Ready for the next step
Where UConn’s three seniors are projected in the draft
A little over a week after the conclusion of the college women’s basketball season, the nation’s top players will take the first step in their professional careers with hopes of being one of the 36 women selected in Monday’s WNBA draft (7 p.m. on ESPN).
One hundred and eight players have entered their name on the candidate list for the draft. Only one third will hear their name called in the three-round draft held in person in New York.
UConn’s three seniors, Olivia Christyn Williams and Evina Westbrook, officially declared for the draft on Wednesday, forgoing any additional collegiate eligibility for the chance to start their pro careers this spring. Since none of the three were among the 12 players invited by the WNBA to attend the draft in person, each will be watching from their respective homes surrounded by family and friends. It will be the first time since 2018 that UConn had more than two players as draft candidates (no Huskies declared for the draft in 2021).
If drafted, each player will participate in their respective team’s training camp later this month. There, they must impress coaches and hope the team has enough room for not only their salary but their posiNelson-Ododa, tion to remain on the team following preseason cuts in early May. The WNBA season opens on May 6.
The Connecticut Sun has three picks in this year’s draft. Connecticut finished last season as the No. 1 overall seed heading into the playoffs before falling to WNBA champion Chicago in the semifinals.
Here’s a quick overview of where UConn’s players are projected to go
and what the Sun is looking for heading into Monday’s draft:
OLIVIA NELSON-ODODA
ESPN analyst LaChina Robinson said Nelson-Ododa was among the lateround draft picks that could become a “steal” for teams.
“I think about players that are more versatile that can be plugged into various spots,” Robinson said Thursday when asked who she thinks could be late-round steals. “I would say Aisha Sheppard (Virginia Tech), Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Mya Hollingshed (Colorado), Vivian Gray (Texas Tech), Maya Dodson (Notre Dame).”
Nelson-Ododa, 6-foot-5, has demonstrated she’s a dominant center. She can efficiently distribute passes under the basket and rise up for big-time blocks. However, her lack of strength compared to the draft’s other post players could push her to become a late-round pick and thus force her to have to show off in training camp to secure a potential roster spot.
In most mock drafts, she’s been projected as a secondround pick, going as early as No. 15 (to Atlanta) and as low as No. 23 (to Las Vegas).
The Winder, Georgia native finished her collegiate career ranked No. 6 on UConn’s career blocks list with 262. In 133 games (95 starts), Nelson-Ododa finished with 1,179 points, 317 assists and 897 rebounds.
CHRISTYN WILLIAMS
Williams became the first Husky to win the Ann Meyers Drysdale award this season as the nation’s top shooting guard. She finished her UConn career ranked No. 15 on the Huskies’ scoring list with 1,850 points.
While the four-year starter struggled with consistency during her career, she showed she’s a force during the postseason and a go-to perimeter shooter. She’s not afraid to drive into the lane and can create clutch plays, especially when needed from the free throw line. If given the chance to develop against WNBA-level competition, Williams could create a solid presence for herself in the league as a go-to playmaker.
Out of the three Huskies, Williams has been projected to go the highest in Monday’s draft as a likely firstrounder. The Athletic projected her as the No. 6 pick (to Indiana), while other mocks have her going at No. 9 to Los Angeles or staying more local to Storrs and going at No. 12 to the Connecticut Sun. The lowest Williams has been projected was at No. 14 (to Washington) from Just Women’s Sports.
Williams, from Little Rock, Arkansas, played in 132 games (131 starts) as a Husky. The No. 1 recruit of the Class of 2018 concluded her collegiate career with 297 assists, 162 steals and 516 rebounds.
EVINA WESTBROOK
Westbrook came to UConn as a sophomore transfer from Tennessee. After sitting out her first year in Storrs due to NCAA Transfer policies, the Salem, Oregon, native became one of the team’s most dependable players on and off the court.
After starting for the Lady Vols for two years, then her first season and a half at UConn, the 6-1 guard switched roles and became an off-the-bench surge in her final months on the college stage. Westbrook was often the first sub off the bench and brought a burst of energy on both ends of the court after checking into games. Her high basketball IQ and wide range of skills are evident in her shot selection, ball handling and in how she uses her length to distribute the ball.
Like Williams, Westbrook also struggled with consistency this season which could deter teams from drafting her early on Monday. The fifth-year senior has been projected all over the board in mock drafts. She’s listed as high as No. 9 to Los Angeles (per CBS Sports) and as low as No. 33 to Seattle (SB Nation), while also making early appearances in the second round.
Westbrook finished her five years with 1,345 points, 547 assists, 181 steals and 496 rebounds in 130 career games (109 starts). She and soon-to-be junior Aaliyah Edwards were the only Huskies to play every game this season.
CONNECTICUT SUN
The Sun has the final pick in each round of Monday’s draft: No. 12, No. 24 and No. 36.
Connecticut’s roster is for the most part already set with the offseason addition of Courtney Williams and the resigning of 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones, Stephanie Jones, Beatrice Mompremier and Natisha Hiedeman. Connecticut has also already signed Taja Cole, Joyner Holmes and Yvonne Anderson to training camp roster spots, bringing its roster to 14 players ahead of preseason cuts (each team is allowed at max 12 players during the regular season).
Despite already having a core group of strong players, Connecticut could potentially use another back-up guard following its loss of Briann January. The Sun has veteran guards in Jasmine Thomas, Courtney Williams (who previously played for the Sun from 2016-19) and Hiedeman but could take advantage of a young player to step up when the others need rest or in case of injury. It’s also likely none of the Sun’s draft picks will make it past preseason cuts because of the team’s already packed roster.
In recent mock drafts, Connecticut’s No. 12 pick has been projected to go to guards including UConn’s Williams or Westbrook, Florida’s Kiara “Kiki” Smith, Australia’s Jade Melbourne, Northwestern’s Veronica Burton, Maryland’s Katie Benzan or Michigan State’s Nia Clouden.
The Sun will be celebrating its 20th anniversary season this summer.