The 2013 WNBA Draft is scheduled for Monday, April 15 from ESPN’s studios in Bristol, Conn. For the teams that really struggled this past season, their high draft picks will give them a chance to turn their franchise’s fortunes around with the addition of one of the world’s best players.
WNBA Draft Preview 2013: Brittney Griner projected to Phoenix Mercury
Griner headlines what appears to be a very deep and talented crop of talent. The three-round draft is scheduled for Monday night.
USA TODAY Sports
Baylor center Brittney Griner is a lock for the Phoenix Mercury with the No. 1 overall selection. Griner, who is listed at 6’8, will immediately give Phoenix a presence in the paint that could return them to the playoffs sooner rather than later. The Mercury last had the top pick in the draft in 2007 when they took Lindsey Harding.
There will be plenty of talent left on the board once Griner is selected. Notre Dame standout Skylar Diggins is likely to go to the Chicago Sky with the No. 2 pick. Forwards Elena Delle Donne of Delaware and UCLA’s Markel Walker also seem like solid bets for the first five picks of the opening round given their ability to score, protect the paint and crash the boards.
Each of the WNBA’s 12 teams will have a pick in the first round. Minnesota and San Antonio both have two selections in the second round for trades they made earlier in the year with Phoenix and Chicago, respectively. All 12 teams have a third-round pick, as well.
Last year, Nnemkadi Ogwumike of Stanford was taken by the Los Angeles Sparks with the No. 1 pick.
Start Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV Coverage: ESPN2 will televise the first round live. At 9 p.m., ESPNU will handle coverage of the second and third rounds. This marks the first time in WNBA history that the draft will be televised live in primetime.
Draft Order
First Round
1) Phoenix (7-27)
2) Chicago (14-20)
3) Tulsa (9-25)
4) Washington (5-29)
5) New York (15-19)
6) Seattle (16-18)
7) New York from Atlanta (19-15) via Washington
8) San Antonio (21-13)
9) Indiana (22-12)
10) Los Angeles (24-10)
11) Connecticut (25-9)
12) Minnesota (27-7)
Second Round
1) Atlanta from Washington
2) Minnesota from Phoenix (7-27)
3) Tulsa (9-25)
4) San Antonio from Chicago (14-20)
5) New York (15-19)
6) Seattle (16-18)
7) Atlanta (19-15)
8) San Antonio (21-13)
9) Indiana (22-12)
10) Los Angeles (24-10)
11) Connecticut (25-9)
12) Minnesota (27-7)
Third Round
1) Washington (5-29)
2) Phoenix (7-27)
3) Tulsa (9-25)
4) Chicago (14-20)
5) New York (15-19)
6) Seattle (16-18)
7) Atlanta (19-15)
8) San Antonio (21-13)
9) Indiana (22-12)
10) Los Angeles (24-10)
11) Connecticut (25-9)
12) Minnesota (27-7)
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