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)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/870085724965db153719612d3e87b3587d805e967fc949aa8d53b94415806e22.jpg)
4. Chicago Sky selected Katie Lou Samuelson, 6’3 F, Connecticut
Easy to see why Chicago did this. Samuelson is a pro-ready player in every way, from an ability to avoid turnovers to an excellent skill as secondary distributor, and of course there’s that three-point shot she can get on the catch or even with her move to single-dribble, creating space.
The Sky can operate with Samuelson as a sixth woman, playing in a second unit with Cheyenne Parker and Alaina Coates, or utilize her next to Diamond DeShields or Gabby Williams to create mismatches in both size and strength and 2-3-4. My fantasy is some lineups where they let Stef Dolson, who will obviously thrive with Samuelson and create some five-out lineups themselves, in a trio of forwards, center-less, alongside DeShields and Williams. It’s basically a death lineup, but all three can be Draymond Green.
You can be sure the hyper-creative James Wade has already thought of all this, by the way. Chicago is primed to improve in a huge way, and Samuelson is yet another reason why.
The other picks are more pragmatic — Chloe Jackson at 15 is insurance because of Jamierra Faulkner’s terrible luck with injuries, and Maria Conde is a bow to the reality that it’s going to be really hard for a third rounder to make the roster in Chicago, though you can be sure Wade, with his massive overseas experience, knows if she can.