Coming off a historic season, the Dallas Wings are taking a different approach to the upcoming WNBA Draft than they have in years past.
“If you go back three, four, five years, it was a simple process: Who is the best player available? We needed everything, so we're going to get that player,” he said. CEO Greg Bibb said on the league's conference call. “Thankfully, our team has evolved over the last few years, primarily through the draft process, but also through trades and free agency. Our job has become much narrower in terms of focus and search. We're looking for help to take the next step. For us, it's a step from a top-four team to a top-two team and eventually a top team.”
With two top-10 picks, can the Wings find the impact player they're looking for in this year's draft?
Here's what you need to know about this year's event and who the Wings might select.
How to watch
when: Monday, 6:30pm Central Time (April 15)
tv set: ESPN
What draft picks do the Wings have?
Despite finishing fourth in the WNBA last season, the Wings still own the fifth overall draft pick, acquired from Chicago in the Diamond DeShields trade last year. Dallas also owns the ninth overall pick in the first round and the ninth overall pick in the third round.
The Wings do not have a second-round pick this year because they traded Stephanie Soares to Washington in the deal that sent them to Dallas.
Who are the top prospects in the draft?
Iowa State star Caitlin Clark topped the list.
Clark averaged 31.6 points, 8.9 assists and 7.4 rebounds, and after leading the University of Iowa to the national title game, he is the overwhelming favorite to be selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever. But even next to Clark, this year's class is considered one of the deepest in recent WNBA Draft history.
Stanford forward Cameron Brink and newly crowned NCAA champion Camila Cardoso from South Carolina are each expected to finish in the top three. Tennessee forward Rikea Jackson is also considered a top-three prospect by some.
It would be surprising if any of these players slipped to the Wings at No. 5.
Who could be selected by the Wings?
After trading away Alisha Gray and Marina Mabry last year and watching Diamond DeShields head to the Chicago Sky in free agency, the Wings are looking to bring in someone in their backcourt to pair with All-Star Arike Ogunbowale. there's a possibility that.
Multiple mock drafts have the Wings selecting Ohio State's Jaycee Sheldon with the fifth overall pick. Last year, her fifth year at Ohio State, she averaged 17.8 points per game. Her 37% 3-point shooting percentage will help the Wings, who shot 31.7% from deep last year, the worst in the league.
Depending on what happens with their first four picks, the Wings could go in another direction. In ESPN's latest mock draft, the Wings selected UW forward Aaliyah Edwards, who averaged 17.6 points and 9.2 rebounds for the Huskies team that reached the Final Four.
“If Edwards is still available, it seems unlikely the Wings will avoid her,” ESPN's Michael Vaupel wrote. “Some of the strength in Edwards' game, as well as what she needs to work on, showed in the loss to Iowa in the Final Four semifinals. But she has the looks of a professional post player.” I have.”
With the ninth pick, Coach Vaupel had the Wings select Utah forward Alyssa Pili, who averaged 21.4 points on 40.4 percent shooting from deep last season.
“I think she's a unique talent. Obviously, she showed the ability to play at a high level in the college game. I think anyone with that talent level could get a job in the WNBA. ” Bibb said. “There is some uncertainty as to what would best suit her position-wise, and her early career success will also largely depend on the circumstances in which she was drafted. I think he's one of the players.”
As for a third-round pick, French guard Carla Leite could be available.
“I think [Carla Leite] He’s an elite penetrator and can get to the rim and finish with either hand,” Bibb said. “I think she's really strong in terms of seeing the court and making the right passes. I think she has the poise and confidence that you need in that position. She's pretty high up in a very good league in France. He played at the level.”
Leite has played in 19 games for French professional team Tarbes this season, averaging 15.6 points and 5.5 assists. But Bibb said he needs to be more consistent with his 3-point shooting. She is currently shooting 19.7% from 3-point range.
Will all of Dallas' draft picks be on the opening day roster?
Probably not, as the Wings already have 14 players on their roster. If the Wings retain all three picks, they would have 17 players and would need to cut five players to meet the league's roster cap.
However, the players available at Nos. 5 and 9 should have a good chance of competing for a spot on the roster.
A non-first-round pick is unlikely to make the roster, but it's not unheard of. Last year, second-round pick Ashley Jones was on the opening day roster. Jasmine Dickey is a third-round pick for the team in 2022.
However, given the composition of WNBA rosters and the expected debuts of last year's draftees Lou López Senechal and Stephanie Soares, it seems unlikely that all three players will make the roster. Seem.
“With Lou and Stefani, they were both drafted last year, so it was kind of like they were drafted without this year's draft. Stefani was acquired in a draft-day trade with Washington. When we selected her 4th overall, we knew she would miss last summer and spend that summer and this offseason preparing. She is ready, she participated in the recent Olympic trials with the Brazilian national team, and she will be ready for the first day,” Bibb said. “[Sénéchal]is currently playing in Spain and she too will be ready for the first day of training camp. We're excited to get them on the court in a meaningful way for the first time since they were drafted a year ago. ”
For more coverage of the Wings on the Dallas Morning News, go here.
