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2018 WNBA Rookie Report: Victoria Vivians

By Ben Dull

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 7 : Victoria Vivians #35 of the Indiana Fever shoots a free throw against the Chicago Sky during a pre-season game on May 7 , 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 7 : Victoria Vivians #35 of the Indiana Fever shoots a free throw against the Chicago Sky during a pre-season game on May 7 , 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Welcome to the 2018 Rookie Report. This initial set of posts will give a brief outlook on members of the 2018 WNBA draft class.

We will discuss the answers these players provide to their new teams along with questions that will need to be answered for them to maximize their potential as a player. We’ll close with thoughts on what will need to happen for each player to get some playing time and offer thoughts on what you should be looking forward right away as you tune in on League Pass. (Advanced stats obtained via HerHoopStats. Read their glossary here.)

Victoria Vivians

Round 1, Pick 8 – Indiana Fever

Age: 23 – Height: 6’1 – Position: Wing

2017-18 stats at Mississippi State:

Vivians lit it up as a stretch four in her final season with the Bulldogs, and she’ll now aim to be a major piece of Indiana’s next playoff team along with No. 2 pick Kelsey Mitchell.

Answers she provides

  • Deep shooting range
  • High comfort level with pull up jumper attacking closeouts or going one-on-one against mismatches

Questions looking forward

  • Finding her best position defensively
  • Adding to arsenal as finisher
  • Finding same success attacking pro wings as she did going up against college power forwards

Path to playing time

Early season playing time will be there on the wing as Shenise Johnson works her way back after suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2017.

One thing to watch right now

Will her three-point shooting take a dip? Vivians won’t be dragging slower players out to her if she’s playing primarily at the three. She’ll need her outside shot to continue to fall to knock the first domino over — forcing people to run hard to her will allow her to make a play or get to her one dribble pull up.

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