Projecting the 2017 WNBA Draft: It Starts with Kelsey Plum

Apr 3, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Huskies guard Kelsey Plum (10) shoots the ball between Syracuse Orange guard Alexis Peterson (1) and forward Bria Day (55) during the second quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Huskies guard Kelsey Plum (10) shoots the ball between Syracuse Orange guard Alexis Peterson (1) and forward Bria Day (55) during the second quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
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Mar 24, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Washington Huskies guard Kelsey Plum (10) drives to the basket in front of Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs guard Jazzmun Holmes (10) during the first quarter in the semifinals of the Oklahoma City Regional of the women’s 2017 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2017; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Washington Huskies guard Kelsey Plum (10) drives to the basket in front of Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs guard Jazzmun Holmes (10) during the first quarter in the semifinals of the Oklahoma City Regional of the women’s 2017 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

1: Kelsey Plum, G, San Antonio Stars

It is a tribute to the caliber of player Kelsey Plum is that she makes very little sense for the Stars’ roster, and yet there’s essentially no way the Stars can choose anybody else. Plum received accolades, and justifiably so, for setting the NCAA record for both points scored in a season and for a career. But Plum is no volume scorer at the expense of her team. She came within a few dozen free throws of reaching the 50-40-90 efficiency goal she set for herself at the start of the season, even with defenses guarding her out to midcourt. Her assist percentage of nearly 30 percent tells the story of how little she forced the action. The Stars can use her in a three-guard set with Moriah Jefferson and Kayla McBride, and it is unclear how other teams can counter that defensively. But truly, Plum is the pick here because she can help anybody, and is the surest bet star in the field.