Every year, the WNBA holds a draft to pick new players for their teams. The draft draws players from a talent pool of women's basketball players. 1997 was the first WNBA Draft. Today, there are almost 60 teams. Drafts are drawn from many categories including speed, overall strength, athleticism and more. There is also the possibility to get a new superstar for your team.
Shakira Austin
The Lakers are expected as a contender in the upcoming season. Austin will be their depth at the centre position. Austin can also guard multiple positions, which is a plus with their veteran depth. Austin plays well outside of the paint and will benefit from Delle Donne's presence. She has great defensive instincts and will face the WNBA’s toughest defense.
The Washington Mystics picked Shakira Austin with the No. She was the third overall pick in WNBA Draft. She is the sixth Ole Miss product who has been drafted in WNBA. Austin was a Ole Miss Golden Eagles member for two seasons. She earned first team All-SEC honors while playing for the team and helped it reach its first NCAA tournament appearance.
Mya Hollingshed
Mya Hollingshed is on the Pre-Woden Award Watch List. However, despite her incredible numbers, she has never played any basketball. She is from an athlete family. Her grandfather was drafted second by the Washington Bullets 1978. Her father played basketball in Grambling. Hollingshed enjoyed soccer her senior year and junior year, but her mother thought it was too competitive.
Although the Las Vegas Aces considered her as a wing-player, they decided against it. They didn't want her to be unavailable at No. 11. Hollingshed will not be overlooked, but she still has a chance. It is possible that her WNBA career may begin in the near future.
Nyara Sabally
On Monday, Nyara Sabally, a big man from New York was selected by the New York Liberty in the fifth round. Sabally was injured in the knee and cannot play this season. Sika Kone, No. 29, was also picked by the team. After she had surgery to her right leg in March, the team selected Sika Kone as their 29th pick. Sabally was a great pick due to her large stature, but her knee problems have made them a risky option.
Apart from being the fifth overall draft pick, Sabally is also the sister of Oregon's star Satou Sabally who plays for Dallas Wings. While she has yet to enter the WNBA, she has been a standout for the Ducks. She and her sister were drafted together in 2020, becoming the first sisters to make the first round since Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike in the 2008 draft. Sabally could be just as talented as her sister.