WNBA Draft Lottery

[bballnut90]

I question some of those choices, specifically Azzi Fudd, Sedona Prince and Janiah Barker.

Azzi still has a lot to prove at the college level. Can she stay healthy? Can she maintain her performance level through an entire season? Will she be a step slower after all these injuries?

Sedona and Janiah have had inconsistent careers at the college level and I don't see that getting any better in the W. But I understand the reason to draft them early -- the hope that they blossom in the league and players of their size don't come around that often. I just don't see that happening. Sedona, while tall, is a step slow and has had effort/injury issues to boot. Barker while known for her effort is very inefficient and foul prone. Same as Sedona, I don't see that changing.

Kiki to the Sparks is intriguing -- reuniting her with her old teammate. A 3-4-5 lineup of Jackson, Iriafen, and Brink is a solid foundation to build on but they'll need the guards to get to balance the play on the court and I don't know who that would be.

Watching TCU/NC State, Prince was far and away the best player on the floor IMO (though James was great for NC State). She's a true 6-7 with better handles, mobility, and coordination than any other player I've seen at her size. She's a very good rebounder and an excellent shot blocker. Really smooth perimeter shot, especially mid range and finishes well around the basket. Much less afraid of contact compared to her Oregon days. If not for the ample off court drama and injury history, she'd be a lock as a lottery pick.

 

[Dillon77]

The ND website classifies her as a junior so I thought she might be in the covid extra year, but perhaps not.

ND vested interest checking in. Sonia Citron has no covid eligibility and has no medical redshirt years. She's done (and the roster on und.com indicates she's a senior in both terms of academic and athletic standing.)

The interesting one is Miles, who has already graduated and is taking grad courses. However, she has an extra year due to missing last season. She could, theoretically, do so. However, I don't see her doing so in that the two ND players she closest to -- Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld -- are both moving on.

 

[Dillon77]

I question some of those choices, specifically Azzi Fudd, Sedona Prince and Janiah Barker.

Azzi still has a lot to prove at the college level. Can she stay healthy? Can she maintain her performance level through an entire season? Will she be a step slower after all these injuries?

Sedona and Janiah have had inconsistent careers at the college level and I don't see that getting any better in the W. But I understand the reason to draft them early -- the hope that they blossom in the league and players of their size don't come around that often. I just don't see that happening. Sedona, while tall, is a step slow and has had effort/injury issues to boot. Barker while known for her effort is very inefficient and foul prone. Same as Sedona, I don't see that changing.

Kiki to the Sparks is intriguing -- reuniting her with her old teammate. A 3-4-5 lineup of Jackson, Iriafen, and Brink is a solid foundation to build on but they'll need the guards to get to balance the play on the court and I don't know who that would be.

- Agree with you on Fudd and Prince. Slotting Fudd at #3 given her lack of time on the court just doesn't seem prudent. If the Mystics want to try one oversize center who is a bit on the older side, try Aoki Lee.

- The Iriafen choice could/would make sense given the Brink-Kiki connection, as well as the fact that she's a local young woman finishing her career at an LA school. The Sparks currently have a pretty darn good forward in Dearica Hamby and have a big shortage of guards. Do you go need (guard) or add Iriafen to the fold, which gives LA a solid rotation of bigs?

- I've seen nothing outside of athletic promise to this point that justifies Barker being a first-round pick. What is she going to do that Smith already does very well for the Lynx? Remember, Jess Shepard might come back to that team, as well. I could very easily see Reeve selecting Sonia Citron who checks so many of the Lynx boxes, staring with defense and technical proficiency (and I just saw her in person yesterday. Even when she isn't hitting, she adds so very much to any team.)

 

[BRS24]

ND vested interest checking in. Sonia Citron has no covid eligibility and has no medical redshirt years. She's done (and the roster on und.com indicates she's a senior in both terms of academic and athletic standing.)

The interesting one is Miles, who has already graduated and is taking grad courses. However, she has an extra year due to missing last season. She could, theoretically, do so. However, I don't see her doing so in that the two ND players she closest to -- Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld -- are both moving on.

Ok, the main bio page says junior. I didn't dig into actual roster. Thanks for update!

 

[BRS24]

The Athletic chimes in:
1. Dallas Wings - Paige Bueckers | 6-foot guard | UConn
2. Los Angeles Sparks - Olivia Miles | 5-10 guard | Notre Dame
3. Chicago Sky - Kiki Iriafen | 6-3 forward/center | USC
4. Washington Mystics - Dominique Malonga | 6-6 center | Lyon (France)
5. Golden State Valkyries - Georgia Amoore | 5-6 guard | Kentucky
6. Washington Mystics (from Atlanta Dream via Dallas) - Sonia Citron | 6-1 wing | Notre Dame
7. New York Liberty (swap with Phoenix Mercury) - Maddy Westbeld | 6-3 forward | Notre Dame
8. Indiana Fever - Te-Hina Paopao | 5-9 guard | South Carolina
9. Seattle Storm - Shyanne Sellers | 6-2 guard/wing | Maryland
10. Chicago Sky (from Connecticut Sun) - Saniya Rivers | 6-1 guard/wing | NC State
11. Minnesota Lynx - Charlisse Leger-Walker | 5-10 guard | UCLA
12. Phoenix Mercury (swap with New York) - Aneesah Morrow | 6-1 forward | LSU
Also in consideration: South Carolina’s Raven Johnson, Kansas State’s Ayoka Lee and Ole Miss’ Madison Scott.

 

[yhun89]

A

The Athletic chimes in:
1. Dallas Wings - Paige Bueckers | 6-foot guard | UConn
2. Los Angeles Sparks - Olivia Miles | 5-10 guard | Notre Dame
3. Chicago Sky - Kiki Iriafen | 6-3 forward/center | USC
4. Washington Mystics - Dominique Malonga | 6-6 center | Lyon (France)
5. Golden State Valkyries - Georgia Amoore | 5-6 guard | Kentucky
6. Washington Mystics (from Atlanta Dream via Dallas) - Sonia Citron | 6-1 wing | Notre Dame
7. New York Liberty (swap with Phoenix Mercury) - Maddy Westbeld | 6-3 forward | Notre Dame
8. Indiana Fever - Te-Hina Paopao | 5-9 guard | South Carolina
9. Seattle Storm - Shyanne Sellers | 6-2 guard/wing | Maryland
10. Chicago Sky (from Connecticut Sun) - Saniya Rivers | 6-1 guard/wing | NC State
11. Minnesota Lynx - Charlisse Leger-Walker | 5-10 guard | UCLA
12. Phoenix Mercury (swap with New York) - Aneesah Morrow | 6-1 forward | LSU
Also in consideration: South Carolina’s Raven Johnson, Kansas State’s Ayoka Lee and Ole Miss’ Madison Scott.

Amoore should not be drafted that high.

She's got trouble on defense, and getting around double teams. Super inefficient. TO machine. There's no rational world she goes to a team that high, much less a brand new team that needs a strong draft pick to build around. Georgia is not someone to draft to build a team around, no offense.

 

[Stagnant]

Amoore might not make the opening day roster imo. More of a second round pick imo.

 

[Floridaduck]

Sedona Prince a first rounder IMO. 6’8” Phillipina Kyei will be a steal for somebody if in the third round or later. That height is hard to pass by. Hands are questionable. Back up 5 maybe.

 

[GamecockFam]

Watching TCU/NC State, Prince was far and away the best player on the floor IMO (though James was great for NC State). She's a true 6-7 with better handles, mobility, and coordination than any other player I've seen at her size. She's a very good rebounder and an excellent shot blocker. Really smooth perimeter shot, especially mid range and finishes well around the basket. Much less afraid of contact compared to her Oregon days. If not for the ample off court drama and injury history, she'd be a lock as a lottery pick.

Wow. That's the best I've ever seen her look. I wish I watched that game. Maybe she has turned it around...

 

[bballnut90]

Wow. That's the best I've ever seen her look. I wish I watched that game. Maybe she has turned it around...

Agreed, it was a great game, I thought the level of play was incredibly good by both teams (22/4 A:TO ratio for TCU, only 7 TOs by NC State). Prince looked like a WNBA All Star caliber player in it. I know the inside competition wasn't strong by NC State but I think she skyrockets on draft boards this year.

I loved the sets Mark Campbell ran. He spread the floor well with shooters in the corners so it was often reduced to a 3 v 3 half court setting with Hailey Van Lith and Prince playing off of each other. Hailey Van Lith looked really comfortable in the offense, Prince was unstoppable. NC State was seemingly outplayed the whole game until a massive run (and TCU meltdown) at the end. Shockingly, Mark Campbell didn't call a timeout the entirety of the run and it nearly cost them the win but I thought his game plan overall was excellent.. TCU will be a team to watch though in the Big 12. They have games against Notre Dame and South Carolina which should be great to watch.

 

[cancontent]

Sedona Prince a first rounder IMO. 6’8” Phillipina Kyei will be a steal for somebody if in the third round or later. That height is hard to pass by. Hands are questionable. Back up 5 maybe.

Considering Kyei's situation, she could be a very attractive project to draft. She's still relatively "behind" when it comes to development when you realize she got into the sport much later than others. Her development while at Oregon has been impressive.

 

[Dillon77]

Ok, the main bio page says junior. I didn't dig into actual roster. Thanks for update!

Sonia Citron is perhaps my favorite of ND players since the 2018-19 years and would love, love to have her for another year.
But I think I'll just have to admire her work in the pro's. (Can't believe she's into her senior year already! )

 

[yhun89]

Considering Kyei's situation, she could be a very attractive project to draft. She's still relatively "behind" when it comes to development when you realize she got into the sport much later than others. Her development while at Oregon has been impressive.

Anybody developing under Kelly Graves is impressive.

 

[cancontent]

Anybody developing under Kelly Graves is impressive.

Easy now. Both Sabally sisters, Ionescu and Vandersloot may say otherwise

In Kyei's case we're talking a player who didn't start playing basketball until her early/mid high school years and didn't play against high level competition. Lost the one opportunity to do so during her senior year due to COVID restrictions in Canada.

Handling Canada Basketball's fast tracking of her development has had it's peaks and valleys, but she continues to get better. Her progression in the short timeframe she has had is to be commended.

 

[Dillon77]

The Athletic chimes in:
1. Dallas Wings - Paige Bueckers | 6-foot guard | UConn
2. Los Angeles Sparks - Olivia Miles | 5-10 guard | Notre Dame
3. Chicago Sky - Kiki Iriafen | 6-3 forward/center | USC
4. Washington Mystics - Dominique Malonga | 6-6 center | Lyon (France)
5. Golden State Valkyries - Georgia Amoore | 5-6 guard | Kentucky
6. Washington Mystics (from Atlanta Dream via Dallas) - Sonia Citron | 6-1 wing | Notre Dame
7. New York Liberty (swap with Phoenix Mercury) - Maddy Westbeld | 6-3 forward | Notre Dame
8. Indiana Fever - Te-Hina Paopao | 5-9 guard | South Carolina
9. Seattle Storm - Shyanne Sellers | 6-2 guard/wing | Maryland
10. Chicago Sky (from Connecticut Sun) - Saniya Rivers | 6-1 guard/wing | NC State
11. Minnesota Lynx - Charlisse Leger-Walker | 5-10 guard | UCLA
12. Phoenix Mercury (swap with New York) - Aneesah Morrow | 6-1 forward | LSU
Also in consideration: South Carolina’s Raven Johnson, Kansas State’s Ayoka Lee and Ole Miss’ Madison Scott.

Thanks to Sabreena Merchant for using her platform to put in virtual paper what I've believe for years: Maddy Westbeld will make and be a valuable pro for years. While not a great athlete like a Barker, she simply gets the job done in all aspects: good defender, rebounder and three-level scorer. She'll help any team, particularly one when she can come in surprise you. If she slips to Round 2, Connecticut should jump on her to add to their frontcourt.

In her write-up on Citron, Merchant thought the ND wing would be a great addition to Indiana, but didn't think she's last that long.
I agree. During the U-19 World Cup a few years back, Clark led that team and was named the MVP of the tourney. Joining her on the first team: Citron, who was the youngest person on the team. They played very, very well together; much like Miles and Citron or Clark and Martin. She can play the 2 or 3. White would lover her, too.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Amoore might not make the opening day roster imo. More of a second round pick imo.

Agreed. Too short, too shaky of a ballhandler, not a good defender, and a volume shooter at best. There's a reason why she didn't make the jump in 2024 when she could've (same reason why she didn't remain at Virginia Tech).