2018 WNBA Draft Diary: Pick-by-pick updates, analysis, news
By Ben Dull
Round 3, Pick 1 (25th overall)
Las Vegas Aces — Raigyne Louis, G, LSU
The Aces added Louis, a 5’10 guard, with the first pick in the final round of the draft. She was a two-time All-SEC selection and the 2016-2017 SEC Defensive Player of the Year. According to HerHoopStats, Louis was top 10 in the nation in both steals per game (3.3) and steal rate (4.9%) that season.
She began stretching out beyond the arc this past season, making 21 of her 67 attempts (31%). Louis would need to push veteran guard Sydney Colson in training camp to potentially set herself up to make the roster. She’d also need some help in the form of Bill Laimbeer moving on from one or more of his backup forwards to open up some room on the roster.
Round 3, Pick 2 (26th overall)
Phoenix Mercury — Imani Wright, G, Florida State
Wright, a 5’9 sharpshooter, arrived at Florida State after beginning her career at Baylor. She made 103 three-pointers this season for the Seminoles. Wright shot 38.3% from deep as a senior, and her scoring average ballooned up to 16.3. She was recognized by both the AP and WBCA as an All-American Honorable Mention. Wright was one of two FSU players to hear her name called on draft night; Shakayla Thomas was selected in the second round by the Sparks.
Round 3, Pick 3 (27th overall)
Atlanta Dream — Mackenzie Engram, F, Georgia
The Dream selected Engram, a 6’2 local product by way of Hillgrove High School and the University of Georgia. Engram earned second-team All-SEC honors this past season. She averaged 12.9 point and seven rebounds per game while shooting 35% (29-82) from beyond the arc. Per the Marietta Daily Journal, she came away from the combine in Columbus during the Final Four unsure as to whether she’d hear her name called on draft night. With two wide open roster spots, Atlanta ought to be seen as the coveted camp to be in with the season just around the corner.
Round 3, Pick 4 (28th overall)
Chicago Sky — Amarah Coleman, G, DePaul
The Sky added a third former DePaul Blue Demon to their current group in Coleman, a 5’11 point guard. She averaged 12.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists as a senior and shot 37% or better from three in all three seasons with DePaul. Coleman came through on big stages this past season, scoring 27 in their Big East tournament championship victory over Marquette. She also hit the game-winning three-pointer in an overtime thriller against Oklahoma earlier in the season.
Round 3, Pick 5 (29th overall)
Seattle Storm — Teana Muldrow, F, West Virginia
For the second year in a row, the Storm selected a forward out of West Virginia. Muldrow averaged 18.9 points and 8.6 rebounds this past season for the Mountaineers and shot 36.5% (106-290) from three in her college career. WVU head coach Mike Carey said the following to The DA Online on Thursday: “I’m so proud of Teana for getting drafted tonight. She has been with me for five years and really has a bright future. Her best basketball is ahead of her. I’m excited that she went to play for Dan Hughes in Seattle and I look forward to watching her at the next level.”
Round 3, Pick 6 (30th overall)
Dallas Wings — Natalie Butler, F/C, George Mason
The Wings may come away feeling they stole Azura Stevens sixth overall. And though Butler, the A10 Player of the Year, will face a tougher path in making a WNBA roster, teams may not have expected her to still be available at this point either. Butler began her college career at Georgetown before transferring to UConn and playing two seasons there as a reserve center. This past season at George Mason, averaged 19.2 points and 16.6 rebounds per game and broke the NCAA single-season rebounding record.
Round 3, Pick 7 (31st overall)
Washington Mystics — Rebecca Greenwell, G, Duke
Late in the draft, the Mystics added Greenwell, the other half of Duke’s sharpshooting backcourt duo that also featured No. 9 overall pick Lexie Brown. Greenwell, a four year starter, averaged 13.9 points or more in each of her seasons as a Blue Devil and shot 39.9% from three on 755 attempts at Duke. Washington may not have any room to offer after selecting Ariel Atkins in the first round, but Greenwell may get a chance to make an impression with her outside stroke at the WNBA level in the preseason.
Round 3, Pick 8 (32nd overall)
Las Vegas Aces — Jill Barta, F, Gonzaga
As mentioned earlier, Barta’s rights were sent to Minnesota in the draft day deal between the Aces and Lynx. Barta was one of the few early entrants in this year’s class, as she decided to forego her final season of eligibility with Gonzaga. With a usage rate up in the 98th percentile last season, she averaged 18.8 points per game shooting 48% from the field and 38% from beyond the arc, per HerHoopStats.
Round 3, Pick 9 (33rd overall)
Connecticut Sun — Mikayla Cowling, F, Cal
Cowling was another name generating some buzz stemming from the combine held in Columbus. She is a 6’2 wing with the tools to cut her teeth at the next level as a quality defender on the wing. Cal head coach Lindsay Gottlieb regularly relied upon her to log 40 minutes in big games this season. Her shot will need to improve for her to stick longterm. As a plus, she’s already been counted on to distribute more than most college players at her position. Cowling averaged 4.7 assists per game as a junior and 4.2 per game this past season, and her turnover rate settled down after spiking all the way up to 29% in 2016-2017, per HerHoopStats.
Round 3, Pick 10 (34th overall)
New York Liberty — Leslie Robinson, F, Princeton
Robinson averaged 10 points and seven rebounds per game each of the last two season for the Tigers. She bumped up her assist count to 4.3 per game this past season, assisting on over 30% of her teammates buckets per HerHoopStats. Robinson was a two-time All-Ivey League selection. Her aunt, Michelle Obama, is also a Princeton alum. You can read more on Robinson and that family tie here.
Round 3, Pick 11 (35th overall)
Los Angeles Sparks — Julia Reisingerova, F, Czech Republic
The Sparks selected the 19 year old 6’5 center with the second to last pick in the 2018 draft. Reisingerova is currently playing for Sant Adria in Spain. Here are some highlights from her 2016-2017 season:
Round 3, Pick 12 (36th overall)
Minnesota Lynx — Carlie Wagner, G, Minnesota
The Lynx added a knockdown shooter to the mix with the final pick in Minnesota’s own Carlie Wagner. Wagner averaged 18+ points per game in each of her final three seasons for the Golden Gophers. After shooting 33% from deep as a freshman and sophomore then 31% as a junior, Wagner hit a staggering 41.2% of her three-pointers this past season. The Lynx roster will be tough as any to crack. But as a third round pick, who better to compete with in your first WNBA training camp?