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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STANFORD, CA – MARCH 25: Stanford’s Alanna Smith (11) losses the ball against BYU’s Brenna Chase (1) and BYU’s Caitlyn Alldredge (12) in the first quarter for their 2019 NCAA Division I second round basketball game at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, March. 25, 2019. (Photo by Nhat V. Meyer/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images) /

8. Phoenix Mercury: Alanna Smith, 6’4 F, Stanford

Beyond the simple national connection between Sandy Brondello and Alanna Smith, there’s plenty of reasons that Smith will be sought after generally, and is a particularly good fit in Phoenix. Smith is a four at the next level, all WNBA talent evaluators I asked about her agree, and so what is a four in Phoenix? Well, she needs to shoot the three, and Smith does that extremely well, 39.7 percent this season. You need someone mobile, who can stay out of Brittney Griner’s space and also run alongside the Mercury in transition, a versatile player who can still add value on the boards and block some shots. Smith checks every one of these boxes. The only concern is her propensity to foul, and Brondello has a fair amount of experiencing managing that tendency in other players, too, most notably Griner. Smith goes here, and she’ll contribute right away.

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