Orlando Allocated Player: Shannon Johnson. The Miracle take Johnson as the young point guard to build this team around.
Minnesota Allocated Player: The Lynx will go with Katie Smith, Brian Agler's ex-Quest star who is recovering from an ACL tear but is a versatile athlete who has already emerged as a superstar.
ROUND ONE!
1. Washington Mystics: Chamique Holdsclaw. She may not be the best amongst the ABL vets now included in the draft, but the Mique has been tabbed the future of women's basketball and its no coincidence the last place Mystics are on national TV 10 times this season. This fresh faved 22 year old has quite a future in front of her and a lot of hype to live up to. Nikki McCray and Holdsclaw play the same time of game, so will most likely start at the two and three spots.
2. Sacramento Monarchs: Have a wunderkid point guard in Ticha Penicheiro and a strong shooting guard in Ruthie Bolton-Holifield. Natalie Williams, ABL MVP, will be the big post player and star that can help complete the Monarch's picture.
3. Utah Starzz: Already with Elena Baranova, Wendy Palmer, and Margo Dydek inside, the Starzz would be crazy to pass on point guard star Dawn Staley.
4. LA Sparks: The Sparks are hoping Utah is crazy so they can snag Staley to pass to USA teammate and best friend Lisa Leslie, but they will be more than content with former ABL superstar Yolanda Griffith who was among the leagues best to add a power game to the Sparks plus provide some defense.
5. Detroit Shock: Is it possible Teresa Edwards is still available? The Shock will be shocked to find themselves this legendary guard, that is, if she is playing in the WNBA this summer.
6. New York Liberty: New York has plenty of liberty with this pick. They could go for a shooter in Edna Campbell, a versatile athlete in Adrienne Goodson, or a little of both in Crystal Robinson. The Liberty have a tough choice. Jersey girl Goodson fits the role in NY.
7. Orlando Miracle: Assuming the Miracle selects Shannon Johnson as their allocated player, they already have themselves a franchise player and a strong backcourt to build on. Nykesha Sales starts at the other guard and Andrea Congreaves starts out at forward. Both Kisha Ford and Adrienne Johnson are strong backup guards. The Miracle need another good post badly for Shannon Johnson to get the ball to. Val Whiting would fit nicely as would Taj McWilliams, but look for the Miracle to go with Shalonda Enis here.
8. Minnesota Lynx: Guessing that Katie Smith is the allocated player to the Lynx, Agler has himself four forwards in Smith, Adia Barnes, Octavia Blue, and Brandy Reed. Here Agler can either go for a center or a guard (Folkl and Kim Williams are his two). Possibilities include Delisha Milton, Tonya Edwards, or a point guard like Debbie Black. Agler knows what his former players are capable of and selects Tonya Edwards as Minnesota's missing link.
9. Charlotte Sting: The Sting have all the potential in the world if they can capitalize on this draft. Andrea Stinson and Tracy Reid are locks at the 2 and 3 spots. Vicky Bullet and Rhonda Mapp play the 4 and 5 for the Sting, and Christy Smith or Tora Suber plays the point. What the Sting really needs is a starting point guard and then they can hopefully pick up a post later on in the draft. Jen Azzi looks like the obvious choice here.
10. Phoenix Mercury: Michelle Timms at the point, Bridget Pettis at the 2, and Jen Gillom at the 5, the Mercury need to pick up a versatile player who can put up points. Miller is interested in Kate Starbird apparently, but the real fit right here is silky smooth scorer Delisha Milton who can turn up the heat in Phoenix. If shooting guard Edna Campbell is still available, the Mercury might pick her instead.
11. Cleveland Rockers: The Rockers may have trouble selecting just what they need here. Michelle Edwards is in at the 2-guard, and Fijalkowski and Nemcova are fine up front. That leaves the Rockers either a chance to nab a point guard (McConell-Serio may find herself as a backup) or a forward. Jen Rizzotti is the candidate most likely to find herself the starting point guard spot in Cleveland.
12. Houston Comets: Cynthia Cooper is the starting 2-guard, Sheryl Swoopes plays the 3, and Tina Thompson the 4. The Comets need a center, but more urgently they need a point guard, preferably a younger player. Andrea Nagy fits this role as the Comets await the return of Kim Perrot.
ROUND TWO!
13. Washington Mystics: Now the Mystics have Nikki and Mique at the two and three spots. Murriel Page is set at the 4, and Alessandra is the potential center though the Mystics may be able to grab a 5 later on in the draft. What could change the Mystics would be a point guard. Debbie Black is the veteran point the Mystics are after.
14. Sacramento Monarchs: The Monarchs now have Penicheiro, Bolton-Holifield, and Williams so they're looking for a strong forward. Luckily Taj McWilliams surprisingly still happens to be available, and the Monarchs quickly pick her up.
15. Utah Starzz: Unlikely Edna Campbell is around here, but in this draft she is! Utah gets a huge lift with Campbell added to the mix.
16. Los Angeles Sparks: And the WNBA thought the Sparks were talent-laden last year. Now how's this? With Yolanda Griffith, Lisa Leslie, and Tamecka Dixon, the Sparks have three WNBA stars. Penny Toler can start at the point provided she adapts to the addition of Yo-yo. If the Sparks can nab Sheri Sam here, they more than stack up against the rest.
17. Detroit Shock: Korie Hlede and Teresa Edwards would be an awesome backcourt tandem. Cindy Brown is the power forward, but the Shock could use a center. Val Whiting fits the role on this athletic team.
18. New York Liberty: Last time, New York was able to grab Adrienne Goodson as their new forward. They were still looking for a shooter though, and somehow Crystal Robinson and Kedra-Holland Corn are still available. The Liberty grabs the sweet-shooting Robinson and things are looking up in the Big Apple.
19. Minnesota Lynx: Grabbing up Kedra Holland-Corn with this pick is a welcome surprise to Agler. His teams are usually quick and athetic, and with a mix of talent, he has what he needs with Katie Smith, Kedra Holland-Corn, Folkl, Edwards, and Reed.
20. Orlando Miracle: Kate Starbird adds a new angle to the Miracle's attack.
21. Charlotte Sting: The Sting need a center, and they have a potential star in Clarisse Machanguana who hangs around just long enough for the Sting to pick.
22. Phoenix Mercury: Somehow Kedra Holland-Corn is left in the mix. With Milton and Holland-Corn picked up in the draft, the Mercury are looking good.
23. Cleveland Rockers: The Rockers now need another power forward. Val Still might fit in well on this team.
24. Houston Comets: The Comets got their point guard, now if they can pick up a young center, they are set. Tari Phillips, Stacey Lovelace, Tracy Henderson, and Michelle Van Gorp could all work for the Comets. The Comets choose Henderson because of her potential.
ROUND THREE
25. Washington Mystics: Now its the Mystics turn to grab a center. They'll take Chasity Melvin here to give them a totally new look for the future.
26. Sacramento Monarchs: Another forward is next on Sacramento's list. They decide on Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil.
27. Utah Starzz: Utah decides Stephanie White-McCarty's future as a Star.
28. Los Angeles Sparks: LA would like to try to find a point guard here, and Saudia Roundtree is still up for grabs. LA finds themselves one of the best point guards in the world when healthy, and someone to throw the ball into their new posts.
29. Detroit Shock: Amanda Wilson is another powerful workhorse that fits in on this team.
30. New York Liberty: The Liberty is still looking for a center. The options seem to be Kara Wolters, Michelle Van Gorp, Tari Phillips, and Astou Ndiaye. Wolters gets the nod in NY.
31. Orlando Miracle: The Miracle decide on Astou Ndiaye as their center.
32. Minnesota Lynx: The Lynx gamble on college center Michelle Van Gorp over the veteran posts.
33. Charlotte Sting: The Sting have basically what they need when they take ex-Rage forward La'Keshia Frett.
34. Phoenix Mercury: The Merc welcome in center Tari Phillips to the team.
35. Cleveland Rockers: Elaine Powell is the answer as the Rocker's explosive 2-guard.
36. Houston Comets: Stacey Lovelace is chosen by the Comets.
ROUND FOUR
37. Washington Mystics: The Mystics are eager to grab a surpriser in Sonja Tate as their 3rd former ABL player.
38. Sacramento Monarchs: The Monarchs take former Blizzard forward Barbara Farris.
39. Utah Starzz: Utah takes athletic forward Charlotte Smith.
40. Los Angeles Sparks: LA finds themselves a future star in Dominique Canty.
41. Detroit Shock: The Shock decide on point guard Niesa Johnson to key their up-tempo game.
42. New York Liberty: Tamika Whitmore comes in to help out New York's post game.
43. Orlando Miracle: Orlando hopes for a miracle in Angie Braziel.
44. Minnesota Lynx: Demya Walker adds a defensive mindset to the Lynx.
45. Charlotte Sting: Becky Hammon gets the chance to prove that size doesn't matter.
46. Phoenix Mercury: Cheryl Miller has her eyes set on Hammon's CSU teammate Katie Cronin.
47. Cleveland Rockers: Cleveland hopes Venus Lacey can hold her own down low.
48. Houston Comets: The Comets select Ukari Figgs, former Purdue star.
This mock draft was just for fun. The actual results will definitely vary! Many big names like Amy Herrig, Sonja Henning, Chanel Wright, Monica Maxwell, Sylvia Crawley, Dalma Ivanyi, Kelly Jolly, Beverly Williams, and Itoro Umoh were left out (some just by accident!). Watch the draft Tuesday to find out who goes where...
Tell me who the top 5 picks are! Your opinions will be posted on the WNBA draft page.