What if JuJu Watkins stayed home?
The crown jewel of the 2027 WNBA Draft, the 6'2" Watkins is a superstar two-way player who will transform any team that she joins. She is the presumptive No. 1 pick in April's draft, meaning whichever WNBA team wins the first pick will be in position to change their fate.
That is a bitter pill for the Sparks to swallow. Watkins is an LA native playing for the USC Trojans, but despite the Sparks' struggles the last two seasons, they have only a 3.6 percent chance to secure the first overall pick. Most likely, JuJu will be headlining a team in Houston or Toronto next season.
What if the Sparks won Sunday's draft lottery, however? What would it mean for the Sparks if they won the first overall pick and used it to keep Watkins home in Los Angeles? Let's explore that possibility and project the top 7 picks before the lottery locks teams into place.
1. LA Sparks: JuJu Watkins, Wing, USC
The Sparks need a complete makeover, with Nneka Ogwumike retiring, Kelsey Plum traded, and Dearica Hamby and Erica Wheeler in their mid-30s. Rae Burrell and Cameron Brink are a talented pair, but this team needs stars and offensive firepower.
Enter Watkins, who does everything you want from a superstar in the WNBA. She scores from every level, is a monster on the fast break, and is a solid passer and playmaker. Add in that she gives nothing up on the defensive end, and she is the perfect player to build a franchise around.
Keeping Watkins home in LA would be a fun story and a meaningful vision for a Sparks team that has been wandering without one for years.
2. Toronto Tempo: Hannah Hidalgo, Guard, Notre Dame
Despite being an expansion team that won only 11 games this season, the Toronto Tempo have some things going for them, including a talented pair of offensive guards in Marina Mabrey and Brittney Sykes. What veteran head coach Sandy Brondello could use is an elite playmaker at the point, and Hidalgo would provide exactly that as not only a passer but a player capable of attacking the rim to open up kickout lanes.
Defensively, Hidalgo would breathe new life into Toronto's suspect perimeter defense. She has one of the best steal rates in college basketball history and should translate that to the WNBA. The Tempo would be ecstatic to draft her at No. 2.
3. Houston Comets: Madison Booker, Forward, Texas
As the Connecticut Sun move to Texas and become the Houston Comets, they could keep Madison Booker in the state as the centerpiece of their return. What is expected to be a modern-thinking front office will love Booker's 3-point shooting and her size.
It's not clear who on the current roster will be a part of the nxt great Comets team, so Booker's positional versatility will go a long way toward providing the foundation they need moving forward. This is excellent value even if Houston falls back to the third pick.
4. Washington Mystics (from CHI): S'Mya Nichols, Guard, Kansas
The Washington Mystics were a surprise playoff team this past season, and they have a solid core of young players who should continue to improve next season. Landing a capable point guard to bolster that position would make a lot of sense for Washington.
Enter Nichols, who has decent size at 6'0" and is used to running the show in the Big 12 at Kansas. She is a pinpoint passer and limits turnovers, the latter of which was a problem for the Mystics in their playoff loss to the Atlanta Dream. Her size would help them keep their defensive identity as well - a great pairing of player and team.
5. Seattle Storm: Mikaylah Williams, Wing, LSU
The Storm have their frontcourt of the future in Dominique Malonga and Awa Fam, which means finding a player to bolster the perimeter is their top priority. That should be an easy enough task in the 2027 draft, which is absolutely loaded with talented guards and wings.
One of those is Mikaylah Williams, who is probably being underrated because of the talented players ahead of her. She has a beautiful jumpshot, can create shots for herself and also hit teammates with her passing. Her limitations on defense may be fixable, and either way, the Storm are best equipped to insulate her with their giant back line.
6. Portland Fire: Tessa Johnson, Guard, South Carolina
Drafting Gamecocks rarely goes wrong, and the Portland Fire could use another guard to build out a rotation that was already very talented. Tessa Johnson picked up for Raven Johnson (no relation) and will be running the show for No. 1 South Carolina this season.
Johnson can shoot, which is perfect for Portland's system, but she also brings some of the defensive intensity on the wing they were lacking at times this season. There are other options here at 6, but the Fire go with Johnson.
7. LA Sparks (via PHX): Sarah Cisse, Forward, France
It's hard to watch the WNBA playoffs recently and not see the value in scouting players from France. Sarah Cisse looks like the latest prospect to come out of France with intriguing potential. A good athlete who has real scoring pop, pairing Watkins and Cisse would give the Sparks plenty of size as they build a new roster.
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