2023 WNBA Draft: Boston, Miller, Siegrist go 1, 2, 3; Joens, Beal fall

Right here’s a recap of the 2023 WNBA Draft:

1) Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever)

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert mentioned the phrases after which it was official. All of us anticipated Boston to go right here. She brings elite protection and inside scoring to Indiana. Will she be among the many better of the very best No. 1 picks of all-time although?

2) Diamond Miller (Minnesota Lynx)

Minnesota didn’t attempt to change legendary middle Sylvia Fowles with this decide or go after a degree guard. As an alternative, the Lynx did what was anticipated and picked the very best participant obtainable. Miller is a No. 2 decide that lots of people are enthusiastic about.

3) Maddy Siegrist (Dallas Wings)

Siegrist climbed up mock drafts within the weeks main as much as the draft and made it three picks in a row the place ESPN’s greatest participant obtainable was taken. So nonetheless no surprises. Siegrist was the very best scorer on the faculty degree on this yr’s draft. We’ll see if she will be able to translate to taking part in the three or 4 within the WNBA at 6-foot-1.

4) Stephanie Soares (Dallas Wings by way of commerce with Washington Mystics)

It was just a little odd to see the Mystics seem to step on Shakira Austin’s toes with this decide, however then it was revealed that they traded the decide to Dallas. We’ve seen a small pattern measurement from Soares on the Division I degree, however her skillset provides her a excessive ceiling.

5) Lou Lopez Sénéchal (Dallas Wings)

What if Lopez Sénéchal turns into the very best professional scorer from this draft class? It may occur. So not completely shocking that the Wings took her right here, three spots forward of Eric Nemchock’s SB Nation mock draft and 6 spots forward of ESPN’s mock draft.

6) Haley Jones (Atlanta Dream)

Jones was for a very long time the projected No. 2 decide within the draft. She waited about so long as we anticipated to listen to her title when her precise draft night time rolled round. This can be a big-name decide for the Dream at No. 6. Jones is a former Remaining 4 Most Excellent Participant.

7) Grace Berger (Indiana Fever)

Indiana went with the in-state decide, taking Berger from Indiana College. Each SB Nation and ESPN had Brea Beal of South Carolina going right here. Beal ended up falling all the way in which to No. 24. Berger isn’t the flashiest participant to take right here, although she might be higher offensively than Beal, who would have been extra of a defensive decide.

8) Laeticia Amihere (Atlanta Dream)

Amihere went precisely the place ESPN anticipated and one spot forward of Nemchock’s projection. In our Dream preview, we talked about that the Dream won’t take a conventional middle at 6 or 8 as a result of Soares is likely to be unavailable, which she ended up being. As an alternative they may go along with somebody who has middle peak however extra versatile expertise, for the reason that sport is transferring away from conventional facilities anyway. At 6-foot-4, Amihere has the flexibility to play level guard.

9) Jordan Horston (was ESPN’s 4th-best participant obtainable at begin) (Seattle Storm)

We noticed the three greatest obtainable gamers go 1, 2, 3, however needed to wait till No. 9 for the fourth-best to go. Seattle will need to have been pleased to see Horston nonetheless obtainable as a result of she is a degree guard and the Storm are in fact attempting to switch Sue Chook.

10) Zia Cooke (Los Angeles Sparks)

Cooke was very emotional when she heard her title known as at No. 10. Round New 12 months’s, ESPN requested a bunch of faculty gamers to present their resolutions and one in every of Cooke’s was to go within the High 4 within the draft. Cooke had since seen her title drop to No. 13 on each the SB Nation and ESPN mock drafts. It appeared like she was relieved to nonetheless go within the first spherical.

11) Abby Meyers (SB Nation-projected No. 20 decide) (Dallas Wings)

Meyers was the primary stunning decide of the night time, and it will need to have made Maryland Terrapin and Princeton Tiger followers pleased. Nevertheless, the Wings took three gamers forward of her and a more-heralded offensive weapon in Ashley Joens after her. So it is likely to be robust for Meyers to make the roster.

12) Maïa Hirsch (Minnesota Lynx)

The Lynx addressed their middle want right here. Hirsch is 6-foot-5 and may stretch the ground along with her 3-point shot. She was thought-about the most effective gamers obtainable on this draft and each Nemchock and ESPN had her going to the Lynx at No. 16.

13) Taylor Mikesell (Indiana Fever)

14) Shaneice Swain (Los Angeles Sparks)

15) Leigha Brown (Atlanta Dream)

16) Dorka Juhász (Minnesota Lynx)

17) LaDazhia Williams (Indiana Fever)

18) Madi Williams (Seattle Storm)

19 Ashley Joens (SB Nation-projected No. 10 decide) (Dallas Wings)

20) Elena Tsineke (Washington Mystics)

21) Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu (Seattle Storm)

22) Alexis Morris (Connecticut Solar)

23) Kayana Traylor (Chicago Sky)

24) Brea Beal (SB Nation-projected No. 7 decide) (Minnesota Lynx)

25) Victaria Saxton (Indiana Fever)

26) Monika Czinano (Los Angeles Sparks)

27) Future Harden (Phoenix Mercury)

28) Taylor Soule (Minnesota Lynx)

29) Kadi Sissoko (Phoenix Mercury)

30) Okako Adika (New York Liberty)

31) Paige Robinson (Dallas Wings)

32) Txell Alarcón (Washington Mystics)

33) Jade Loville (Seattle Storm)

34) Ashten Prechtel (Connecticut Solar)

35) Kseniya Malashka (Chicago Sky)

36) Brittany Davis (Las Vegas Aces)