Draft season is upon us! On Wednesday the Lynx will several chances at selecting a player that can make a real impact on their future. This year’s draft is an almost impossible one to predict; there is no consensus No. 1 pick but there is a ton of talent from top to bottom. Our attempt at a mock draft is just one of many ways the night could play out. 

This piece does not represent the opinions of the Minnesota Lynx organization. 

No. 1, Las Vegas Aces – Teaira McCowan, Miss. State.

Julian Andrews, Web Editorial Associate: The Aces have been upfront about the fact that they could look to move down in the draft depending on which underclassmen declare for the draft, but if they do end up keeping their pick, McCowan would be a great fit. The Aces already have a dominant offensive talent upfront in A’Ja Wilson, but they need a true center to pair with her. McCowan could be that player.

McCowan is an elite defender and rebounder. She averaged 13.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game against stiff competition in the SEC. Her advanced numbers look great too—she has elite blocking and rebounding rates and her offensive efficiency is off the charts. McCowan will probably take some time to develop an advanced enough inside game to really make an impact there in the WNBA, but her size (6’7’’) and offensive rebounding ability will give her enough easy looks early on to keep her afloat until she sharpens her post moves. The Aces could also go for a point guard here, but a player with the talent of McCowan who also fits so well on the roster might be hard to pass up.

No. 2, New York Liberty – Asia Durr, Louisville

Kyle Ratke, Digital Content Manager: The Liberty had just one player, Tina Charles, average more than 10 points per game last season.

That’s not good and that’s how you lose 27 games.

If there’s one thing Durr has done consistently throughout her college career, it’s score. In her senior season, she averaged 21.2 points per game. You’d like to get more from her in other places. She only averaged 3.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

Second-year guard Kia Nurse is a nice piece for the Liberty and can shoot, but Durr gives coach Katie Smith another scoring option to lessen the load on Charles.

Quick tangent: The WNBA draft would greatly benefit from a smoother system when it comes to players declaring two days before the draft. I know the WNBA season starts very quickly after the college basketball season and the window is extremely tight, it just seems there’s a better way.

With that being said, I’ve thought about this more than a few times and I don’t have the answer.

No. 3, Indiana Fever – Jackie Young, Louisville

JA: In Jackie Young and Kelsey Mitchell, the Fever could have their backcourt of the future. Pairing those two players together would give the Fever a dynamic duo that could carry them for years.

While Mitchell is a knock-down shooter, Young makes her money in the paint. She was very efficient this year, shooting over 50-percent from the field on the year as a guard, and she gets to the line with ease. Her 6’0” height helps her finish over smaller guards and she has incredible handles. Young is also a great passer who averaged 5.1 assists per game.

There’s no doubt that many talent evaluators believe that Young has an extremely bright future in the WNBA. The WNBA draft is just as much about what a player can do now as it is about what players can do down the road. Young is, well, young. Coming out of college after her junior year gives her one more season to develop in the WNBA before she hits the age that players typically come into the league.

No. 4, Chicago Sky – PF/C Kristine Anigwe, Cal

KR: Chicago is closer to competing than you think. At guard, the Sky are set with Allie Quigley, Courtney Vandersloot and Diamond DeShields – last year’s first-round pick.

Chicago needs post players and that’s why I have Anigwe going here.

If you’re looking for stats, look at Anigwe’s career. Last season, she averaged 23.1 points and 16.4 rebounds per game. She has solid post moves, but she also is used to plenty of touches. She averaged 16.4 shots last season. How will she do with less attempts? Will she be able to find that same rhythm?

More than anything, this pick has to do with players available. McCowan would have been a good option, but the top players available (Arike Ogunbowale, and Jackie Young) are guards.

Another option here could be UCONN’s Napheesa Collier, but that might be a stretch.

No. 5, Dallas Wings — Napheesa Collier, UConn

JA: Collier is the type of do-it-all player that could find a role on pretty much any WNBA roster. She averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds on the season in college and she’s a great playmaker for a forward. She could also become an elite defender—she averaged 1.7 blocks and 1.5 steals per game.

The major knock on Collier, and the reason she’s not going higher up in the draft, is her three-point shooting. She’s just a 28 percent shooter from beyond the arc. However, Collier makes up for that by being extremely efficient from the two. She shot 61.2 percent overall from the field this year.

Collier can probably play the three or the four at the next level and that would be an advantage for a Wings team that could use a wing that can be moved around. It’s unclear what the Wings will look like next year without Skylar Diggins-Smith and with Liz Cambage’s situation still up in the air. There should be a lot of room for a player like Collier to get thrown in the fire and develop. Given time she could be very, very good in the WNBA.

No. 6, Minnesota Lynx — Arike Ogunbowale, Notre Dame

KR: With Maya Moore out for the 2019 season, the Lynx need a scoring boost. Ogunbowale can score. She averaged 21.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game as a senior. She can also shoot from deep and she’s an underrated play maker.

This gives the Lynx a new face and someone who has had plenty of success at the college level. She was the 2018 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player when Notre Dame won the National Championship.

One thing that needs work here is Ogunbowale’s defense and efficiency. If there’s one thing that will drive Coach Reeve crazy it will be shots outside of the offense and defensive breakdowns. With that being said, if any coach can help Ogunbowale reach her potential, it’s Reeve.

No. 7, Los Angeles Sparks—Katie Lou Samuelson, UConn

JA: There are a few players the Sparks could go with here but Samuelson seems like the most likely. The combo guard/forward from UConn came into this season in the conversation for the No. 1 pick but has seen her stock decline as her insane shooting from last year equalized a little bit. However, Samuelson is still a dynamic offensive player and a very good shooter who will be able to knock it down at the next level.

Anyone who drafts Samuelson will be hoping to help her get closer to the 47-percent three-point shooting season she put together in 2017-18. If she can hit 40+ percent from beyond the arc Samuelson will at the very least be a dangerous floor spacer and a good rebounder. If she can stay hot and further develop her defense and distributing ability, she could be a star.

The Sparks need a bit of young talent in their backcourt and Samuelson could learn a lot playing behind Chelsea Gray and Odyssey Sims. This would be a good spot for her to go.

No. 8, Phoenix Mercury – Alanna Smith, PF

KR: This would be an absolute steal for Phoenix. DeWanna Bonner is still a solid four, but Smith would be such a dangerous player to pair with Brittney Griner. Smith is a stretch four who can also defend at a high level. Smith shot 39.7 percent from the field and was still able to haul in 8.6 rebounds per game while blocking 2.2 shots per contest. Talk about a modern day big.

There are teams Smith would fit in great before this pick, but this draft is based so much on who is taken when (I guess like any other draft), but this one seems a bit more unpredictable.

No. 9, Connecticut Sun – Kalani Brown, Baylor

JA: The Sun don’t have a true center on their roster and Brown would help out immediately in the size department. She’s also coming off an impressive national championship run, she’s an incredibly efficient scorer with a surprisingly good midrange game, a great rebounder, a good defender and she could develop into a dominant post player.

Brown may go earlier than No. 9, but with the amount of talent in this draft it’s entirely possible she falls. It will be hard for the undersized Sun to pass up on Brown’s physical presence. This is going to be a wacky draft so who knows what will happen with the first few picks, but Brown could fit in well in Connecticut.

No. 10, Washington Mystics – Sophie Cunningham, Missouri

Cunningham isn’t the best athlete, but she can flat-our shoot. Cunningham shot 40.3 percent from the 3-point line and 48.1 percent from the field. This is a player Lynx GM and coach Cheryl Reeve would likely love to get with one of her three second-round picks, but it’s unlikely Cunningham falls that far.

For her to succeed, she’ll need other playmakers around her who can feed her the ball on a drive and kick. Even if she’s not making spots, she’ll at least give the Mystics some spacing.

No. 11, Atlanta Dream – Jessica Shepard, Notre Dame

JA: Shepard is the kind of player who makes every team better. She’s an extremely efficient all-around player in the post, a fantastic rebounder and a smart defender and distributor.

At 6’4’’, Shepard has great size for the WNBA and she absolutely excelled on the glass in college. She also shot almost 60 percent from the field at Notre Dame and anchored their team on both ends of the court.

In Shepard, the Dream would get a player who doesn’t need a ton of looks designed specifically for her, but one who would take advantage of every opportunity she gets. Shepard is an extremely hard worker as well and there’s no doubt she will compete at the next level and fit well into Atlanta’s excellent defense.

At this point in the draft there are a lot of forwards that could be taken, and some players we selected earlier could easily slip so it’s very hard to predict where players are going to fall. However, Shepard stands out as someone who will find a way to be successful no matter where she’s drafted. She works way too hard to be a bust.

No. 12, Seattle Storm – Megan Gustafson, Iowa

KR: It feels like this pick could go like seven different ways. I’m not sure where or how Gustafson fits in today’s WNBA. There’s no denying her post moves and obviously what she’s accomplished in college is something you can’t ignore.

The questions with Gustafson are around her defense and outside shooting. How will she matchup with quicker and more physical players? How will she do in pick and roll defense?

And some of the offensive moves she was so good at in college won’t work in the pros. We’ve rarely seen her extend her range, or even attempt to. The good news, if she goes to Seattle, she’ll be going to a team that can be patient with her and develop her skills.

For more 2019 WNBA Draft content check out our Minnesota Lynx Draft Central.