Tonight was a night we were scared we would not get. After a lengthy CBA was negotiated, the WNBA had its annual Draft. It was an exciting night as the next generation of talent joined the illustrious ranks of some of the best women basketball players (if not the best players in basketball period) in the world. So, let us get to some of the fireworks of a truly great night. The table has been set, let’s get to the main course!
DALLAS TAKES AZZI FUDD AT NO. 1
Despite all the debate among the “experts”, I could have told you that Azzi Fudd would go first in this year’s draft to the Dallas Wings. She is a phenomenal talent, an elite shooter, and she just happens to be joining her girlfriend on the Wings: last year’s No. 1 pick, Paige Bueckers. Fudd becomes the seventh player from the University of Connecticut selected No. 1 (no other school has more than 2).
MINNESOTA TAKES OLIVIA MILES AT NO. 2
This was an interesting backstory. Despite having the best record last year in the WNBA, the Minnesota Lynx had the No. 2 pick in the draft thanks to a savvy trade with the Chicago Sky. The Lynx decided to go with a guard with the pick, taking Olivia Miles from TCU. Miles is a skillful player, and the Lynx are hoping she is the key to finally getting them to the title that eluded them last year.
EXPANSION TEAMS’ FIRST PICKS
The newest teams, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, took their first picks in franchise history in the Draft. The Tempo went with Kiki Rice from UCLA, while the Fire went with Iyana Martin Carrion from Spain. Kiki was the third player taken in the first round from UCLA while Iyana is the second player drafted from Spain. Both players represent a lot of talent, and both are excellent picks for the two newest teams to the WNBA.
RECORD NIGHT FOR UCLA
UCLA’s successful basketball program set a new WNBA record for most players selected from a single school in the first round. It started with Lauren Betts getting picked by the Washington Mystics at No. 4. Gabriela Jaquez, Kiki Rice, and Angela Dugalic went next. Gianna Kneepkens was the last pick of the first round, going to the Connecticut Sun at No. 15. This was an incredible night for the reigning women’s college basketball champions from UCLA. The question will be if they can repeat next year without all these incredible seniors (especially with rival USC getting star JuJu Watkins back next year).
Overall, UCLA had six players selected in the draft. A new record for the WNBA. How big is this? Well, let us compare this to the men’s professional sports leagues. The NBA, the WNBA’s male counterpart, has only seen a single school have no more than three players taken in the first round. In the NHL, the record is four players taken in the first round from a single school. In the MLB, they also only have four players drafted in the first round from a single school. The only league that can top the WNBA, is the NFL, with six players taken from a single school in the first round. However, take this with a grain of salt as the NFL has more teams than any other league. The fact that the WNBA can do it with less than half the teams the NFL has is extraordinary.
SPARKS MISS OUT ON UCLA PLAYERS, TAKES TA’NIYA LATSON IN SECOND ROUND
Through some questionable deals, the hometown Los Angeles Sparks did not have a first-round pick in this year’s draft. They watched all of UCLA’s players go off the board because they made a bad deal. So, what do you do when the players you want go off the board? You go with the next best thing. The Sparks took Ta’Niya Latson from the runner-up of this year’s NCAA women’s basketball tournament: the University of South Carolina. Latson was the nation’s leading scorer as a junior at Florida State. An exceptional driver and finisher, particularly in transition, she sharpened the rest of her game and learned the art of winning with the Gamecocks. She should be able to build consistency around her jump shot learning from veterans Kelsey Plum and Ariel Atkins. Given who the Sparks drafted, it looks like they are going to try and run the ball more (not a bad idea actually). The Sparks made some okay picks, but they could have been better. It is safe to say that the Sparks’ GM is on the hot seat, if not…they should be.
It has not been all bad news for the Sparks this offseason. Stars Dearica Hamby and Kelsey Plum will be back next season for the purple and gold. Former Sparks star Nneka Ogwumike stunned many with her decision to return to the Sparks. Ogwumike spent the last two seasons with the Seattle Storm but previously played twelve seasons with the Sparks (including during their last championship run in 2016). We’ll see what the Sparks can put together and if rising star Cameron Brink can have a healthy season.
WOMEN’S SPORTS ON THE RISE
The new collective bargaining agreement with the WNBA and its players reflects a growing trend in sports, more specifically women’s sports. A new report shows increasing revenue in women’s sports, showing greater interest and growing fan base for women’s sports.
This new generation of talent joining the WNBA’s ranks are coming up at an opportune time. With more money and incentives, it is truly a turning point for women’s athletics.
