Kimbrough will bring more depth to the Wings backcourt with her ability to drain shots from beyond the arc. Walker-Kimbrough shot 45% from long-range and averaged 18.8 points per game, making her an enticing pick for Dallas.
5. San Antonio Stars (from Phoenix Mercury): Chantel Osahor
College: Washington
Position: Center
Height: 6-2
Although extremely unlikely Osahor will be picked this high, it would fun to see her play with her former teammate, Kelsey Plum, in the WNBA. Osahor was Plum’s right-hand woman at Washington and was a threat from the three-point line with her unorthodox shooting stroke.
6. Washington Mystics (from Seattle Storm): Brionna Jones
College: Maryland
Position: Center
Height: 6-3
As the leading scorer (19.9 PPG) and rebounder (10.9 RPG) for Maryland her senior season, Jones could easily be already chosen before the sixth pick. As a fan I would love to see Jones play on the same team as Delle Donne. If Jones is still available, the Mystics will benefit immediately from Jones’ ability to dominate in the post. Not to mention she would also be a local favorite.
7. Atlanta Dream: Nia Coffey
College: Northwestern
Position: Forward
Height: 6-1
With Atlanta’s leading scorer Angel McCoughtry (19.5 PPG), sitting out an undetermined amount of time for the 2017 season for rest, the Dream could use another scorer. Coffey averaged 20 points per game and can put the ball on the floor and get to basket. She also snagged 10.4 rebounds a game.
8. Connecticut Sun (from Indiana Fever): Kaela Davis
College: South Carolina
Position: Guard
Height: 6-2
Like her teammate Gray, Davis is declaring early to the draft as a junior. She averaged 12.7 points per game.
9. Chicago Sky: Sydney Wiese
College: Oregon State
Position: Guard
Height: 6-1
Wiese helped Oregon State make its first program appearance in the Final Four, averaging a team high 15.2 points per game and shooting 42.6% from three.
10. Dallas Wings (from New York Liberty): Alexis Jones
College: Baylor
Position: Guard
Height: 5-9
Averaged 13.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. Jones could be picked earlier, however a knee injury has lowered her stock. Paired with Skylar Diggins in the backcourt, Jones could prove to be solid guard option for the Wings.
11. Los Angeles Sparks (from Los Angeles Sparks via Dallas Wings): Alexis Peterson
College: Syracuse
Position: Guard
Height: 5-7
Peterson was the first Syracuse player to ever be named ACC player of the year. She averaged 23.4 points and 7 assists per game her senior year.
12. Minnesota Lynx: Lindsay Allen
College: Notre Dame
Position: Guard
Height: 5-8
The Lynx don’t need much as they already have a solid roster, but Allen would be a good backup point guard behind Lindsay Whalen. Allen averaged 9.6 points and 7.6 assists per game this season for the Fighting Irish.
After what turned out to be a historic and exciting NCAA Tournament, the stars of women’s college basketball will have an opportunity to achieve their dreams at the WNBA draft this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. on EPSN2.
Here are my first round predictions for the 2017 WNBA Draft:
1. San Antonio Stars: Kelsey Plum
College: Washington
Position: Guard
Height: 5-8
There is no doubt in my mind that Plum will be the number one overall pick in the draft. After leading Washington to the Sweet 16, Plum won the John R. Wooden Award. She had a historic offensive season, breaking Missouri State’s Jackie Stile’s career and single-season scoring records. Plum was the NCAA’s leading scorer this season, averaging 31.7 points per game and finished with 3,527 career points and 1,109 points this season. Shooting 53% from the field, it would be crazy for the Stars to pass up on this instant offense.
2. Chicago Sky (from Washington Mystics): Allisha Gray
College: South Carolina
Position: Guard
Height: 6-0
After a winning the NCAA Tournament and averaging 16.5 points on 58% shooting and grabbing 8.3 rebounds in the tournament, junior Gray decided to enter the draft early.
The Sky traded star Elena Delle Donne to the Washington Mystics for center Stefanie Dolson, guard Kahleah Cooper, and this year’s second overall pick. Looking for a Delle Donne replacement at shooting guard/small forward, the Sky would benefit from Allisha Gray’s dynamic scoring and rebounding abilities (13.7 PPG and 5 RPG).
3. Dallas Wings: Alaina Coates
College: South Carolina
Position: Center
Height: 6-4
Coates lead the Gamecocks in rebounding, averaging 10.7 rebounds a game and adding 12.9 points per game. She will help the Wings establish strength in the post, freeing up Dallas’s scorers Skylar Diggins and Odyssey Sims.
4. Dallas Wings (from Connecticut Sun via LA Sparks): Shatori Walker-Kimbrough
College: Maryland
Position: Guard
Height: 5-11
Walker-Kimbrough will bring more depth to the Wings backcourt with her ability to drain shots from beyond the arc. Walker-Kimbrough shot 45% from long-range and averaged 18.8 points per game, making her an enticing pick for Dallas.
5. San Antonio Stars (from Phoenix Mercury): Chantel Osahor
College: Washington
Position: Center
Height: 6-2
Although extremely unlikely Osahor will be picked this high, it would fun to see her play with her former teammate, Kelsey Plum, in the WNBA. Osahor was Plum’s right-hand woman at Washington and was a threat from the three-point line with her unorthodox shooting stroke.
6. Washington Mystics (from Seattle Storm): Brionna Jones
College: Maryland
Position: Center
Height: 6-3
As the leading scorer (19.9 PPG) and rebounder (10.9 RPG) for Maryland her senior season, Jones could easily be already chosen before the sixth pick. As a fan I would love to see Jones play on the same team as Delle Donne. If Jones is still available, the Mystics will benefit immediately from Jones’ ability to dominate in the post. Not to mention she would also be a local favorite.
7. Atlanta Dream: Nia Coffey
College: Northwestern
Position: Forward
Height: 6-1
With Atlanta’s leading scorer Angel McCoughtry (19.5 PPG), sitting out an undetermined amount of time for the 2017 season for rest, the Dream could use another scorer. Coffey averaged 20 points per game and can put the ball on the floor and get to basket. She also snagged 10.4 rebounds a game.
8. Connecticut Sun (from Indiana Fever): Kaela Davis
College: South Carolina
Position: Guard
Height: 6-2
Like her teammate Gray, Davis is declaring early to the draft as a junior. She averaged 12.7 points per game.
9. Chicago Sky: Sydney Wiese
College: Oregon State
Position: Guard
Height: 6-1
Wiese helped Oregon State make its first program appearance in the Final Four, averaging a team high 15.2 points per game and shooting 42.6% from three.
10. Dallas Wings (from New York Liberty): Alexis Jones
College: Baylor
Position: Guard
Height: 5-9
Averaged 13.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. Jones could be picked earlier, however a knee injury has lowered her stock. Paired with Skylar Diggins in the backcourt, Jones could prove to be solid guard option for the Wings.
11. Los Angeles Sparks (from Los Angeles Sparks via Dallas Wings): Alexis Peterson
College: Syracuse
Position: Guard
Height: 5-7
Peterson was the first Syracuse player to ever be named ACC player of the year. She averaged 23.4 points and 7 assists per game her senior year.
12. Minnesota Lynx: Lindsay Allen
College: Notre Dame
Position: Guard
Height: 5-8
The Lynx don’t need much as they already have a solid roster, but Allen would be a good backup point guard behind Lindsay Whalen. Allen averaged 9.6 points and 7.6 assists per game this season for the Fighting Irish.
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