Her Hoop Stats 2021 WNBA Mock Draft
Get ready for tonight's WNBA draft with the Her Hoop Stats Mock Draft Podcast, 2021 WNBA Draft Challenge
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also buy Her Hoop Stats gear, such as laptop stickers, mugs, and shirts!
Haven’t subscribed to the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter yet?
The 25th WNBA Draft begins TONIGHT at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. If you’re like us, you can’t wait that long for the clock to tick down to the 2021 opening pick. We have the perfect solution.
The Her Hoop Stats team had a blast recording the second-annual Her Hoop Stats Mock Draft Podcast. John Liddle assigned a team or multiple picks to seven different contributors who joined him on the Her Hoop Stats Podcast to explain their rationale for each pick. Our contributors drafted as if they were the general manager of that specific team and not what contributors expect the team to do, which led to a very interesting first round.
Mock WNBA General Managers:
Aaron Barzilai - Dallas Wings (Picks 1 and 2)
Calvin Wetzel - Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky
Jacqueline LeBlanc - Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks
Heaven Hill - Dallas Wings (Picks 5 and 7)
Richard Cohen - New York Liberty, Seattle Storm
Cindy Smith - Minnesota Lynx
Megan Gauer - Las Vegas Aces
You can listen or subscribe to the Her Hoop Stats Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Already a subscriber? Please rate and review us so more people can learn about our work!
Draft Picks
Dallas Wings - Awak Kuier, 6’4 F / Finland
“She’s not necessarily the best player in the draft today, but she has the potential to have the best career over the course of her entire WNBA career … She very well could not be the most effective rookie on the court during this season, but we think what she has to offer — her style of play, she’s big, she’s skilled, she can shoot from deep, certainly a ton to learn — we think she can really unlock the game we want to play.” - Aaron Barzilai
Dallas Wings - Rennia Davis, 6’2 F / Tennessee
“Charli Collier is very talented, but ultimately Rennia Davis fits where we want to go. We’re excited by the possibility of having a front court of Rennia Davis, Satou Sabally, and Awak Kuier in the long run, so that fits in (Dallas’) style of play.” - Aaron Barzilai
Atlanta Dream - Charli Collier, 6’5 C / Texas
“Her ability to score both inside and out, she’s a really strong post presence, brings a lot of toughness and rebounding, but at the same time can step out and knock down the three and really get after it on the defensive end as well.” - Calvin Wetzel
Indiana Fever - Arella Guirantes, 5’11 G / Rutgers
“Indiana really needs a little bit of everything and Arella seems to do that really well … She can defend on all three levels and score on all three levels. She’s a really consistent scorer, she only scored in single digits one time last year, and she has the perimeter shot that Indiana could really use.” - Jacqueline LeBlanc
Dallas Wings - Dana Evans, 5’6 G / Louisville
“The leading scorer in the ACC for both men’s and women’s teams, she provides that three-point shooting, microwave scoring ability. She can play on the ball, she shot 32% from three off the dribble, and she can play off the ball. She can catch and shoot, facilitate and be that secondary playmaker that can play in those lineups with Arike Ogunbowale.” - Heaven Hill
New York Liberty - Michaela Onyenwere, 6’0 F / UCLA
“I think she’s got a very high ceiling if everything works out for her at the pro level. If her three-point shot continues to develop and she can therefore become more of a three at the pro level than a four, then she becomes potentially a very successful player who can contribute in multiple ways.” - Richard Cohen
Dallas Wings - Chelsea Dungee, 5’11 G / Arkansas (Made before the Wings/Sparks trade on Wednesday)
“I think she would offer that scoring ability, she offers that three-point shooting ability, she’s a three-level scorer who attacks the rim, who was top five in the nation in both free throw makes and attempts per game. She didn’t average that many turnovers either playing in such a fast-paced offense.” - Heaven Hill
Chicago Sky - Aari McDonald, 5’6 G / Arizona
“We saw Aari McDonald really develop that jumper. It came on strong in the tournament, and especially off the dribble it seemed like she was making everything. I think she checks all the other boxes as well in terms of defense, passing ability … in the end, with the exception of her height, I’m not sure I see too many holes in Aari McDonald’s game.” - Calvin Wetzel
Minnesota Lynx - Natasha Mack, 6’4 F / Oklahoma State
“Minnesota seems to be pretty stacked. I think starting out, she can just learn from all the leaders and top-tier players they have like the free agents they just signed, Sylvia Fowles, assistant coach Rebekkah Brunson to take her game to the next level. She’ll learn a lot there.” - Cindy Smith
Los Angeles Sparks - Jasmine Walker, 6’3 F / Alabama
“The real need (for the Sparks) is bench depth, along with that wing and forward position —someone to help out Brittany Sykes, someone to help out Nneka Ogwumike — along with three-point shooting … Jasmine Walker fits all those needs, so if I’m Derek Fisher, I’m really happy she’s still available at pick 10.” - Jacqueline LeBlanc
Seattle Storm - Shyla Heal, 5’6 G / Australia
“(Shyla Heal) plays the point, might be able to play some off guard as well, and she’s only 19. She’s shown some signs of having an outside shot, being able to run a team. She’s strong. I would encourage her in an ideal world not to show up until 2022 .. she can try to develop another year and maybe go to the Olympics with Australia.” - Richard Cohen
Las Vegas Aces - Kiana Williams, 5’8 G / Stanford
“Her ability to distribute, but also shoot from a variety of places on the floor. She shot 38% from three on the season, but shot a little bit better than that in the tournament. She’s someone who can knock down shots and has also been a leader on the floor for that Stanford team … A little bit surprised to see her as an option at number 12, but definitely excited to have her as an option here.” - Megan Gauer
Think you have what it takes to predict the first round of the WNBA Draft? Then our 2021 WNBA Draft Challenge is for you! It’s free to enter and the top three entries will receive prizes!
And to make your picks a little easier, check out the Her Hoop Stats WNBA Draft Prospect Page! There are stats for all 52 NCAA players who are eligible for this year’s draft. Stats are sortable and include per game, totals, advanced, and value stats for the 2020-2021 NCAA season.
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.