\ud83d\udcda The history<\/h3>\n
The first WNBA Draft was held in 1997, <\/strong>the same year the league first hit the hardwood. Unlike subsequent drafts, the 1997 edition came in three parts, beginning with the allocation of 16 stars, like Cynthia Cooper<\/a>, who were distributed among the original eight teams.<\/p>\n After the stars were assigned, <\/strong>the WNBA held an \u201cElite Draft\u201d in which established pros were selected. On February 27th, 1997, former Tennessee star Dena Head became the first-ever player drafted into the league when she was selected by the Utah Starzz (not a typo).<\/p>\n Today, as college\u2019s and international team\u2019s best are drafted, <\/strong>the No. 1 pick position remains a coveted career milestone. While South Carolina\u2019s Aliyah Boston<\/a> will likely <\/em>be the first name called tomorrow, whoever snags the honor will join one of the sport\u2019s most exclusive and successful clubs.<\/p>\n SOURCE: ERICK W. RASCO\/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED VIA GETTY IMAGES\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Thirty-six hoopers will hear their names<\/strong> called over the course of tomorrow\u2019s three-round, 12-pick draft. As for the order, most picks are doled out in inverse order of the standings from the previous regular season.<\/p>\n As for eligibility,<\/strong> you won\u2019t see March Madness champion LSU\u2019s Angel Reese or Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark on stage tomorrow. Domestic WNBA hopefuls must be 22 years old during the year of the draft, have completed their college eligibility, or be set to graduate within three months. No one-and-done here<\/a>.<\/p>\n SOURCE: KEVIN C. COX\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Aliyah Boston, South Carolina: <\/strong>Fever fans rejoiced when Boston, who had another year of NCAA eligibility due to COVID-19, officially declared<\/a> for the draft. With her dominant defense, elite rebounding and incredible leadership, it\u2019s no wonder she\u2019s the consensus No. 1. She\u2019ll likely be put to task immediately as the ailing Indy franchise<\/a> needs some work. No pressure.<\/p>\n Diamond Miller, Maryland: <\/strong>A four-year Terrapin standout, Miller shined brightest in her senior season, posting a career-high 19.7 points per game and leading her squad to the Elite Eight. Both analysts and league general managers (GMs) have labeled Miller as a pro-ready draftee, meaning the versatile guard could be the next face of the Sylvia Fowles\u2013less<\/a> Minnesota Lynx.<\/p>\n Haley Jones, Stanford:<\/strong> With her elite size, speed and playmaking ability, the multifaceted Jones is poised to make an immediate impact in the W. That said, her three-point shooting left much to be desired this year, which could <\/em>be a potential deterrent for interested teams.<\/p>\n Jordan Horston, Tennessee: <\/strong>After a solid season buoyed by an impressive supporting cast of Tennessee teammates, Horston saw her draft stock rise. Though she has a tendency to turnover the ball on offense, her defensive skill is elite, making her a potential top-three pick.<\/p>\n Maddy Siegrist, Villanova: <\/strong>Siegrist led the nation in scoring last season by putting up a cool 29.2 points per game. Although it\u2019s still TBD how her game will translate when facing tougher pro-level defenses, that sharpshooting would be a major boost for many squads. Sky\u2019s the limit.<\/p>\n SOURCE: RON JENKINS\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The stock risers: <\/strong>When asked whose interest shot up the most during the NCAA tournament, both South Carolina\u2019s Zia Cooke and LSU\u2019s Alexis Morris were the clear answers from analysts and GMs. Morris\u2019 tenacity, resilience, and calm leadership was on full display as she helped her Tigers win their first-ever national title last Sunday.<\/p>\n The Huskies: <\/strong>The school that boasts the most No. 1 selections in WNBA Draft history? UConn, whose five picks include legends like Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi. And while the Huskies aren\u2019t expected to crack the Top 5 this draft, both Lou Lopez S\u00e9n\u00e9chal and Dorka Juh\u00e1sz are projected first- or second-rounders.<\/p>\n The Cyclones: <\/strong>According to the aforementioned Lobo, the second-best post player<\/a> in the draft is Iowa State\u2019s Stephanie Soares, who\u2019ll bring size, mobility, and versatility to the W team lucky enough to nab her.<\/p>\n The Hoosier: <\/strong>Indiana\u2019s Grace Berger has a shot at joining Aliyah Boston on the Fever\u2019s roster. Indy GM Lin Dunn specifically mentioned Berger\u2019s strength, toughness, ability to play multiple positions, and steady improvement throughout her fifth collegiate season as reasons why the Hoosier could be in for a short move from Bloomington to Indianapolis<\/a> later this month.<\/p>\n SOURCE: JENNIFER POTTHEISER\/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n According to Cheryl Reeve, <\/strong>the Minnestoa Lynx\u2019 president of basketball operations, only 0.9% of American college women\u2019s basketball players are ever drafted into the WNBA. However, that elite honor simply grants athletes the opportunity to compete<\/em> for one of the league\u2019s 144 roster spots.<\/p>\n The lack of space for new talent means that,<\/strong> traditionally, about half of those drafted tomorrow will not be on W courts when May rolls around. Instead, players will take their chances to play overseas<\/a> and improve their game with the hope of making a future WNBA roster.<\/p>\n While the obvious answer may be accelerating <\/strong>the promised WNBA expansion<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> only a few rookie players enter training camps truly ready for professional competition. Perhaps the creation of a developmental program similar to the NBA G League<\/a> would provide an opportunity for North American talent to grow and flourish in our own backyard.<\/p>\n And for those lucky enough to take the W court this season, <\/strong>they\u2019ll have to compete without some of the perks they enjoyed as college hoopers<\/a>, like charter flights<\/a>. But these fierce ballers didn\u2019t make it this far by taking the easy route, so while tomorrow may look like an Orange Carpet<\/a> finish line, it\u2019s actually just the start. The real work begins at training camp<\/a> on April 30th.<\/p>\n SOURCE: ESPN PRESS ROOM<\/p>\n <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Live from New York, it\u2019s Monday night! <\/strong>That\u2019s right, the festivities and nail-biting picks air live from NYC at 7 p.m. ET tomorrow on ESPN in the U.S. and TSN3 in Canada.<\/p>\n And there\u2019s no rest for the drafted.<\/strong> The WNBA preseason will tip off on May 5th, with the regular season beginning May 19th. Can\u2019t wait.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\u270d\ufe0f The details<\/h3>\n
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Aliyah Boston sweepstakes<\/del> lucky No. 1 selection when the lottery was held last November.<\/li>\n\ud83d\udcab The top picks<\/h3>\n
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\ud83d\udc40 Other players to watch<\/h3>\n
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\ud83c\udfc0 Zooming out<\/h3>\n
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\ud83d\udcfa How to tune in<\/h3>\n
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