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2020 WNBA Mock Draft: Sabrina Ionescu leads the way

By Howard Megdal

TAMPA, FL - APRIL 05: Oregon guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) plays in 2019 NCAA Women's National Semifinal Game One between the Oregon Ducks and the Baylor Bears at at Amelie Arena in Tampa, FL on on April 5. (Photo by Mary Holt/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - APRIL 05: Oregon guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) plays in 2019 NCAA Women's National Semifinal Game One between the Oregon Ducks and the Baylor Bears at at Amelie Arena in Tampa, FL on on April 5. (Photo by Mary Holt/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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ALBANY, NY – MARCH 29: Oregon State Beavers Guard Mikayla Pivec (0) dribbles the ball against Louisville Cardinals Forward Sam Fuehring (3) defending during the first half of the game between the Oregon State Beavers and the Louisville Cardinals on March 29, 2019, at the Times Union Center in Albany NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ALBANY, NY – MARCH 29: Oregon State Beavers Guard Mikayla Pivec (0) dribbles the ball against Louisville Cardinals Forward Sam Fuehring (3) defending during the first half of the game between the Oregon State Beavers and the Louisville Cardinals on March 29, 2019, at the Times Union Center in Albany NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

7. Mikayla Pivec, 5’10 G, Oregon State

There’s no real weakness in Mikayla Pivec’s game. She’s extremely efficient from two and three, she rebounds the ball extremely well for a guard, she’s a gifted passer. Synergy loves her defense, too — she ranked 86th of 711 players, minimum 200 possessions, in defensive points per possessions last season. The only concern anyone seems to have about her is that she may be a tweener — too small to guard threes, too slow to stick with twos. But in a league where positional definitions are falling by the wayside with increasing velocity, it’s hard to imagine someone with Pivec’s skill set cannot find a role at the next level. Moreover, she is a joy to coach, as Oregon State’s Scott Rueck is quick to tell anyone who asks.

UNCASVILLE, CT – MARCH 06: South Florida Bulls Guard Kitija Laksa (33) shoots over UConn Huskies Guard Katie Lou Samuelson (33) during the game as the South Florida Bulls take on the UConn Huskies on March 06, 2018 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNCASVILLE, CT – MARCH 06: South Florida Bulls Guard Kitija Laksa (33) shoots over UConn Huskies Guard Katie Lou Samuelson (33) during the game as the South Florida Bulls take on the UConn Huskies on March 06, 2018 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photo by Williams Paul/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

8. Kitija Laksa, 6′ G, South Florida

Had Laksa not torn her ACL three games into the 2018-19 season, she had a chance to be a first round pick in the 2019 draft. She might have been picked anyway, had she chosen to enter. The carrying took for Laksa is a plus-plus shot, range from long beyond the arc, and a 96.2 percent mark from the free throw line that suggest Elena Delle Donne might have some competition for free throw percentage titles once Laksa gets to the WNBA. There’s not a lot beyond her shot that’s projectable right away — the rebounding is limited, she doesn’t pass much, though she is excellent at avoiding turnovers.  It’s unknown yet whether Laksa will turn pro ahead of next year’s draft, as Diamond DeShields did, or return for one more year of eligibility at USF, but either way, she’ll be a sought-after commodity next April.

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