2018 WNBA Draft Diary: Pick-by-pick updates, analysis, news
By Ben Dull
The Las Vegas Aces have selected South Carolina’s A’ja Wilson with the first overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft.
Wilson is a dynamic scorer and shot blocker. At 6’5, she projects to fit in both big and small lineups for Aces head coach and president of basketball operations Bill Laimbeer.
She averaged 22.6 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game as a senior for the Gamecocks in the 2017-2018 season. She helped lead South Carolina to a national championship as a junior. This season, the Gamecocks made a run to the Elite Eight before being eliminated by the UConn Huskies.
Wilson now joins some of her recent South Carolina teammates as first round picks at the WNBA level. Both Kaela Davis and Allisha Gray were selected in the first round of the 2017 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings. Alaina Coates was selected second overall last year by the Chicago Sky.
Laimbeer told our own Howard Megdal that he sees Wilson as a power forward right now.
Wilson will slot in up front next to former All-Star Kelsey Bone and veteran Carolyn Swords. Isabelle Harrison, Dearica Hamby and Nia Coffey return at the four spot from last season.
Will the Aces compete for a playoff spot in their first season in Sin City? That remains to be seen. Wilson has long been seen as an easy choice with the first pick. Now that it’s set in stone, fans will eagerly await to see just how far she can lead them.
Our own Arielle Chambers spoke with Wilson at the draft: