WNBA 2026 Draft: TODAY, Monday April 13 7:30 EDT espn

[Gamecockfan77]

Way-Too-Early Projected List of Top Draft Choices in 2027
(Made by Sabreena Merchant of The Athletic)

I've just listed the names and details here. For thumbnail sketches, feel free to click on the link if you have access to The New York Times/Athletic.

1. JuJu Watkins | 6-2 guard | USC (could hold out until 2028)
2. Madison Booker | 6-1 guard/forward | Texas
3. Hannah Hidalgo | 5-6 guard | Notre Dame
("Size is the only thing working against Hidalgo because the production arguably outpaces everyone else in this class.")
4. Mikaylah Williams | 6-0 guard/forward | LSU
5. Clara Strack | 6-5 center | Kentucky
6. MiLaysia Fulwiley | 5-10 guard | LSU ("The most polarizing prospect in this draft")
7. Ashlyn Watkins | 6-3 forward/center | South Carolina
8. Tessa Johnson | 6-1 guard | South Carolina
9. S’Mya Nichols | 6-0 guard | Kansas
10. Talaysia Cooper | 6-0 guard | Ole Miss
11. Oluchi Okananwa | 5-10 guard | Maryland
12. Chloe Kitts | 6-2 forward | South Carolina (Coming back from torn ACL)
13. Addy Brown | 6-2 forward | transfer portal (Iowa State) ("Brown is a wonderful connective player.")
14. Audi Crooks | 6-3 center | transfer portal (Iowa State)
15. Kymora Johnson | 5-7 guard | transfer portal (Virginia)
16. Delaney Thomas | 6-3 forward/center | Duke
17. Sayvia Sellers | 5-7 guard | Washington
18. Kaylene Smikle | 6-0 guard | transfer portal (Maryland)
19. Donovyn Hunter | 6-0 guard | UCLA
20. Khamil Pierre | 6-2 forward | NC State
(Sauciest line of the article: "I am admittedly not the biggest fan of Pierre’s game, though I do enjoy my own exercise of watching how many times Pierre passes during a game. Spoiler alert: You can often count using one hand. But Pierre is a double-double machine.")

• Also considered: KK Arnold (UConn), Mara Braun (Minnesota), Timea Gardiner (UCLA), Elif Istanbulluoglu (Louisville), Grace Slaughter (Missouri)
• My druthers for 2nd or 3rd round: Former or current Ivy Leaguers who could grab a spot: Madison St. Rose (Princeton/transfer portal), Riley Weiss (Columbia). Both are Ivy League Players of the Year. St. Rose could've gone to a P4 out of school and, in fact, will be at one next season.Riley Weiss is awfully good at getting to her spots.

If you have a subscription to The New York Times or The Athletic, here's a link:

USC’s JuJu Watkins, Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo headline 2027 WNBA Draft class

The 2027 draft class has been eagerly anticipated since the moment the players in this group took the court as freshmen. On the first day of the 2023-24 college basketball season, Hannah Hidalgo put up 31 points on eventual champion South Carolina, while MiLaysia Fulwiley dazzled so thoroughly...

www.nytimes.com

That draft is cool and all, but 2028...

 

[TerpWomenFan]

Haven't seen enough of Littlepage-Buggs to know her game. If she's a better shooter, then I can "understand" the logic. 🙄

However I'd challenge that logic by noting Stuelke's modest improvements when it comes to outside shooting her last two seasons. Given the opportunity, she could follow a similar path like Naz Hillmon who has expanded her range significantly. With everything else that she can do, I can't see how a team would think they're wasting a pick on her.

NLB is a great rebounder for her size. That's her strength.

 

[cancontent]

NLB is a great rebounder for her size. That's her strength.

If this the case, scratch my "understanding the logic" statement from my previous post.