The conclusion of the NCAA Women’s March Madness Tournament conclusion gives way for the upcoming WNBA Draft set for Monday.
The Draft will be broadcasted on ESPN starting at 4PM PST. This will be the first draft hosted in person since the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be three rounds featuring 12 picks.
The Phoenix Mercury do not have a draft pick in the first two rounds. The Mercury traded their picks for Kia Nurse and Megan Walker during last year’s draft. Walker is no longer with the team, but Nurse will be an instrumental piece to their future.
The Las Vegas Aces will select at No. 8 using the Mercury’s original pick. The Indiana Fever will select at No. 20 using Phoenix’s pick that was sent over in the three team trade that landed Diamond DeShields to the Mercury.
The Mercury will have the 26th and 32nd overall picks.
It is likely that Phoenix will pick a post player with Brittney Griner status uncertain for the series. Griner was detained on alleged drug charges in Russia back in early-January. Since then, the Mercury have signed Kristine Anigwe as insurance in the event that Griner doesn’t make a return to US soil in time for the WNBA regular season. As it stands, Anigwe and Tina Charles are the only centers on the roster.
The Mercury could take Quen Egbo, a 6’3 center out of Griner’s alma mater Baylor. Georgia’s center Jenna Staiti is another viable option for Phoenix.
The WNBA Draft will begin at 4PM PST on ESPN on Monday evening.
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