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2018 WNBA Draft Diary: Pick-by-pick updates, analysis, news

By Ben Dull

NEW YORK - APRIL 13: WNBA President Lisa Borders and WNBA Legend Dawn Staley poses for a photo during the 2017 WNBA Draft on April 13, 2017 at the Samsung 837 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Michelle Farsi/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK - APRIL 13: WNBA President Lisa Borders and WNBA Legend Dawn Staley poses for a photo during the 2017 WNBA Draft on April 13, 2017 at the Samsung 837 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Michelle Farsi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – MARCH 04: UCLA Bruin Monique Billings is blocked by Oregon State Beavers Marie Gulich during the women’s Pac 12 college tournament game between the Oregon State Beavers and the UCLA Bruins on March 4th, 2017, at the Key Arena in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Aric Becker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – MARCH 04: UCLA Bruin Monique Billings is blocked by Oregon State Beavers Marie Gulich during the women’s Pac 12 college tournament game between the Oregon State Beavers and the UCLA Bruins on March 4th, 2017, at the Key Arena in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Aric Becker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Phoenix Mercury may have just found a quality backup for perennial All-Star and 2017 scoring champ Brittney Griner at the end of the first round.

Not bad.

Marie Gulich of Oregon State will make her way to Phoenix after an outstanding senior season. Gulich led the Beavers to the Elite Eight as a six seed. Oregon State topped No. 3 seed Tennessee on their home floor, then defeated No. 2 seed Baylor before falling to Louisville.

Gulich nearly doubled her scoring output from 9.9 all the way up to 17.5 this past season on 65.2% shooting. She averaged 9.1 rebounds per game and was 14th in the nation with 2.8 blocks per game.

She came into her own as a true star at the college level, then built on that success with her strong play in the NCAA Tournament. Gulich was the backbone of one of the best defenses in the country and was the fulcrum for their offense that relied heavily on timing, great screens and pinpoint passing.

There may be even more there to tap into for Mercury head coach Sandy Brondello. Gulich impressed with her rim runs in the tournament, and looked just as fluid with the ball on her hands starting the break or attacking a slower player off the bounce from the elbows. This is a good get for a Phoenix team seemingly already set at every other position.

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