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Charli Collier is indeed staying in her home and college state of Texas as she realized her dream of going No. 1 overall in a WNBA Draft when the Dallas Wings selected her on Thursday night. She will be joined in Dallas by an extremely versatile power forward in Awak Kuier of Finland, a pure scorer Chelsea Dungee and an absolute steal in Dana Evans, who went 13th.
For Dungee, Kysre Gondrezick and Shyla Heal, the night could not have gone any better as all three went considerably higher than expected. Gondrezick, a phenomenal scoring guard out of West Virginia, shocked everyone by going at No. 4 instead of the second or third round, which is where she was projected to go. She went from a likely training camp competitor to a highly-paid roster lock for the Indiana Fever.
With the elation of picks 3 through 8, who all went higher than expected, also comes some players who will have chips on their shoulders moving forward. Most had Rennia Davis and Arella Guirantes going No. 3 and No. 4 some order and the first fell to No. 9, while the latter fell to No. 22.
We’ve included every pick in the draft below, accompanied by where they were projected to go in our mock draft as well as ESPN’s mock draft to show just how unpredictable this year was.
1) Charli Collier – Dallas Wings
Center from Texas Longhorns
Swish Appeal mock draft: 1
ESPN mock draft: 1
Quote of the night: “It’s so exciting. I can’t wait to connect with my team and get it going. Just to have elite talent like that on the Dallas squad, it just makes it so much more fun. … I’m looking forward to building a good relationship with all the players and all the coaches and just getting ready to get to work.”
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2) Awak Kuier – Dallas Wings
Power forward from Finland
Swish Appeal mock draft: 2
ESPN mock draft: 2
Quote of the night: “I feel like Dallas is going to grow into a great team. And to have so many young talents, it’s amazing for me to play with them and also learn from them. So I’m very excited.”
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3) Aari McDonald – Atlanta Dream
Point guard form Arizona Wildcats
Swish Appeal mock draft: 5
ESPN mock draft: 5
Quote of the night, on her draft stock skyrocketing leading up to the draft: “It’s been a lot going on, but through it all I never got too high, never got too low. Even after losing in the NCAA Tournament, I was never too low. I always took it from the bright side, I took from the positive in my situation. This whole journey of getting drafted into the WNBA I’ve been happy and I’m feeling blessed.”
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4) Kysre Gondrezick – Indiana Fever
Point guard from West Virginia Mountaineers
Swish Appeal mock draft: 17
ESPN mock draft: 29
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5) Chelsea Dungee – Dallas Wings
Shooting guard from Arkansas Razorbacks
Swish Appeal mock draft: 10
ESPN mock draft: 10
Quote of the night: “I think that I have the ability score the basketball from everywhere on the floor. I can shoot the three consistently. You’ll see more of my mid-range game, I’ve always had it. I didn’t get to showcase it as much in college. And getting to the basket, getting fouls, getting under the defense. I think I can contribute in all those ways. And Arike (Ogubowale), I love watching Arike play. She plays with so much passion, energy, intensity. And I can’t wait to learn from her.”
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6) Michaela Onyenwere – New York Liberty
Small forward from UCLA Bruins
Swish Appeal mock draft: 7
ESPN mock draft: 7
Quote of the night, on playing with Sabrina Ionescu: “It’s nice not having to go against her anymore. Definitely had our battles in college, her being at Oregon. I’m really excited to be able to have her, a great player, and to get to know her off the court. It’s gonna be a good experience. Excited for her crazy passes and just having another really great basketball player alongside me.”
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7) Jasmine Walker – Los Angeles Sparks
Power forward from Alabama Crimson Tide
Swish Appeal mock draft: 9
ESPN mock draft: 9
Quote of the night, on her “dog mentality”: “That’s something that’s been in me. Always going to be in me. I’m willing to bring that to the table, willing to bring that to the LA Sparks. I’m ready to work, I’m ready to win.”
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8) Shyla Heal – Chicago Sky
Point guard from Australia
Swish Appeal mock draft: 13
ESPN mock draft: 18
Quote of the night: “It just feels so surreal now. I actually have been picturing this moment and visualizing it since I was a little kid. I’m just so happy all my training’s paid off. I can’t wait to get to Chicago. I’ve been talking to them for a little bit now. It seems like such a good culture and I know it’s going to be a great fit for me. So I can’t wait to get over, learn from all the veterans and keep getting better, but also contribute as well.”
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9) Rennia Davis – Minnesota Lynx
Small forward from Tennessee Lady Volunteers
Swish Appeal mock draft: 3
ESPN mock draft: 4
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10) Stephanie Watts – Lon Angeles Sparks
Shooting guard from North Carolina Tar Heels
Swish Appeal mock draft: 23
ESPN mock draft: 20
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11) Aaliyah Wilson – Seattle Storm
Shooting guard from Texas A&M Aggies
Swish Appeal mock draft: 34
ESPN mock draft: 28
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12) Iliana Rupert – Las Vegas Aces
Center from France
Swish Appeal mock draft: 12
ESPN mock draft: 13
Quote of the night: “I’m really happy to be a part of this Las Vegas team. They already have a really beautiful team, especially inside players. I think it will be really interesting for me to have amazing players, to have Liz Cambage, A’ja Wilson there. I think my game is a little different from them, but I think I can also learn a lot. So this is why I think it’s really the best thing that could happen to me.”
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13) Dana Evans – Dallas Wings
Point guard from Louisville Cardinals
Swish Appeal mock draft: 8
ESPN mock draft: 6
Quote of the night: “I feel blessed for the opportunity to get drafted, but I use everything as motivation so this is just another thing added to the list. … I can’t even put into words how much it motivates me. I told somebody that I’m ready to get in the gym tonight. I kind of feel disrespected, overlooked. But that’s just been my career, my path and my journey. That’s just my story.”
14) Destiny Slocum – Las Vegas Aces
Point guard from Arkansas Razorbacks
Swish Appeal mock draft: 20
ESPN mock draft: 14
Quote of the night: “Being around a team that a lot of people know is super talented, I’m excited to go pick everybody’s brain and go in there and compete and work hard and do whatever they need me to do. So I’m excited and thankful.”
15) Raquel Carrera – Atlanta Dream
Power forward from Spain
Swish Appeal mock draft: 30
ESPN mock draft: 23
16) Natasha Mack – Chicago Sky
Power forward from Oklahoma State Cowgirls
Swish Appeal mock draft: 6
ESPN mock draft: 12
Quote of the night, on what she has to say to the old Natasha Mack: “You did it! You finally made it! You can dance, do a happy dance. You can just hug your mama real big, hug your support system who’s been there since day one. … This is one of the best feelings in the world, I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
17) DiDi Richards – New York Liberty
Point guard from Baylor Lady Bears
Swish Appeal mock draft: 26
ESPN mock draft: 22
Quote of the night: “Being a defensive stopper, that’s something that’s gotten me this far, so I’m just hoping to keep riding it as far as it can take me. And definitely just making that strength better, so I’m definitely getting stronger in the gym laterally. And then weaknesses, I’m just trying to improve my offensive game. That’s the reason why I think I fell so low. I’m a complete player if I become an offensive threat. So I just hope to be able to showcase that in the W.”
18) Kiana Williams – Seattle Storm
Point guard from Stanford Cardinal
Swish Appeal mock draft: 11
ESPN mock draft: 8
Quote of the night: “I wasn’t really necessarily worried about what number I was going to get drafted or what round. I honestly just prayed to God that I got drafted to a good situation for me. And I feel like Seattle is one of the best situations for me and I’m extremely thankful.”
19) Unique Thompson – Indiana Fever
Power forward from Auburn Tigers
Swish Appeal mock draft: 15
ESPN mock draft: 15
20) DiJonai Carrington – Connecticut Sun
Shooting guard from Baylor Lady Bears
Swish Appeal mock draft: 14
ESPN mock draft: 11
21) Micaela Kelly – Connecticut Sun
Point guard from Central Michigan Chippewas
Swish Appeal mock draft: 24
ESPN mock draft: 36
22) Arella Guirantes – Los Angeles Sparks
Shooting guard from Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Swish Appeal mock draft: 4
ESPN mock draft: 3
Quote of the night: “Definitely poked a nice little bear. It’s like that feeling when you don’t get picked at the park, you’re the last pick and you know you can play and you’re waiting for somebody to take a chance. I’m grateful for the chance that I have. I don’t need any more motivation, for sure.”
23) N’dea Jones – Seattle Storm
Power forward from Texas A&M Aggies
Swish Appeal mock draft: 19
ESPN mock draft: 31
Quote of the night, on her defensive versatility: “Coming from A&M, the 4 players are supposed to guard 1 through 5 and I credit coach (Gary) Blair and my coaches for allowing me to just show my defensive skill. So that’s something that I could see continuing over when I do get to Seattle — maybe guarding the 2 or 3 and even possibly the 4.”