WNBA BEGINS 25TH SEASON WITH DRAFT
Cathy Engelbert hosted the most-watched WNBA Draft in 16 years from her home in New Jersey last year. Now the WNBA commissioner will see what she can do with a whole ESPN studio at her disposal.
The WNBA will host a virtual draft for the second consecutive year today at 4 p.m. PDT on ESPN, hoping to build on the league’s momentum as teams return to home markets for the league’s 25th season.
The league’s motto for its milestone year is “count it.” It celebrates not only achievements on the court over 25 years but how the WNBA has grown culturally. Though most sports leagues suffered from diminished viewership during last year’s pandemic, the WNBA celebrated a 68 percent increase. Viewership for the ESPN-televised WNBA Finals increased 15 percent from the previous year.
When it started, the WNBA was just hoping to survive in a crowded market. A quartercentury later, the league is taking its next steps.
“We’re in a thrive mode now,” Engelbert said.
Here’s what to expect today as the league welcomes its newest members:
• Who will be the No. 1 pick? With few opportunities to make a roster and modest earning potential for WNBA rookies, it’s rare to see players leave college early to enter the WNBA Draft, even if they meet
the league’s age requirement of turning 22 in the year of the draft.
Texas’ Charli Collier is an exception.
“When you look at Charli, she looks like a WNBA player,” ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo said during a conference call.
The 6-foot-5 center averaged 19 points and 11.3 rebounds as a junior last year and declared for the draft early in March, taking advantage of a weaker class. The highly touted prospect is likely the top pick going to the Dallas Wings, who own four of 12 firstround selections.
• What about other prospects?
The Wings, who will pick first, second, fifth and seventh today, could follow the Collier selection with another versatile big. Finland national team member Awak Kuier is just 19 years old, but her potential is “off the charts,” Wings President Greg Bibb said on a call with reporters.
The 6-foot-4 Kuier’s skill with the ball is exceptional for someone of her size and age, Bibb said, and her above-therim athleticism gives her the look of a future franchise player. Playing in Italy’s top professional league, Kuier averaged 8.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks this season.
Arizona guard
Aari
McDonald’s draft stock surged after her standout NCAA Tournament performance, leading the Wildcats to the national championship game while averaging 24.8 points on 47.2 percent shooting in the tournament. The Pac-12 player of the year and two-time conference defensive player of the year is almost assured to go in the top five, despite being listed at 5-foot-6.
• What SoCal players are being considered?
UCLA’s Michaela Onyenwere is in line to become the fifth UCLA player drafted in the last four years after finishing her career with 1,888 points — fourth-most in program history — and two Associated Press All-American honors.
The forward was a possible top-five pick early in the year but has dropped to the late first round in mock drafts from Bleacher Report (10th to the Sparks), ESPN (11th to the Storm) and CBS (12th to the Aces). As a 6-foot forward, Onyenwere doesn’t quite have the skill of a guard but lacks the size for a post player at the next level. What makes her an intriguing prospect is her athleticism and work ethic.
“She could be one of if not the best athlete in the draft,” Lobo said. “I think she can be impactful not only in her rookie year, but I think she is one of the players who can be impactful for her team in years to come.”