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

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)
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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 10: Jackie Young is interviewed by the media 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 is interviewed by the media 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)
  1. Las Vegas selected Jackie Young, 6′ Guard, Notre Dame

“It was definitely a hard decision… I have to thank Coach McGraw and the coaching staff, it was the best three years of my life.”

With that, Jackie Young acknowledged the reward for her decision to leave early, heading to the pros and getting selected first overall, just as Jewell Loyd did with the Seattle Storm back in 2015.

Young is a remarkably efficient shooter, 53.4 percent from two, 45.2 percent from three, and has an elite athleticism that should help her get to the basket right from the start.

“There were a lot of different factors. I think the biggest thing was trying to help my family,” Young said of her decision.

How she fits with the Aces remains to be seen, position-wise, with an apparent glut at 1-2-3 between Young, Kayla McBride, Moriah Jefferson and Kelsey Plum, though a willingness to play three of them together (as Bill Laimbeer did for just 51 minutes, total, with McBride/Plum/Jefferson last season) would help solve this.

Still, it is impossible to argue anything other than that a talented Aces team just got even better.