WNBA mock draft: UCLA’s players rise, LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson and UConn’s Azzi Fudd drop
UCLA was crowned champions four days ago, and in another four days, the six seniors who accounted for all of their points in the Final Four will be starting their professional careers at the WNBA Draft. Over the past three weeks, several Bruins managed to raise their draft stock with strong NCAA Tournament performances. Even with all the tape front offices have on the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-year seniors leaving college for the WNBA, it still helps to have a few good games against the nation’s best competition when the stakes are at the highest.
This is the first (and last) mock draft with the correct first-round order after Toronto won the offseason coin flip and elected to pick sixth in Monday’s WNBA Draft. 1. Dallas Wings Awa Fam | 6-4 center | Valencia (Spain) Previous projection: 1 After all of the player-friendly provisions introduced in the new collective bargaining agreement, international players still have an advantage over American ones when it comes to entering the WNBA.
Awa Fam may not be as good as Lauren Betts right now, but she is about three years younger and already has impressive reps against WNBA-caliber competition. As the Dallas Wings build for the future, it will be hard to turn down the Spanish center with outstanding athleticism who seems to teleport in the half-court. Fam has good shooting touch and reads the floor well, making her a natural complement to Paige Bueckers for years to come.
2. Minnesota Lynx (from Chicago Sky) Lauren Betts | 6-7 center | UCLA Previous projection: 4 Betts was a big winner in the NCAA Tournament — aside from ending as a national champion, she showcased her full gamut of skills across the six games. The Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player averaged 21 points, 9.
3 rebounds and 2. 8 blocks while making 68. 8 percent of her field goals and 80 percent of her free throws.
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