High Post Hoops
Fansided

WNBA Draft: Pick-by-pick analysis of the 2019 draft

By Howard Megdal

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 10: Jackie Young looks on after being drafted number one overall by the Las Vegas Aces 2019 WNBA Draft on April 10, 2019 at Nike New York Headquarters in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 10: Jackie Young looks on after being drafted number one overall by the Las Vegas Aces 2019 WNBA Draft on April 10, 2019 at Nike New York Headquarters in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 13
Next
RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 23: NC State Wolfpack guard Kiara Leslie (11) cuts to the basket during the 2019 Div 1 Women’s Championship – First Round college basketball game between the Maine Black Bears and NC State Wolfpack on March 23, 2019, at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Michael Berg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 23: NC State Wolfpack guard Kiara Leslie (11) cuts to the basket during the 2019 Div 1 Women’s Championship – First Round college basketball game between the Maine Black Bears and NC State Wolfpack on March 23, 2019, at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Michael Berg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

10. Washington Mystics select Kiara Leslie, 6′ guard, NC State

I mean really, who is surprised that the first pick in the draft Wednesday not to be invited to the draft green room came from Mike Thibault? I’d heard from Leslie’s coach, Wes Moore, that several teams at the end of the first round were in on Leslie, and Thibault likely realized that he couldn’t wait, or even trade down, to get his top target at this spot.

Leslie makes a ton of sense for a team in need of a two-way guard/wing to help replace the departed Tierra Ruffin-Pratt. Thibault can bring her along more slowly because of last year’s draft steal, Ariel Atkins, but it would be a surprise to see Leslie buried at the end of the bench. She does everything a Thibault player must — gives max effort on the defensive end, can do so against multiple positions, while hitting threes (38.1 percent last season).

Incidentally, the same is true of Washington’s pick at 34, Sam Fuehring, the 6’3 big out of Louisville. She can shoot the three, she is a plus rebounder, and she just knows how to play the game. Don’t sleep on her sneaking onto this roster.

Our Jenn Hatfield has more from the Mystics’ draft night in Washington.

Home/WNBA Draft