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WNBA Mock Draft Big Board 9.0: Final calls

ALBANY, NY - MARCH 31: Louisville Cardinals Guard Asia Durr (25) dribbles the ball and gets a blocking foul on Connecticut Huskies Guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) defending during the second half of the game between the Connecticut Huskies and the Louisville Cardinals on March 31, 2019, at the Times Union Center in Albany NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ALBANY, NY - MARCH 31: Louisville Cardinals Guard Asia Durr (25) dribbles the ball and gets a blocking foul on Connecticut Huskies Guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) defending during the second half of the game between the Connecticut Huskies and the Louisville Cardinals on March 31, 2019, at the Times Union Center in Albany NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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TAMPA, FL – APRIL 07: Notre Dame guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) runs off the court after losing the NCAA Division I Women’s National Championship Game between the Baylor Bears and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on April 07, 2019, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mary Holt/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – APRIL 07: Notre Dame guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) runs off the court after losing the NCAA Division I Women’s National Championship Game between the Baylor Bears and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on April 07, 2019, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mary Holt/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

2. New York Liberty:  Arike Ogunbowale, 5’8 G, Notre Dame

An amusing moment during the coach/GM teleconference this week? Katie Smith was asked whether she saw more value in drafting a guard or a big. “Value? I don’t really want to tip my hand,” Smith began, before Laimbeer interjected: “We all know who you’re picking.” The convential wisdom is that was Asia Durr, but I’m hearing that Ogunbowale has sizable support within the organization, particularly from Tina Charles. For a team that finished eleventh in offensive efficiency last season, there is a roadmap to improving that figure dramatically, and it is a lot of lineups with two-way threats Charles, Kia Nurse and Ogunbowale, surrounded by shooters and/or rim protectors. The roster is filled with both, frankly, and Nurse in year two should be even better. I shouldn’t have to sell you on Ogunbowale, who is “nearly unguardable” one-on-one, as Geno Auriemma put it, who is a strong three-point shooter, underrated passer (assist percentage of 19) and no stranger to the big stage. Listen closely, you can already hear what Barclays sounds like on nights Ogunbowale goes off.

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