The 2019 WNBA draft is taken into account some of the stacked courses in recent times with loads of potential future stars within the combine. And the No. 1 choose seems to be free for the taking since Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu introduced her plans to return for her senior season.
With a lot out there expertise, common supervisor and coach James Wade believes the Chicago Sky are in a great place with the fourth choose within the first spherical of Wednesday’s draft, which can he held at Nike’s Headquarter in New York City.
The Sky will comply with the Las Vegas Aces, who maintain the No. 1 choose, and the New York Liberty and Indiana Fever, who’ve the No. 2 and three picks, respectively.
Aces common supervisor Bill Laimbeer has made it clear he’s keen to commerce the No. 1 choose for a very good deal. Though the Sky has mentioned the potential of buying and selling up, Wade mentioned it’s unlikely given the depth of this class.
“If we can’t get our No. 1 pick, our No. 2 will probably still be out there,” Wade mentioned. “We’ll probably get one of our top two choices.”
Fans can watch the primary spherical beginning at 6 p.m. on ESPN2, and the second and third rounds on ESPN U.
Wade is in search of an all-around participant that may praise his present roster.
Here are 4 doable gamers that might do this aside from Louisville guard Asia Durr and Mississippi State middle Teaira McCowan, who’re anticipated to be chosen earlier than the Sky are on the board:
Kristine Anigwe
The Chicago Sky is pretty excessive on Cal middle Kristine Anigwe.
“I don’t know if there’s anybody that sees her as high as we do,” Wade mentioned.
The Sky allowed a league-most 90.1 factors per recreation and will use a participant like Anigwe, who was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year after she averaged 16.2 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and one steal this season.
Anigwe’s draft inventory drastically rose throughout March Madness when she scored 31 factors and pulled down 27 rebounds within the first two spherical of the NCAA Tournament.
After Baylor suffered a devastating 39-point loss within the second spherical to Baylor, Anigwe completed her school profession because the all-time chief in profession factors, rebounds and blocks at Cal. In her senior season, the four-time All-American averaged 22 factors and recorded a double-double in 32 of 33 video games.
Jackie Young
Wade likes a participant that may play a number of positions, and that’s precisely what Notre Dame star Jackie Young does.
Standing at 6-feet tall, Young is an athletic and environment friendly shooter, who may add main star energy to the Sky’s lineup.
Young has been probably the greatest shooters in school basketball over the past two seasons and has solely gotten higher as she’s mature. This season, she averaged 14.7 factors, 7.Four rebounds and 4.9 assists in 39 video games. She shot .528 p.c from the sphere and .452 p.c from the three-point line.
Young declared for the draft as a junior Monday after the Fighting Irish misplaced within the championship recreation to Baylor on Sunday.
Though Young is likely to be a super candidate for the Sky, there’s a very good probability she received’t be out there by the point it’s their flip. She has been projected to be chosen as excessive as No. 1 since Ionescu opted to remain in school.
Napheesa Collier
Connecticut star Napheesa Collier may simply be probably the greatest all-around gamers on this 12 months’s draft, which makes her particularly intriguing for a group just like the Sky.
Over the final 4 seasons, Collier’s confidence has grown and she or he’s blossomed into an elite two-way participant.
This season, the 6-foot-2 ahead carried the Huskies on offense and protection this season. She averaged 20.eight factors on .612 p.c taking pictures and a team-high 10.eight rebounds in 38 video games. She additionally had a powerful 25 double doubles.
Collier completed her school profession profitable the Katrina McClain Award, which acknowledges the highest school energy ahead within the NCAA.
Coach Geno Auriemma believes Collier will make a easy transition to the WNBA so long as she’s put in the fitting scenario.
“If she’s on the fitting group the place…