Liberty win WNBA draft lottery, will select 1st in 2021
For the second straight year, the New York Liberty will select first overall in the WNBA draft after winning Friday night's lottery, which was presented on ESPN at halftime of the game between Louisville and DePaul.
The Dallas Wings will pick second, followed by the Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever.
Accounting for previous trades, here's how the order of the first round stands:
| PICK | TEAM |
|---|---|
| 1 | New York Liberty |
| 2 | Dallas Wings |
| 3 | Atlanta Dream |
| 4 | Indiana Fever |
| 5 | Dallas Wings (via WAS) |
| 6 | Phoenix Mercury (via CON) |
| 7 | Dallas Wings (via CHI) |
| 8 | Chicago Sky (via PHO) |
| 9 | Minnesota Lynx |
| 10 | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 11 | Seattle Storm |
| 12 | Las Vega Aces |
The Liberty selected Oregon phenom Sabrina Ionescu first overall in 2020. However, the rookie season for the NCAA's all-time triple-doubler leader was cut short after she suffered a grade 3 ankle sprain in only her third professional appearance.
The 2021 draft pool will feature a number of intriguing prospects, such as Tennessee forward Rennia Davis, Oklahoma State forward Natasha Mack, and Arizona point guard Aari McDonald.
Senior Cardinals point guard Dana Evans could also find herself in contention for a high selection. Heading into the game versus DePaul, the 5-foot-6 floor general had averaged 17.5 points and 6.5 assists through two appearances.
A number of talented underclassmen could also elect to declare for the draft early, including Texas center Charli Collier and Kentucky guard Rhyne Howard, who are both juniors.