This year’s draft is weird, to say the least. There is no consensus number-one pick, teams have to sign free agents while also preparing for the draft, and no one really knows what teams need from the draft because most teams barely have any players on the roster.
The Wings, who have the number-one pick in this year’s draft, just added to that confusion and uncertainty with a flurry of reported free agency moves. Former lottery pick Awak Kuier will sign with the Wings, making her WNBA return after years of developing overseas. Alexa Philippou also reported that forward Jessica Shepard is expected to sign with the Wings, and Arike Ogunbowale will re-sign with the franchise. Interestingly, the Wings didn’t core Ogunbowale, which creates room for them to make another move. Reports suggest that they have been looking at some bigs, like Shakira Austin.
With all of those moves, the question remains: Who will be the number-one pick? If anything, the Wings’ activity raised more questions than answers.
What will the Wings do with the number-one pick?
The Wings are obviously making a push to build a playoff team around Paige Bueckers right now. So, at this point, maybe the question shouldn’t be who the Wings will draft, but if they will keep their pick. If the Wings are all-in on winning now, they could move their pick for someone like Ezi Magbegor, who received a Core qualifying offer from the Storm and may be looking to move on, or a high-level wing.
Moving on from the pick would scramble the entire draft board. If the Storm, for example, end up with the first and third overall pick, they will certainly take Olivia Miles first and one of Awa Fam and Azzi Fudd third, depending on what Minnesota does with its pick. The Lynx have been suspiciously quiet in free agency, except for some expressed interest in Nneka Ogwumike and news that Natisha Hiedeman is signing with the Storm.
If they keep the pick, the same question remains: Who will it be? Re-signing Arike Ogunbowale suggests that Olivia Miles and Azzi Fudd may be out of the picture unless the Wings are open to bringing their top pick off the bench or to moving Bueckers to the three.
Lauren Betts would fill an immediate need for talent and potential at the center spot, but Awa Fam has so much upside that it would hurt to pass on her.