2019 WNBA Draft: Big Board 8.0, pre-Final Four edition

PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 31: Mississippi State Bulldogs center Teaira McCowan (15) gets fouled by Oregon Ducks forward Ruthy Hebard (24) during the NCAA Division I Women's Championship Elite Eight round basketball game between the Oregon Ducks and Mississippi State Bulldogs on March 31, 2019 at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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STORRS, CT – MARCH 22: UConn Huskies Forward Napheesa Collier (24) on the defensive side of the ball during the game as the Towson Tigers take on the UConn Huskies on March 22, 2019 at the Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut. (Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. Chicago Sky: Napheesa Collier, 6’1 F, Connecticut

Collier, like Samuelson, comes with UConn pedigree, a very high basketball IQ, ability to score at each level, and don’t lose sight of her defensive prowess, either. Geno Auriemma uses her in a multitude of ways: he switches her onto bigs, onto wings, onto guards, and she handles it all seamlessly. It’s going to be an easy translation to the WNBA for Napheesa Collier, and James Wade can utilize her in virtually any capacity he wishes. Here’s how Auriemma put it when I asked him about Collier at the next level: “Well, she’s gonna be matched up against somebody maybe her size, maybe a little bit bigger, I don’t know. But, she’s really hard to guard in the lane. I don’t know that she’s gonna get any worse. She’s gonna get better when she gets to the pros. The competition’s gonna be tougher … and she’s pretty good at putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rim.” Wade sure won’t mind that two-way skill set, added to his mix.

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