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2019 WNBA Draft: Best fits for potential early entry candidates

By Jenn Hatfield

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 27: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the Oregon Ducks shoots a jumper against the Washington Huskies at the Alaska Airlines Arena on January 27, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 27: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the Oregon Ducks shoots a jumper against the Washington Huskies at the Alaska Airlines Arena on January 27, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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PALO ALTO, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Oregon Guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) shoots over Stanford Forward Alanna Smith (11) during the women’s basketball game between the Oregon Ducks and the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion on February 10, 2019 in Palo Alto, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Oregon Guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) shoots over Stanford Forward Alanna Smith (11) during the women’s basketball game between the Oregon Ducks and the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion on February 10, 2019 in Palo Alto, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Sabrina Ionescu, 5’10” guard, Oregon

2018-19 stats: 34.5 minutes, 19.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 8.0 assists per game; 45.1% shooting and 44.8% on 3-pointers

Biggest strength: Ionescu already owns the NCAA record for triple-doubles, having posted 16 in less than three seasons, so she certainly does a lot of everything for the Ducks. That is borne out in her advanced stats as well: Ionescu has a 27.4% usage rate and a 36.5% assist rate, which means that 64% of Oregon’s possessions end with an Ionescu shot, assist, or turnover.

But if you watch Ionescu play, the thing that immediately stands out is her passing ability. Her 8.0 assists per game rank third in the nation, and her assist-to-turnover ratio (3.12) and assist rate (36.5%) both rank in the top 20. In three seasons with the Ducks, she has never averaged fewer than 5.5 assists per game or registered an assist rate below 30%, both of which would rank in the top 3% this season.

Best WNBA fit: Indiana. The Fever finished last in the WNBA last season in field goal percentage (40.6%) and assists per game (16.0). Ionescu could remedy that in a hurry, especially with shooters like Kelsey Mitchell and Tiffany Mitchell to receive her passes. Also, the Fever have several athletic forwards, especially Erica McCall off the bench, to run the floor with Ionescu in transition.

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