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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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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – MARCH 3: Washington State’s Borislava Hristova (45) saves the ball from going out of bounds during the first half at the PAC-12 Women’s Tournament in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire) (Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – MARCH 3: Washington State’s Borislava Hristova (45) saves the ball from going out of bounds during the first half at the PAC-12 Women’s Tournament in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire) (Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images) /

Borislava Hristova, 6’0” forward, Washington State

2018-19 stats: 35.4 minutes, 21.5 points, 5.9 rebounds per game; 48.0% shooting on 17.5 field goal attempts per game, 32.5% usage rate

Biggest strength: People don’t call her “Bobi Buckets” for nothing. The Bulgarian—who is one of six international players on the Cougars roster this season, outnumbering the five Americans—was the second-fastest Cougar ever to score 1,000 career points and has scored the eighth-most points this season of any Division I player. She finishes nearly one-third of Washington State’s possessions with a shot from the field, free throw, or turnover, which ranks 45th nationally. (Almost all of those possessions end in shots, as she rarely turns the ball over; her 11.6% turnover rate ranks among the top 10% of players nationally.) Hristova gets almost 70% of her points inside the arc, with the remainder split fairly evenly between three-pointers and free throws.

Best WNBA fit: Minnesota Lynx. Yes, the Lynx signed two forwards already in free agency, but Karima Christmas-Kelly is recovering from a knee injury and Damiris Dantas is not the scorer that Hristova is. With Maya Moore electing not to play in 2019, Hristova’s scoring prowess could be a big boost for the Lynx, who are now returning only two players who averaged at least eight points per game last year. Her rebounding would also be crucial if the WNBA’s all-time leading rebounder, Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson, decides to retire rather than play another season.

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