UCLA forward Gabriela Jaquez, center Lauren Betts and guard Kiki Rice react to a call as Oklahoma State guard Stailee Heard (32) watches during the women’s NCAA Tournament on March 23 in Los Angeles.
Jessie Alcheh/Associated Press
Traditionally, the WNBA draft isn’t a thrill-a-minute production. A handful of blockbuster names wind up where they’ve been rumored to be going for weeks, and the rest of it makes you realize how difficult it is to even make a roster.
This isn’t one of those years. Every mock draft has a different look, and even the No. 1 pick is an invitation to debate. And it’s blessing for the Golden State Valkyries, not ideally situated — they’ll pick eighth in Monday’s first round — but almost guaranteed to get a terrific player.
Put it this way: The way some folks tell it, the likes of Gabriela Jaquez, Flau’Jae Johnson, Kiki Rice and Raven Johnson might still be available.
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The first four selections seem reasonably set, but with destinations difficult to forecast. For months, it seemed apparent that the Dallas Wings would use their No. 1 pick on Azzi Fudd, joining former UConn teammate Paige Bueckers to become the best-shooting backcourt in league history.
Forget Fudd’s desultory performance in the national semifinal against South Carolina. The entire UConn team fell apart, including the formidable Sarah Strong, and I put that whole mess on coach Geno Auriemma’s multi-level disaster of emotional pratfalls. From 20 feet out, Fudd is the best catch-and-shoot performer this side of Stephen Curry, and because she’s not so great off the ball, Fudd would absolutely flourish with Bueckers (whom she has dated, as both have delicately confirmed.)
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Lately, though, there’s been a surge of support for 19-year-old Awa Fam, a 6-foot-4 frontcourt sensation playing in Spain (Valencia) and excelling in every phase of the game. With high-scoring guard Arike Ogunbowale deciding to re-sign with Dallas, there’s a lot of excitement surrounding a Fam-Bueckers combination.
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1. Dallas Wings
2. Minnesota Lynx
3. Seattle Storm
4. Washington Mystics
5. Chicago Sky
6. Toronto Tempo
7. Portland Fire
8. Golden State Valkyries
9. Washington Mystics
10. Indiana Fever
11. Washington Mystics
12. Connecticut Sun
13. Atlanta Dream
14. Seattle Storm
15. Connectiut Sun
Subsequent Valkyries picks: No. 23 overall (2nd round), No. 38 overall (3rd round)
Minnesota could turn to UCLA’s 6-foot-7 Lauren Betts with the No. 2 pick, although there’s powerful temptation to take TCU’s Olivia Miles, the best point guard available. She’s smart, a prolific scorer and a leader, and Caitlin Clark came to mind when we heard her college coach, Mark Campbell, say, “There’s like a half-dozen people in the world that can process their court vision so quickly, they can throw a one-handed bounce pass on a laser to the opposite corner, off the dribble, and then do it with their left hand.”
Then again, remember Betts’ performance when it counted most, constantly switching out on Texas’ Madison Booker in the national semifinal (Booker shot 3-for-23) and blocking her inside shot with textbook perfection to close out the Bruins’ win. Betts is a winning athlete who shot 68.8% over six games in the tournament — and Minnesota could lose center Alanna Smith as the free-agent market plays out.
If you’re out there charting the Valkyries’ picks, be careful. This team thinks so far outside the box, they’re an isosceles triangle. Their first pick in last year’s draft was Justė Jocytė, who stayed in Europe but will eventually find herself at Chase Center. Before signing French star Janelle Salaün in February, their expansion-draft picks included Cecilia Zandalasini, Iliana Rupert, Temi Fagbenle, Carla Leite (regrettably chosen by Portland in the April 3 expansion draft) and Julie Vanloo, all of whom made instant impressions. Had you ever heard of any of them?
As such, the Valkyries might turn to Iyana Martin, a 5-foot-9 guard who has dazzled everyone familiar with the Spanish senior national team. She’s only 20, a slashing, creative lefty with WNBA-level vision. There’s a chance Martin could be stashed in Spain, Jocytė-like, but some feel the Valkyries could take a shot at Nell Angloma, 19, who has shown elite strength, toughness and defensive quickness in the French senior league and could bolster Golden State’s frontcourt.
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So who else is out there? A veritable gold mine of options:
Jaquez: Who wouldn’t want to see her with the Valkyries? She has a tireless motor, a selfless nature and does everything well, leading UCLA to the national title with 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in the title game. Once known as a passable shooter, she can’t be left alone now.
Rice: If you watched South Carolina trying to frustrate UCLA with a bunch of long, cat-quick defenders, the Bruins made sure Rice had the ball. She wasn’t about to turn it over. She’s also a lockdown defender who shot 49% from the floor this season, and an 86% career free-throw shooter. A can’t-miss choice.
Flau’Jae Johnson: Her game drifts in and out, but she’s explosive in every category and, in defiance of the critics, played stifling defense while shooting 39.3% from 3-point range. Remember, too, that with certain WNBA players — think Angel Reese here — there’s a world of off-court value. Johnson stands for glamour, her own clothing line, rap singing (bound for a record contract) and some 40 NIL deals valued at $1.5 million. Come to think of it, the woeful Chicago Sky could use Johnson with Reese shipped off to Atlanta.
Ta’Niya Latson: She made a big splash two years ago as the leading scorer in the country (25.2 points per game) with Florida State. Then she transferred to South Carolina and blended right into the team concept. She’s a pure shooter at 5-9, especially tough when slashing to the hoop. Without question, one of the most athletic guard prospects in years.
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Gianna Kneepkens: This is one of the greatest 3-point shooters in college history, averaging 43% over her career at Utah and UCLA, and she’s elite with every other shot as well. Golden State could use a player like that, and a lot of mock-draft analysts agree. Her defense — really not good — is another story.
Raven Johnson: She was the glue at South Carolina, over four straight years into the Final Four, and will automatically help any club that selects her. You may not be sold, for she needs work on her shot and rarely took the important ones. But she’ll figure that out. In the meantime, she’s a true point guard and possibly the best defensive player in the entire draft. From one of her best friends, Betts: “Such a great basketball player, and such a leader. She set a really high standard at South Carolina, and I know she’s going to do amazing things. She’s just elite.”
Bruce Jenkins writes the 3-Dot Lounge for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: jenksurf@gmail.com; Twitter: @Bruce_Jenkins1