Very excited to react to the Lottery on Friday. Hoping New York wins it. Hard to say which team needs it the most without a clear consensus #1, but if Charli Collier ends up having her best year (she has started out red hot thus far) and declares as expected to become the consensus #1, I think New York needs her the most out of all the lottery teams (though Dallas isn't far behind at this point – New York better put together a solid back-up plan if they end up picking behind Dallas).
Still, I'd say this year is very prone to seeing lottery teams trade away their picks. A) It's a weak draft. B) It's due to feature the same lottery teams as last year so I'm guessing these teams are getting tired of picking there. And C) generally speaking, this year's lottery teams are the most cap-flexible teams as it stands now, so other teams could be interested in trading a veteran contract or two away for some added flexibility. Like last year's free agency period, this coming one should be highly active with lots of player movement.
Collier is off to a great start and is already being tagged as a top prospect for the draft. Odds seem very likely she'll enter early.
Ran this 10 times. New York got #1 five times, Atlanta three, Dallas and Indiana once each.
I ran it once, and got the improbable order of 1. Indiana 2. Atlanta 3. New York 4. Dallas. Could that end up happening in real life? We shall see later this evening!
I have no reason to believe any which way, so I'm just gonna guess it'll be: 1. Dallas 2. New York 3. Atlanta 4. Indiana. (We know the West teams seem particularly prone to winning it; I'm just surprised Dallas hasn't yet lol.)
Still hope New York makes it three-straight #1s, factoring in the 2022 Draft.
Given the weakness of the draft -- or at least the lack of one or two "surefire" picks, the lottery is of limited interest. Whether a team picks one or four, it will still be a roll of the dice as to whether the player can do more than fill out a rotation.
The #1 pick really will get based on whether Charli Collier enters early. Otherwise the top prospects are likely: Rennia Davis, Aari McDonald, Michaela Onyenwere, Natasha Mack & Finland's Awak Kuier. None of these players have looked like they're a clear #1 pick or even a clear choice for a lotto pick.
Here we go with the Lottery broadcast! Already some technical difficulties.
At least with the Lottery being this late into the calendar year, it continues to keep a little chatter about the WNBA going. Free agency negotiations if I'm not mistaken 'already' begin six weeks from today...
I certainly could be wrong, but I think this is the Draft Order now:
1 New York 2 Dallas 3 Atlanta 4 Indiana 5 Dallas (from Washington via New York) 6 Phoenix (from Connecticut) 7 Dallas (from Chicago) 8 Chicago (from Phoenix via Dallas) 9 Minnesota 10 Los Angeles 11 Seattle 12 Las Vegas 13 Dallas (from New York) 14 Indiana 15 Atlanta 16 Dallas 17 New York (from Washington) 18 Seattle (from Connecticut) 19 Indiana (from Chicago) 20 Connecticut (from Phoenix) 21 Connecticut (from Minnesota) 22 Los Angeles 23 Seattle 24 Las Vegas 25 New York 26 Indiana 27 Atlanta 28 Los Angeles (from Dallas) 29 New York (from Washington) 30 Connecticut 31 Indiana (from Chicago) 32 Phoenix 33 Indiana (from Minnesota) 34 Los Angeles 35 Seattle 36 Las Vegas
As of now: Indiana has the most picks with 6. Dallas is the only team with multiple 1st-round picks (3). Washington has no picks.
Someone else suggesting Howard will enter early. Interesting...
*If Rhyne is draft eligible and declares, she is the clear cut #1 unless Collier dominates this season.
One thing of note in this article, she was suspended the first two games of the season for conduct that is against Kentucky rules/standards. Worth mentioning as Walt and Kolb are often mentioning ‘good culture’. Curious what it was, hopefully nothing too serious. I don’t know anything about Howard.
Be kind to yourself, the way you expect others to be kind to you.
I certainly could be wrong, but I think this is the Draft Order now:
1 New York 2 Dallas 3 Atlanta 4 Indiana 5 Dallas (from Washington via New York) 6 Phoenix (from Connecticut) 7 Dallas (from Chicago) 8 Chicago (from Phoenix via Dallas) 9 Minnesota 10 Los Angeles 11 Seattle 12 Las Vegas 13 Dallas (from New York) 14 Indiana 15 Atlanta 16 Dallas 17 New York (from Washington) 18 Seattle (from Connecticut) 19 Indiana (from Chicago) 20 Connecticut (from Phoenix) 21 Connecticut (from Minnesota) 22 Los Angeles 23 Seattle 24 Las Vegas 25 New York 26 Indiana 27 Atlanta 28 Los Angeles (from Dallas) 29 New York (from Washington) 30 Connecticut 31 Indiana (from Chicago) 32 Phoenix 33 Indiana (from Minnesota) 34 Los Angeles 35 Seattle 36 Las Vegas
As of now: Indiana has the most picks with 6. Dallas is the only team with multiple 1st-round picks (3). Washington has no picks.
Nothing seems clear, including the No. 1 pick. Kentucky junior guard Rhyne Howard topped ESPN's list of the best women's college basketball players for 2020-21, and many think she might go first if she was eligible. She isn't agewise -- she won't turn 22 in 2021 -- and the only other way she'd be eligible is if she graduated early.