The WNBA didn\u2019t invite Charlisse Leger-Walker to its draft?<\/p>\n
Too bad. The UCLA point guard joined her teammates in New York anyway \u2014 and she might just make league officials look foolish.<\/p>\n
Five Bruins \u2014 Lauren Betts<\/a>, Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez<\/a>, Gianna Kneepkens<\/a> and Angela Dugalic<\/a> \u2014 received official invitations to attend what could be a historic WNBA draft on Monday.<\/p>\n While most mock drafts project four Bruins to be taken in a first round that includes 15 picks \u2014 matching the record for a school set by UConn in 2002 \u2014 Dugalic and Leger-Walker are fringe first-round selections who could help UCLA topple that mark.<\/p>\n UCLA\u2019s Charlisse Leger-Walker joined her teammates in New York for the WNBA draft. Six Bruins likely will be selected Monday. Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cI think Char is predicted to go anywhere between 13 and 17, probably, which is late first round to early second,\u201d UCLA coach Cori Close told The California Post, \u201cbut she might be one of the most pro-ready players on our team \u2014 basketball IQ-wise, how she processes, how she connects the team, what she understands.<\/p>\n \u201cLike, her ability to take what I\u2019m asking for and then translate it to the team in a way that really brings them together, she\u2019s one of the top-five locker room players I\u2019ve ever coached, so whatever WNBA team gets her, they\u2019re very, very smart. I think she\u2019s going to be the steal of the draft.\u201d<\/p>\n UCLA hosted a team party for players and their families in New York ahead of the draft. Close invited her entire staff \u2014 with the exception of assistant general manager Sam Skinner, who needed to remain in Los Angeles to coordinate the team\u2019s efforts in the transfer portal \u2014 to be part of the festivities.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one\u2019s ever done this before, and so we want to be there to support it,\u201d Close said. \u201cI wanted to make it a reward for our staff; every person played a role to help these women get to this place. Obviously, the biggest role was played by the women themselves and their choices, but I really wanted to have this as a thank-you for the staff as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at the UCLA players expected to be drafted alongside USC guard Kara Dunn, who is projected to be selected in the second or third round:<\/p>\n Getty Images<\/p>\n Lauren Betts | 6-foot-7 center<\/p>\n Projected draft range: Early first round<\/p>\n Stats last season: 17.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.1 bpg<\/p>\n Strengths: One of the most dominant players in the college game, Betts projects as an immediate impact rookie because of her unique combination of size and skill. She can score around the basket in a variety of ways, possesses a knockdown midrange jumper and is an elite defender, not to mention a smart passer out of the post. Some mock drafts have the NCAA Tournament\u2019s Most Outstanding Player going as high as the second selection overall. The top pick is likely to be UConn\u2019s Azzi Fudd or Awa Fam of Spain.<\/p>\n Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Kiki Rice | 5-11 guard<\/p>\n Projected draft range: Early first round<\/p>\n Stats last season: 14.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.5 spg<\/p>\n Strengths: Rice can do so much more than just run an offense. Among other things, she possesses a nearly automatic pull-up jumper and is an exceptional rebounder for a point guard. Her ability to finish at the rim in transition thanks to an unstoppable Euro step adds another dimension to her game. Multiple mock drafts project the Sky to take Rice with the fifth pick.<\/p>\n Getty Images<\/p>\n Gabriela Jaquez | 6-0 guard<\/p>\n Projected draft range: Mid-to-late first round<\/p>\n Stats last season: 13.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.1 apg\u00a0<\/p>\n