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These aren’t the opinions of the Lynx organization, but instead, two writers. Kyle Ratke and Katie Davidson do their best to predict what will happen in Friday’s 2020 WNBA Draft.

1. Sabrina Ionescu, G, Oregon – New York Liberty

Kyle Ratke: Normally, I’m not one to say “this is a sure thing” in the sports world, but this is most certainly a sure thing. Ionescu is going to be absolutely awesome and I can’t wait to see her play. Former Lynx assistant coach Walt Hopkins is receiving quite the blessing as a first-time head coach being able to build his team around Ionescu.

2. Satou Sabally, F, Oregon – Dallas Wings

Katie Davidson: I’m deviating from our first mock draft by choosing Sabally over Cox. This isn’t a slight to Cox, but I think Sabally has more upside and potential to be great based on her athleticism and what she’s shown us just as a 21-year-old. Aside from the Liberty, I think any team that passes up on Sabally will be making a mistake.

3. Lauren Cox, C, Baylor – Indiana Fever

Ratke: Cox is probably the best player available at this point and the Fever will double-down on size with Cox and McCowan. The 3-point revolution is real in the WNBA and perimeter players are a premium, but let’s not forget about true post players and what their value can be. I don’t know how high Cox’s ceiling is, but it seems like her floor is pretty high.

4. Chennedy Carter, G, Texas A&M – Atlanta Dream

Davidson: I think Carter is the fourth-best player in this draft. The Dream are in need of someone who can come in and take control as they rebuild without Angel McCoughtry, and Carter appears to be ready to take on that challenge as she averaged over 20 points per game in all three seasons of her college career. She’s a premier scorer who can create her own shot but also knows when to set up a teammate when she doesn’t have a good look.

5. Megan Walker, F, UCONN – Dallas Wings

Ratke: This is probably the turning point in the draft. What will the Wings do? They need a point guard, but they have two more picks in this draft where they can fill that hole. Getting Walker here and a point guard at No. 7 or No. 9 might be the smarter move, even though the Lynx at No. 6 will probably go point guard if Walker is indeed picked here. Walker’s 3-point shot should translate well in the WNBA.

6. Crystal Dangerfield, G, UCONN – Minnesota Lynx

Davidson: I think the Lynx should pick a point guard with their No. 6 overall pick. If Minnesota’s head coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve decides to use her team’s first-round pick based on talent rather than positional needs, Dangerfield probably won’t be selected here. However, I’ve already deemed her my sleeper pick. She’s a true point guard with promising range. She shot 41.0% from 3-point range her senior year at UConn, which gives her an edge over Tyasha Harris in my eyes.

7. Bella Alarie, F, Princeton – Dallas Wings

Ratke: I’m listening to a pre-draft conference call right now, and Holly Rowe and Rebecca Lobo are super high on Alarie, a point-forward type who can shoot. That’s my inspiration for this pick. This is earlier than a lot of mocks have her going, but I think she’s going to rise. There is still point guard depth for Dallas at No. 9, but there isn’t a player quite like Alarie. Coming from an Ivy School generally isn’t the perfect path to the WNBA, but she might be able to defeat the odds.

8. Tyasha Harris, G, South Carolina – Chicago Sky

Davidson: I was torn between picking Harris or Ruthy Hebard here. With Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley on their roster, the Sky obviously have some of the most talented guards in the league, but Vandersloot is heading into her 10th season in the league and Quigley will be entering Year 12. Bringing in Harris to learn from both of them and get a head start on their eventual rebuild might be the Sky’s best move here. And I think they’d feel pretty lucky if Harris is still available at No. 8.

9. Te’a Cooper, G, Baylor – Dallas Wings

Ratke: Okay, so Cooper might not be a traditional point guard, but she can handle the ball and is a better passer than most combo guards. Her 4.6 assists per game were solid, as was the fact that she shot 41.5% from the 3-point line. Does the fact that she played for three different colleges worry me? A bit, yes. But with the No. 9 pick in the draft, there’s going to be some risk/reward decisions. This one seems worth it.

10. Beatrice Mompremier, F, Miami (Fla.) – Phoenix Mercury

Davidson: I think this is a fitting pick for the Mercury based on both talent and positional need. She’s one of the most athletic players in the league, which is something the Mercury seem to value given their roster construction. Aside from her scoring abilities, Mompremier can also provide the Mercury with rebounding strength as she nearly averaged 10.0 boards per game her senior year. The Mercury finished second-to-last in the league in rebounds per game in 2019.

11. Ruthy Hebard, PF, Oregon – Seattle Storm

Ratke: It’s crazy how two months ago Hebard seemed like a sure-fire top-5 pick. But Hebard doesn’t have much range and even with her size, she’s not the most aggressive player. She has a lot to prove to teams, but it seems like it’d be silly if she fell out of the first round given the upside she has as an inside scorer.

12. Kiah Gillespie, PF, Florida State – Washington Mystics

Davidson: Some have questioned Gillespie’s WNBA readiness, but I think a franchise like the Mystics would be willing to bet on its ability to help Gillespie reach her full potential. Gillespie is a versatile player who led the Seminoles in points (15.6) and rebounds (8.7) her senior year. She isn’t hesitant to shoot the 3-ball, and if the Mystics are able to add more consistency to her shooting touch, Gillespie could change the minds of skeptics pretty quickly.

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