NEW YORK – It was go time for the WNBA.
The league’s annual draft had players going in all directions from coast to coast on Monday night.
Indiana had seven draft picks, including four in the first round. Fever general manager Lin Dunn had a working list of 10 players and with many holes to fill, the best available players were taken.
The No. 1 overall pick was Kentucky’s superstar Rhyne Howard, who went to the Atlanta Dream to no one’s surprise.
The draft consists of three rounds of 12 selections. All told 36 players will be selected from a pool of 108 players or one-third of the eligible talent.
Here are the selections by round with commentary on first round selections.
First Round
1. Atlanta Dream (from Washington): Rhyne Howard, guard, Kentucky. Howard is headed to a rebuilding situation after an 8-24 record a year ago. Howard is a franchise changer and the two-time Southeastern Conference Player of the Year. High IQ and pro-ready. She will be a great pick and roll player. The Dream pulled off a blockbuster trade to acquire the rights to Howard.
2. Indiana Fever: NaLyssa Smith, forward, Baylor. Smith has the size at 6-2 and the moves to become one of the WNBA’s top players. She was one of five players nationally to average more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Smith excels at the defensive end and cleans the glass. She is rim protector and smooth around the basket on offense. The Fever will build around her in the post.
3. Washington Mystics (from Atlanta): Shakira Austin, center/forward, Mississippi. The Mystics need size and at 6-5 Austin is just that. Austin can handle in the open floor and fluid going from end to end. Long and lean, Austin is a shot blocker but when she faces the basket she’s dangerous and could be a missing part to the Mystics’ title hopes.
4. Indiana Fever (from Los Angeles): Emily Engstler, forward, Louisville. Her wing span is important at the defensive end where she is a disruptor. She can guard multiple positions and anticipation led to steals and block. The Fever needed help on defense and they addressed that need. Engstler, 6-1, is also a threat on the perimeter.
5. New York Liberty: Nyara Sbally, center/forward, Oregon. The Liberty were need of depth at the 5 and at 6-5, she can finish inside and handle in the open floor. She’s battled multiple anterior cruciate ligament tears in her right knee. Stephanie Dolson is the Liberty’s other big and Nyara is the second from her family in the WNBA. Older sis, Satou Sabally, plays for the Dallas Wings.
6. Indiana Fever (from Dallas): Lexie Hull, guard, Stanford. Hull is a big wing and can extend the defense with her 3-point shooting. The Fever were one of worst 3-point shooting teams a year ago. Hull wasn’t expected to go this high but she fits a role. Her offensive prowess is needed.
7. Dallas Wings (from Chicago): Veronica Burton, guard, Northwestern. Burton averaged more than four steals per game and has the fastest hands in the draft. The Wings are a young team and the 5-9 Burton is a leader as a true 1. She’s committed to defense–think lockdown defender–and setting up her teammates. Great fit in the Big D.
8. Las Vegas Aces (from Phoenix): Mya Hollingshed, forward, Colorado: She is a stretch-four, quick athletic who shoot better than 40% from beyond the arc. At 6-4, the First Team Pac-12 performer might be the steal of the draft and will add depth to a talented roster and is an ace defender.
9. Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle): Rae Burrell, guard/forward, Tennessee. At 6-1, Burrell is a big wing and connects on more than 40% of her shots from 3-point range. She fought through a knee injury this season and played numerous positions for the Lady Vols. The Sparks made two big trades in the offseason and now Burrell is an addition to the backcourt. Liz Cambage is a dual inside threat and Chennedy Carter is a point guard extraordinaire. Burrell complements in incoming veteran duo.
10. Indiana Fever (from Minnesota): Queen Egbo, center, Baylor: She has a tremendous motor on the defensive end and raw ability on offensive. The Fever needed size and addressed it with three bigs to help rebuild the roster, including the 6-3 Egbo. The young core is in place and the best days are ahead for Indiana.
11. Las Vegas Aces: Kierstan Bell, guard/forward, Florida Gulf Coast. Coach Becky Hammon inherits a veteran roster and at 6-1, Bell can score at all three levels and pass the basketball. Quick first step and will post up smaller guards. She understands ball movement and will need to work on her defense to stay on the floor. She will likely be a big wing at the 3 and averaged 23.5 points last year and overcame a knee injury to make it back for the NCAA Tournament.
12. Connecticut Sun: Nia Clouden, guard, Michigan State. The Sun needed a shooting guard and Clouden is a 1-2 combo guard. Efficient on the floor and quick off the bounce. She can drain it from 3-point range and flat-out score. She’s versatile on offense and with her quickness, Clouden will create shots for herself and teammates. She’s also deadeye free throw line at 88% (tops in the Big Ten Conference).
Second Round
1. Las Vegas Aces (from Indiana): Khayla Pointer, guard, LSU.
2. Washington Mystics (from Atlanta): Christyn Williams, guard, Connecticut.
3. Atlanta Dream (from Los Angeles): Naz Hillmon, forward, Michigan.
4. Los Angeles Sparks (from Washington): Kianna Smith, guard, Louisville.
5. Seattle Storm (from New York): Elissa Cunane, center, North Carolina State.
6. Seattle Storm (from Dallas) traded to New York Liberty: Lorela Cubaj, forward, Georgia Tech.
7. Los Angeles Sparks (from Chicago): Olivia Nelson-Ododa, center, Connecticut.
8. Indiana Fever (from Phoenix): Destanni Henderson, guard, South Carolina.
9. Seattle Storm: Evina Westbrook, guard, Connecticut.
10. Minnesota Lynx: Kayla Jones, forward, North Carolina State.
11. Las Vegas Aces: Aisha Sheppard, guard, Virginia Tech.
12. Connecticut Sun: Jordan Lewis, guard, Baylor.
Third Round
1. Indiana Fever: Ameshya Williams-Holliday, center, Jackson State.
2. Phoenix Mercury (from Atlanta): Maya Dodson, forward, Notre Dame.
3. Los Angeles Sparks: Amy Atwell, guard, Hawai’i.
4. Minnesota Lynx (from Washington): Hannah Sjerven, center, South Dakota.
5. New York Liberty: Sika Kone, forward, Mali.
6. Dallas Wings: Jasmine Dickey, guard, Delaware.
7. Dallas Wings (from Chicago): Jazz Bond, forward, North Florida.
8. Phoenix Mercury: Macee Williams, center, IUPUI.
9. Seattle Storm: Jade Melbourne, guard, Australia.
10. Indiana Fever (from Minnesota): Ali Patberg, guard, Indiana.
11. Las Vegas Aces: Faustine Aifuwa, center, LSU.
12. Connecticut Sun: Kiara Smith, guard, Florida.
— Christopher Lawlor
