2018 WNBA Draft Big Board, v. 3.0: Ranking underclassmen

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WASHINGTON, D.C – JANUARY 8: George Mason Center Natalie Butler during a game against George Washington at the Charles E. Smith Center on Monday, January 8, 2018 in Washington, D.C. Butler, a graduate student who first played at Georgetown, then U-Conn., is the nation’s leading rebounder and the team’s top scorer for Mason, which is off to the best start in program history. (Photo by Pete Marovich For The Washington Post via Getty Images) /

Round 2

Let’s not lose sight of Natalie Butler, who had an absolutely brilliant season for George Mason, winning Player of the Year honors in the Atlantic 10 after posting 30 consecutive double-doubles. Butler transferred from Connecticut, and there are some WNBA front offices that just don’t trust performances in conferences that aren’t Power 5. Ask some of those front offices how that worked out when it came to not drafting George Washington product… Jonquel Jones. Not suggesting Butler has JJ’s upside, but the talent base is broader than ever in the women’s game, and that means WNBA players can and should be found beyond the traditional powers. A lot of the rarity is a self-fulfilling prophecy, since many non-Power 5 players don’t get the chance. Butler should.

13. Las Vegas Monique Billings, 6’4 F UCLA [VIDEO]
14. Indiana Tyler Scaife, 5’9 G Rutgers [VIDEO]
15. Connecticut Jaime Nared, 6’2 G/F Tennessee
16. Atlanta Brook McCarty 5’4 G Texas
17. Minnesota Mercedes Russell 6’6 C Tennessee
18. Dallas Shakayla Thomas 5’11 F Florida State
19. Washington Taeler Deer 5’5 G Texas State
20. Phoenix AJ Alix 5’6 G Florida State
21. Phoenix Vionise Pierre-Louis 6’4 C Oklahoma
22. New York Marie Gulich 6’5 C Oregon State
23. Los Angeles Natalie Butler 6’5 C George Mason
24. Minnesota Rebecca Greenwell 6’1 G/F Duke

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