Ahead of this year’s draft, taking place on Monday 4/10, the WNBA hosted a Pre-Draft media conference call. ESPN women’s basketball analysts, Rebecca Lobo, and LaChina Robinson joined WNBA head coaches and basketball executives to answer a variety of questions.
As revealed by sources ahead of the call, the draft order was heavily discussed as Indiana Fever is slated to make the first pick – followed by Minnesota Lynx and Dallas Wings, rounding out the top 3. As for top prospects, South Carolina’s, Aliyah Boston, is expected to be called upon first with Maryland’s, Diamond Miller, as the second pick. Standford’s, Haley Jones, and Villanova’s, Maddy Siegrist, are expected to land in the top five as well.
On the needs of Minnesota, and their second pick.
“They need a posts, they need a point guard, and I think neither of those things matters when you pick second. You pick who is the best available.” – Rebecca Lobo
On all the recent buzz surrounding the draft, with players’ declarations of joining and leaving.
“Yeah, well, obviously things get very interesting when you consider the options to stay with the COVID year. For me, I was trying to stay in college as long as I could because I was having a good time, and didn’t have to pay bills.
But yeah, we were all glued to social media trying to figure out who was going to use their remaining eligibility. You’re kind of crossing some names off the list as it goes along.” – LaChina Robinson
One of those players that Robinson was referring to is Iowa State’s, Ashley Joens. Joens was one of the top prospects coming into the 2022 Draft. However, she chose not to enter the draft, opting for a fifth season instead. Joens opted into a “super senior” season due to the previous season’s COVID-19 disruptions.
On Diamond Miller’s game and her high Draft projections.
“In my opinion, Diamond Miller is just a pro in every sense of the word. It starts really with her mentality, relentless, always on the attack, a lot of maturity about her game in terms of her approach and her preparation.
Then I just go to her physical attributes, and at 6’3, can play multiple positions, wingspan, quickness. These are a lot of things that when it comes to translating from college to the WNBA that become even more important. So, she’s got a pro-ready body.” – LaChina Robinson
On who the second-best post player is in this Draft class.
“I think Stephanie Soares from Iowa State. She spent most of the season injured, but wow, what a heck of a player. I had not seen her play before this year before she transferred to Iowa State, and the first time I saw her I was blown away. And that was on film. Then I got to see her in person out at the PK Invitational in Portland last winter. She is just a player with incredible size, mobility, and versatility. She’s got really nice touch on her shot. She can really pass. She can drive to the basket.” – Rebecca Lobo
On Haley Jones’ descent in the mock drafts ahead.
“People love Haley Jones as a player, as a person. They love her size. They love how she pushes the ball with pace in the open floor, and how she can find teammates.
The red flag is the inability and the lack of willingness in terms of the three-point line, which is incredible because as a sophomore, and when she’s led them to a National Championship, she went through the regular season without really taking or making threes, and then she was on a tear throughout the NCAA tournament and then led Stanford to the championship that season.” – Rebecca Lobo
Just a couple of days away from Draft Day, it will be interesting to see how all the predictions play out. Presented by State Farm, ESPN2 will also broadcast the WNBA Draft Day Preview Show on Saturday, April 8, at 11:30 a.m. ET, hosted by LaChina Robinson and Rebecca Lobo.
WNBA 2023 Draft
Date: Monday, April 10,
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Network: ESPN.
Urban Magazine’s sports editor, Maria Myraine, will also be in attendance. Stay tuned in for her live coverage and recap.
