WNBA mock draft: Four UCLA Bruins will be picked

This yr’s WNBA draft is greater than ever with two growth groups becoming a member of the league. It’s also a top-heavy draft, with a ton of depth in the first spherical and no clear first general choose.

This is also the first yr groups will be choosing expertise understanding gamers can be signed to two developmental roster spots per workforce that don’t depend against the wage cap, which could change the best way groups use their picks.

The Sparks don’t choose until the mid-second spherical, but they need to have choices to help tackle depth wants. Here’s how the draft is projected to unfold.

First spherical

1. Dallas Wings: Awa Fam | C | Spain | 6-foot-4

This is one of the first years in current reminiscence without an apparent No. 1 general choose. Fam may go anyplace from first to fourth, but the 19-year-old would benefit from an surroundings where she doesn’t have to dominate immediately. The Wings also need dimension.

2. Minnesota Lynx: Olivia Miles | G | TCU | 5-foot-10

The Texas Christian star almost averaged a triple-double during the Horned Frogs’ Elite Eight run and she is the best level guard in this draft. Minnesota wants backcourt depth.

3. Seattle Storm: Azzi Fudd | G | Connecticut | 5-foot-11

Fudd’s stock may need dropped because of an underwhelming NCAA match, but she is still a pro-ready offensive menace who will get enjoying time with a rebuilding Storm squad.

4. Washington Mystics: Flau’jae Johnson | G | LSU | 6-foot

Johnson may be a part of an up-and-coming Washington squad as a three-level scorer who can play protection as a two-way guard. With second-year participant Sonia Citron already forward of her at her place, the Mystics can develop Johnson.

5. Chicago Sky: Kiki Rice | G | UCLA | 5-foot-11

The Sky need a guard who can rating and defend, and with Courtney Vandersloot out to start the season, Rice would possibly get some early enjoying time. She can rebound and scrap for unfastened balls too, and with Ariel Atkins reportedly being traded, Rice may play a big position.

6. Toronto Tempo: Lauren Betts | C | UCLA | 6-foot-7

Betts may change into one of the faces of the new franchise as a beginning middle. She is a pro-ready post scorer who can continue to develop defensively and play against larger gamers.

UCLA guard Kiki Rice drives around South Carolina Gamecocks guard Raven Johnson during the NCAA championship sport on April 4.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

7. Portland Fire: Nell Angloma | F | France | 5-foot-11

Angloma wants time to develop, but common supervisor Vanja Cernivec has seen her lots. She is a bodily guard who has confirmed she will rating against a lot older gamers.

8. Golden State Valkyries: Gabriela Jaquez | F | UCLA | 6 ft

Jaquez can rating and win rebounds and would match in nicely with the Valkyries’ scrappy type. She suits in a clear position and is the kind of participant coach Natalie Nakase and company want to draft. Jaquez may have some electric video games off the bench.

9. Washington: Iyana Martín Carrion | G | Spain | 5-foot-9

With three first-round picks, the Mystics may contemplate a draft-and-stash right here, and that would possibly just be Carrion. She’s a good shooter and passer and performs larger than her dimension. They can be affected person and develop her into a place to begin guard in a few years.

10. Indiana Fever: Madina Okot | C | South Carolina | 6-foot-6

Indiana can add the third-best middle in the draft early right here and get a bodily participant who can create space on the ground as long as she will assert herself in the post.

11. Washington: Raven Johnson | G | South Carolina | 5-foot-9

Johnson’s defensive skill and facilitating expertise make her one of the most WNBA-ready gamers in the draft. Her shutdown protection on Sarah Strong in the Final Four confirmed she will deal with powerful assignments.

12. Connecticut Sun: Cotie McMahon | F | Mississippi | 6-foot

McMahon may get early enjoying time as a ballhandler for a Sun workforce in transition that wants versatility. She could make her own shot and slot in wherever Connecticut wants her.

UCLA ahead Gabriela Jaquez dribble past Carolina Gamecocks ahead Joyce Edwards during the NCAA ladies’s championship on April 4.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

13. Atlanta Dream: Ta’Niya Latson | G | South Carolina | 5-foot-8

There was a time when Latson was the best scorer in the faculty sport, and she may be a part of an Atlanta workforce building both to win now and for a future run. She wouldn’t be relied on too closely, which might give her room to develop as a scorer at the professional stage.

14. Seattle: Marta Suarez | F | TCU | 6-foot-3

Suarez could have seen her WNBA draft stock rise the most this season, her first at TCU, where she led the Horned Frogs to a Sweet 16 sport in which she scored 33 factors. She’s an older prospect at 24 but still type of uncooked. She may help a Storm workforce attempting to discover itself.

15. Connecticut: Gianna Kneepkens | G | UCLA | 5-foot-11

Kneepkens is a shooter who can play respectable protection and is probably going as WNBA-ready as anybody in this first spherical. She may bounce in off the bench and make some critical pictures, developing into a starter fairly shortly.

Second spherical

16. Seattle: Frieda Buhner | G | Spain | 6-foot-2

A big guard, Buhner can shoot the three-ball when she’s at her best, acquire rebounds and bang in the post.

17. Portland: Jessica Timmons | G | Alabama | 5-foot-8

Timmons had a breakout yr for Alabama as an All-SEC participant. She can create her own offense and hit pictures.

UCLA ahead Angela Dugalic shoots over South Carolina ahead Joyce Edwards during the NCAA championship on April 4 in Phoenix.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

18. Connecticut: Angela Dugalic | F | UCLA | 6-foot-4

At 24, Dugalic will be one of the more skilled rookies in the WNBA, which may help mould a Sun workforce in transition. A troublesome inside presence who also can shoot from distance, Dugalic was arguably the best bench participant in the nation during UCLA’s title run.

19. Washington: Shay Ciezki | G | Indiana | 5-foot-7

After averaging 22.8 factors per sport, Ciezki proved she will rating in a selection of methods. She is undersized but may get time to develop on the younger Mystics.

20. Sparks: Charlisse Leger-Walker | G | UCLA | 5-foot-8

The first choose for the Sparks of this draft, they keep close to home and get a much-needed ballhandler who can cling defensively. Leger-Walker went from a flashy three-point scorer at Washington State to a well-rounded participant who can add vitality to the Sparks’ bench.

21. Chicago: Yarden Garzon | G | Maryland | 6-foot-3

Garzon didn’t have a great senior marketing campaign with Maryland, but Chicago wants guard depth, and she has dimension and can shoot from distance.

UCLA guard Charlisse Leger-Walker slips past Minnesota guard Tori McKinney and scores on March 27 in Sacramento.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

22. Toronto: Janiah Barker | F | Tennessee | 6-foot-4

A 6-4 ahead who can shoot, Barker has lots of expertise but moved around a lot in her faculty profession. Toronto can be affected person with her.

23. Golden State: Serah Williams | C| UConn | 6-foot-4

The Valkyries would possibly need some dimension with Monique Billings shifting on and Temi Fagbenle’s future unclear.

24. Sparks: Teoni Key | F | Kentucky | 6-foot-5

Key would give the Sparks some dimension off the bench behind Cameron Brink, Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby. Key is more bodily than Brink and may give her a bit of a break in the post.

25. Indiana: Ashlon Jackson | G | Duke | 6-foot

Jackson had maybe the most iconic shot of the NCAA match with her game-winner in the Sweet 16 over Louisiana State with 2.5 seconds left.

Michigan State ahead Grace VanSlooten dribbles the ball during a sport against Washington on Jan. 8.

(Stephen Brashear / Associated Press)

26. Toronto: Grace VanSlooten | G | Michigan State | 6-foot-3

An elite two-point shooter for the Spartans, VanSlooten has a high motor on the offensive aspect and can play a fast defensive sport.

27. Phoenix Mercury: Rori Harmon | G | Texas | 5-foot-6

As an undersized but scrappy guard, underestimate Harmon at your own risk. One of the peskiest point-of-attack defenders in the nation, Harmon was named to 4 all-defense groups during her time at Texas.

28. Atlanta: Dari Littlepage-Buggs | F | Baylor | 6-foot-1

A strong rebounder who can transfer the ball upcourt, Littlepage-Buggs is value a choose to see how she would possibly adapt to the WNBA. She is somebody whom the developmental slots would possibly help a lot.

29. Las Vegas Aces: Maggie Doogan | F | Richmond | 6-foot-2

The Aces already have a core in place, but Doogan has enough upside to be value a late-round choose as a dependable bench shooter.

30. Washington: Justine Pissott | F | Vanderbilt | 6-foot-4

Another versatile participant, Pissott was a half of a dynamic Vanderbilt offense this season. She can space the ground and add depth to the Mystics.

Third spherical

31. Dallas: Laila Phelia | F | Syracuse | 6-foot

Phelia is a strong defensive ahead who can shoot nicely for her place.

32. Chicago: Tonie Morgan | G | Kentucky | 5-foot-9

Morgan is a terrific passer who can assault downhill.

Texas middle Kyla Oldacre shoots over UCLA middle Lauren Betts during a Final Four sport on April 3 in Phoenix.

(Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)

33. Connecticut: Kyla Oldacre | C | Texas | 6-foot-6

This would be a pure depth choose after the Sun added Brittney Griner.

34. Washington: Kara Dunn | G | USC | 5-foot-11

Dunn has averaged better than 15 factors per sport during each of her last three seasons (two at Georgia Tech and one at USC) and been environment friendly in doing so, most not too long ago capturing 57.3% from the sphere and 37.8% from three-point vary.

35. Sparks: Jalyn Brown | G | Michigan State | 6-foot-1

An extremely environment friendly shooter, Brown has dimension and is a three-level scorer who has been a top perimeter defender in the Big 12 and Big Ten. She is a true wing and may give the Sparks a developmental participant with a high ground.

36. Toronto: Lani White | F | Utah | 6-foot

White began for only one season but confirmed she will shoot from distance and give the Tempo another ahead to construct their bench depth.

USC guard Kara Dunn dribbles up the court during a sport against Saint Mary’s at the Galen Center on Dec. 2.

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

37. Portland: Raegan Beers | C | Oklahoma | 6-foot-4

For a while, Beers was one of the most fascinating prospects in the faculty sport. She proved she will be an environment friendly scorer when she went from Oregon State to Oklahoma. Her offense is much forward of her protection, though.

38. Golden State: Elle Ladine | G | Washington | 5-foot-11

A San Francisco native, Ladine, when she is on, can be a dynamic three-way scorer.

39. Seattle: Saffron Shiels | G | Australia | 6-foot-2

A big guard who may be a late-round steal because of an ankle injury last season.

40. Indiana: Jordan Harrison | G | West Virginia | 5-foot-6

Harrison is undersized but was a good defender in the Big 12. She can facilitate and trigger havoc on the court too.

41. New York Liberty: Hannah Stuelke | F | Iowa | 6-foot-2

This is the Liberty’s only choose, and Stuelke is a powerful rebounder who has a high upside.

Notre Dame guard Cassandre Prosper drives to the basket under strain from UConn guard Azzi Fudd during an Elite Eight sport on March 29.

(LM Otero / Associated Press)

42. Phoenix: Cassandre Prosper | C | Notre Dame | 6-foot-3

The Atlantic Coast Conference’s most improved participant, Prosper can rating and rebound while also being surprisingly fast for her dimension in the frontcourt.

43. Atlanta: Laura Ziegler | F | Louisville | 6-foot-2

An All-ACC first-team participant for an underrated Louisville workforce, Ziegler can cross and make threes.

44. Las Vegas: Mya Perry | G | Cincinnati | 5-foot-11

A 17.8-point scorer, Perry is a three-point shooter who may earn a developmental slot.

45. Minnesota: Madison St. Rose | G | Princeton | 5-foot-10

St. Rose led Princeton in scoring and may be value a shot as a developmental participant.