2019 WNBA Mock Draft: Big Board 2.0 is wide open

2019 WNBA Mock Draft Big Board 2.0: Wide open field at top and bottom of first round

NEW YORK - APRIL 1: WNBA President Val Ackerman announces the Houston Comets have received the number one overall pick in the upcoming Draft during the 1997 WNBA Draft Lottery on April 1, 1997 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 1997 NBAE (Photo by Chuck Solomon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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TOLEDO, OH – DECEMBER 8: Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) drives to the basket during a regular season non-conference game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Toledo Rockets on December 8, 2018, at Savage Arena in Toledo, Ohio. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

7. Los Angeles Sparks: Arike Ogunbowale, 5’8 G, Notre Dame

There’s little question that Arike Ogunbowale can help a WNBA team. She’s exceptionally skilled at creating her own shot, she gets to the basket exceedingly well. But there are some questions. She shot 38.2 percent from three last year, but just 29.7 so far this season. Is she going to be an elite option from deep? She needs to be, because her playmaking remains good, not great (21.5 assist percentage), and there are real questions about who she defends at the next level, too—per Synergy, she’s in the bottom third of all D-I players in defensive points per possession. It is easy to see how she fits in Los Angeles, where she can work under the tutelage of Derek Fisher, who knows something about playing point guard, and serves as a potential rookie-scale complement to a veteran-heavy salary cap plan. Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker are around to help develop her defensively, too.

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