Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser /NBAE via Getty Images
In the 2021 WNBA Draft, the Connecticut Sun got a dream scenario at No. 20 and could add two draft picks to their roster, the Chicago Sky got exactly what they needed plus a steal who should both make their roster, the Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty did both did a solid job and the Indiana Fever followed up a dull free agency period without a home run in the draft. Here are our draft grades for the East:
Connecticut Sun (A-)
Picks: 20. DiJonai Carrington (Baylor Lady Bears), 21. Micaela Kelly (Central Michigan Chippewas), 30. Aleah Goodman (Oregon State Beavers)
Share this page: Official Release April 15, 2021
– Collier One of Three Players Selected in First Round by Wings, Including First Finnish WNBA Prospect Awak Kuier–
– International Players Representing Five Different Countries Selected in This Year’s Draft–
NEW YORK, April 15, 2021 – Two-time All-American Charli Collier of Texas tonight was selected by the Dallas Wings with the first overall pick of WNBA Draft 2021 presented by State Farm®, which was held virtually for a second year in a row in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A finalist for the Lisa Leslie Award as the nation’s top center, Collier is the first No. 1 overall selection in the WNBA Draft from the University of Texas. In her final season for the Longhorns, she averaged 19.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.
2021 WNBA Draft Tracker: Complete results, grades as Charli Collier taken with No. 1 pick by Dallas Wings
As expected, the Dallas Wings took Collier with the first pick Apr 15, 2021 at 10:19 pm ET6 min read
The 2021 WNBA Draft is in the books, and as expected the Dallas Wings started the night by selecting Texas center Charli Collier and Finnish center Awak Kuier. They needed depth in the frontcourt, so that was no surprise. Collier is WNBA ready and Kuier has perhaps the most potential of any player in this class.
Aari McDonald, Arizona s NCAA Women s Tournament star went No. 3 to the Atlanta Dream, and after that things got a little wild. The Indiana Fever rounded out the lottery by selecting West Virginia guard Kysre Gondrezick, who most expected to go in the second or third round.
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The 2021 WNBA draft might be best remembered for three things: a potential dynamic duo for the Dallas Wings with 1-2 picks Charli Collier and Awak Kuier, teams betting on young international talent, and Indiana throwing some unexpected curveballs that will prove to be either surprisingly brilliant or way off base.
At maximum, there are only 144 roster spots in the 12-team WNBA. Not every team is expected to carry 12 players this year, though, due to contractual obligations and fitting under the salary cap, so there might be even fewer spots up for grabs. When you consider how good the rosters already are, the chances for the draftees to make it to the league in its 25th anniversary season are going to be tough for most.