DOUG FEINBERG Associated Press
NEW YORK â The Dallas Wings basically control the WNBA draft on Thursday night with the top two picks and four first-round choices.
Itâs the first time in league history that a team will choose both No. 1 and 2. The Wings acquired the top pick in a February trade after being awarded the second choice in the draft lottery.
âIt has made draft preparation a little bit easier,â Wings President and General Manager Greg Bibb said in a phone interview Wednesday. âTypically, youâre trying to figure out what you want to do and what everyone else wants to do, and that impacts what you want to do. The first two picks, you donât have to worry about that. Itâs a nice luxury to have.â
Ten Gold Medalists Headline 2021 USA Women’s AmeriCup Team Trials Invitees
Date:
Twenty of the nation’s top collegiate athletes, including 10 who have captured a combined 21 gold medals competing on past USA Basketball teams, have accepted invitations to attend the April 18-21, 2021 USA Basketball Women’s AmeriCup Team trials.
Invitations to the trials, which will be held at the University of South Carolina, were issued by the USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Team Committee and USA Women’s Senior National Team Committee.
Due to COVID-19 precautions, no media or guests will be allowed to view trials sessions. USA Basketball will provide media with images and b-roll for non-commercial, editorial use on a daily basis.
Dallas Wings control WNBA draft with top two picks
By DOUG FEINBERGApril 14, 2021 GMT
Arizona guard Aari McDonald (2) gets a hug from Stanford guard Anna Wilson (3) at the end of the championship game in the women s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 4, 2021, at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Stanford won 54-53. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Arizona guard Aari McDonald (2) gets a hug from Stanford guard Anna Wilson (3) at the end of the championship game in the women s Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 4, 2021, at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Stanford won 54-53. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
NEW YORK (AP) The Dallas Wings basically control the WNBA draft on Thursday night with the top two picks and four first-round choices.
Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images
The Connecticut Sun posted three 20-win seasons in a row before going 10-12 in 2020, but even then they made it to the WNBA Semifinals. They have had a lot of success lately, but will be tested this year without one of their star players in Alyssa Thomas, who is out with a torn Achilles.
Picks: 20, 21, 30
Needs: true 2 and/or someone with similar skills to Alyssa Thomas
The Sun have six players signed to training camp contracts and just seven under contract so all three of their picks could potentially compete in camp. When you look at their core, you see the versatility of DeWanna Bonner and Jonquel Jones, who can both play 3 through 5. Then there’s Brionna Jones as a 4-5 and two point guards in Jasmine Thomas and Briann January. Their sixth and final lock (with Alyssa Thomas injured) in Kaila Charles actually could fit what they may be looking for in the draft: a 2-3.
Now that the 2020-21 women s college basketball season is over, we finally know which players will be available for the April 15 WNBA draft. With the NCAA s blanket eligibility waiver due to the coronavirus pandemic, seniors are able to return for another season, and some players who earlier were on our draft board opted to do that. Among the prominent draft-eligible juniors, one of our projected first-round picks UConn s Evina Westbrook is also remaining in college for 2021-22.
WNBA coaches and general managers use the NCAA tournament for evaluation, and sometimes it can boost a player s stock. Arizona s Aari McDonald, for instance, started at No. 2 in our first mock draft last December, then dropped to No. 8. Her March Madness success has her back in the top five.