Taking The Next Step

Just eight days after Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks lifted their second-ever national title, the WNBA will welcome its newest stars into the pro game. 36 young women have been waiting for this moment for their entire life, and their dream is about to come true. After leaving their heart, and souls out on the floor for their school, they move on and try to make an impact on whatever team calls their name.

The top two prospects in this years' draft are without a doubt Baylor's NaLyssa Smith and Kentucky guard Rhyne Howard. Both are athletic, versatile players who racked up massive scoring totals for their schools this past season. There is a debate on who should be taken by the Washington Mystics with the number one overall pick, but the loss of Emma Meesseman to the Chicago Sky, and Tina Charles to the Mercury intrigues the organization to go with the 6' 3'' forward NaLyssa Smith who finished in the top-10 in the nation in rebounds per game at 11.5.

C/O: AP Photo/Wade Payne

The Indiana Fever and new general manager Lin Dunn pick second and look to improve after two straight seasons in the bottom two of the league. Former Ohio State guard Kelsey Mitchell continues to show growth and has demonstrated potential to be a piece for the Fever heading into the future. If the Mystics do go with Smith, the Fever will without a doubt take Kentucky Wildcats' superstar Rhyne Howard. At 6' 2", Howard is a tall guard compared to the rest, can shoot the three-ball with the best of them, and has a first step that is unmatched by virtually anyone in the draft. She is a bonafide three-level scorer who makes the game of basketball look almost effortless at some moments. Howard is a prolific pick and roll player who makes the right decisions with the ball in her hands. Her size, and ability to shoot in the long-range make her a perfect pro that the Fever can start to build their team around.

Marianne Stanley and company are desperate for any sort of offensive playmaker and Howard fits that bill perfectly. Tiffany Mitchell is a solid guard who continues to improve since she went ninth overall in the 2016 WNBA Draft. The franchise got another string of bad luck go their way as they did not win the lottery even though the team finished with the most losses in 2021. Indiana does have three top-ten picks, and this draft is without a doubt a turning point for this Fever franchise which is trying to bring back the magic from the Tamika Catching days when she continuously led Indiana to success.

The rest of the top ten is filled with talented players, and teams that are looking for constant improvement in several positions of need. With the Dream selecting Aari McDonald with the third overall pick after her incredible tournament run last season, Atlanta should look to select an elite scorer in the paint. Even though McDonald may not have the best first season as a pro in terms of scoring, her playmaking abilities are evident. The Dream will have some incredible choices at the number three pick, including Ole Miss forward/center Shakira Austin, Michigan star Naz Hillmon, or even Oregon forward Nyara Sabally.

C/O: AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

Austin and Sabally are both players that make their presence known in the paint and use their size to salvage possessions for their team. Tennessee guard/forward Rae Burrell has shown potential in her junior year campaign and is someone who may have the highest ceiling in the draft but due to her injury, she may fall. UConn's Christyn Williams could be a player that flies under the radar of many teams in the draft. With her intensity, defense, and one-on-one capabilities, she could make a difference in any rotation in the WNBA next season. There are arguments about the consistency of her play, but her explosiveness and versatility could bode her well at the next level.

Two-time National Champion, Destanni Henderson has the potential to be one of the most influential guards on the offensive end in the WNBA. The New York Liberty have a solid core in its hands, and with the number five pick, it has the ability to take its team to the next level with new head coach Sandy Brondello. The Minnesota Lynx and the Dallas Wings are two teams that both made the playoffs last season and have a massive opportunity to make a difference in both of their squads with a selection in the top ten.

C/O: Baylor Athletics

The WNBA draft is a night where lives are changed, and franchises move closer to where their intended target is. Plenty of other players can be mentioned like Lexie Hull, Emily Engstler, and even Florida Gulf Coast's Kierstan Bell who has been getting a lot of attention due to her potential, and her ability to score the basketball at an elite level even if it is in the ASUN Conference. Questions will be answered, holes will be filled, and young women will enter the league with the hope of being that difference maker to help their respective franchise win the WNBA title in the near future.