Part of the fun of the NCAA Tournament is imagining how the game’s brightest stars will play at the next level. What would it be like with Azzi Fudd playing for the Bobcats? Can Lauren Bates add strength to Washington’s young stars? Or, can LSU’s reunion of Flau’jae Johnson, Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith push Chicago back to the top of the league? To help you watch the game from a WNBA perspective, we’ve created a watch list of stars who could be playing in the WNBA this summer.
However, this is not a mock draft for a number of reasons. The WNBA draft could feature several international players who did not compete in the NCAA tournament, including Spanish players Awa Fam and Iyana Martin. And, with a collective bargaining agreement yet to be signed, the start of the WNBA season and the usual schedule that follows remains in flux. The WNBA draft is scheduled for April 13, one week after the NCAA championship game. Still, the expansion draft, which will include two new teams in the Portland Flames and Toronto Tempo, as well as free agency, is still up in the air. Nearly all players without rookie contracts still need to be signed, and each team’s needs remain uncertain because they don’t know who is on the team or how much their salaries will be.
advertise
With all of that in mind, here are the top WNBA prospects to watch as March Madness unfolds.
Archie Ford, University of Connecticut
The Huskies are the defending champions and will enter the tournament undefeated, so you’d think they might have the weight of the world on their shoulders, right? No. Due in large part to Ford’s leadership and consistency, UConn is playing great basketball at the right times. She can score, averaging 17.7 points per game, and is a reliable defender. But beyond that, Forde has shown she’s ready for the WNBA spotlight and that she can play with just about anyone.
Raven Johnson (South Carolina)
In every season of Johnson’s career at Columbia, South Carolina, she reached the Final Four and won two national championships. Johnson is battle-tested and adaptable to Dwayne Staley’s satisfaction, which is no mean feat. The Tigers played well early during the Gamecocks’ victory over LSU in the SEC Tournament semifinals. Johnson continued to play and kept her team calm after the win. While she adds energy to the team’s offense with averages of 10 points and 5.4 assists per game, defense is where Johnson really shines.
advertise
Flagger Johnson, Louisiana State University
What’s most striking about Johnson is her energy. Not only in how she balances being an elite basketball player, musician and student, but also in how she spends every minute on the court. Johnson can score from anywhere on the floor, but this season at LSU has also proven how she can help her teammates score. She’s averaging 13.8 points per game, down from last season, but more of a testament to her trust in the players around her.
Cody McMahon “Ole Miss”
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if someone played basketball like a football linebacker? No more curious. McMahon owns the floor, is comfortable in the paint and on defense, and has steadily improved as an outside scorer. After transferring from Ohio State, her scoring average increased significantly this season, from 16.5 points per game to 19.9 points per game.
advertise
Olivia Myers, TCU
If Myers enters the WNBA draft after her final season at Notre Dame (which she is eligible to do), she will likely be selected in the top five. She has proven her worth. But by sticking with college and heading to TCU, Myers showed she could still improve. This season with the Horned Frogs, her scoring has increased from 15.4 points last season to 19.6 points per game, and her assists have also increased. Her free throw percentage even improved by five percentage points.
A bunch of stars from UCLA
Is it a cop-out to just emphasize the entire team? Maybe, but the Bruins are just that good. This team hasn’t lost since December and is the reason they’ve made it to the Big Ten Tournament. This team has skilled leaders who complement each other and will be draft-eligible this spring in Gabriela Jaquez, Gianna Kneepkens and Charlisse Leger-Walker, but two of the best are Lauren Betts and Kiki Rice.
advertise
Bates: Let’s face it. Even if Betts isn’t the key to the Bruins’ success this year, WNBA coaches and general managers will still be interested in her 6-foot-7 frame. The good news is that she has been an absolute pillar of UCLA, averaging 16.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game. Nearly every team in the WNBA could use her services.
rice: Rice may not have made this list at the beginning of the season, but her improvement this year has been impressive. Her ability to score (15.3 points per game), rebound (6.0 per game) and assist (4.5 per game) makes her the kind of player who can fit into multiple teams.
