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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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SOUTH BEND, IN – DECEMBER 28: Syracuse Orange guard Tiana Mangakahia (4) dribbles the basketball during the women’s college basketball game between the Syracuse Orange and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on December 28, 2017, at the Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, IN. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – DECEMBER 28: Syracuse Orange guard Tiana Mangakahia (4) dribbles the basketball during the women’s college basketball game between the Syracuse Orange and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on December 28, 2017, at the Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, IN. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Tiana Mangakahia, 5’6” guard, Syracuse

2018-19 stats: 30.6 minutes, 15.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 2.1 steals per game; 43.5% shooting and 33.7% on 3-pointers

Biggest strength: Mangakahia is a lot like Ionescu in that she’s an elite scorer and superlative passer. Last season, Mangakahia led the nation with 9.8 assists per game and a ridiculous 60.4% assist rate. That percentage means that she assisted on three out of every five Syracuse baskets scored while she was on the floor. This season, she’s down to “just” 8.2 assists per game (2nd nationally) and a 49.4% assist rate (1st nationally), but she has also cut her turnovers by nearly one-third and is shooting slightly better from the field.

Best WNBA fit: Atlanta. Mangakahia’s Syracuse team ranks 40th in the country in pace and 56th in steals per game. That sounds a lot like Atlanta, which ranked second in the WNBA in pace and third in steals last season. Mangakahia’s passing could also be a boost for a Dream team that ranked ninth out of 12 WNBA teams in assists last season. She can be a little loose with the ball at times, averaging four turnovers per game this season, but playing behind veteran Renee Montgomery in Atlanta should help her get acclimated to the league and to coach Nicki Collen’s system.

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