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WNBA Mock Draft Big Board 9.0: Final calls

By Howard Megdal

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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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)
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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