WNBA Mock Draft: Big Board 4.0, The best-laid plans

WNBA Mock Draft Big Board 4.0: The best-laid plans

NEW LONDON, CT - MAY 21: Lee Watrous of Habitat for Humanity and Connecticut Sun Assistant Coach Bernadette Mattox and Connecticut Sun Head Coach Mike Thibault review the floorplan at a Habitat for Humanity work site on May 21, 2011 in New London, Connecticut. 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 2011 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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BOULDER, CO – JANUARY 27, 2019: University of California’s Kristine Anigwe takes a shot during a NCAA basketball game against the University of Colorado on Sunday at the Coors Event Center on the CU campus in Boulder. (Photo by Jeremy Papasso/Media News Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images) /

8. Phoenix Mercury: Kristine Anigwe, 6’4 F, California

So what do the Mercury need now, with Essence Carson in tow, Briann January and Yvonne Turner back, and a Big Three of Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi and DeWanna Bonner collectively to do it all? Well, some rebounding would help matters. Phoenix finished ninth in the WNBA in rebounding percentage last season, and no one this side of Teaira McCowan is grabbing boards as forcefully as Kristine Anigwe this season. She provides some additional interior scoring as well, and could be a focal point of a Phoenix second unit, while providing Sandy Brondello the opportunity to go big with her next to Griner. She’s erased a lot of the doubts I heard about her last season and even early on this year. Front offices are ready to buy on her, as well they should: Lindsay Gottlieb products tend to outperform expectations in the pros (Layshia Clarendon, Brittany Boyd come to mind).

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