2018 WNBA draft

The 2018 WNBA draft was the league's draft for the 2018 WNBA season. On March 12, the league announced the draft would be held on April 12 at Nike New York Headquarters, a recently opened secondary headquarters for the athletic apparel giant located in Midtown Manhattan.^[1][2]

Draft Lottery

The lottery selection to determine the order of the top four picks in the 2018 Draft was set to take place on September 14, 2017, but was delayed by the league to November 13.

Lottery Chances

All odds out of 1,000 based on percentages. (The 11-12-13-14 combination is ignored.)

• Las Vegas Aces (44.2%) - WON
• Indiana Fever (27.6%)
• Chicago Sky (via Atlanta Dream) (17.8%)
• Chicago Sky (10.4%)

The lottery odds were based on combined records from the 2016 and 2017 WNBA seasons. The San Antonio Stars, with the worst two-year record, were guaranteed no worse than the third pick. With the Stars relocating to Las Vegas, Las Vegas retains the best odds.

This is the fifth time that the lottery was won by the team that had the highest odds and second consecutive #1 Pick for Vegas - with the other being used on Kelsey Plum last year when the team was still in San Antonio.

Draft Invitees

On April 6, 2018, the WNBA released the names of the players who would be invited to be in attendance at the draft.^[3]

• Monique Billings, UCLA
• Lexie Brown, Duke
• Jordin Canada, UCLA
• Diamond DeShields, Çukurova (Turkey)
• Kelsey Mitchell, Ohio State
• Kia Nurse, UConn
• Azurá Stevens, UConn
• Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State
• Gabby Williams, UConn
• A'ja Wilson, South Carolina

Key

Draft selections

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Draft Trades

The Las Vegas Aces traded the rights to Jill Barta and their 2019 2nd round pick to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for the rights to Park Ji-su and the rights to Kahlia Lawrence.

Notable Prospects

On November 7, 2017, WNBA.com posted notable prospects for the draft. The list included:^[14]

• A'ja Wilson - South Carolina
• Kelsey Mitchell - Ohio State
• Gabby Williams - Connecticut
• Kia Nurse - Connecticut
• Jordin Canada - UCLA
• Victoria Vivians - Mississippi State
• Myisha Hines-Allen - Louisville
• Katelynn Flaherty - Michigan

Viewership

The draft was telecast on ESPN2 (1st round) and ESPNU (2nd and 3rd rounds). The draft had an average audience of 212,000, which is an increase of 25% compared to the 2017 WNBA draft. The first round experienced an increase of 13% compared to 2017, with an average audience of 308,000. The 2nd and 3rd rounds saw a 49% increase in average viewers compared to 2017 (110,000 vs. 74,000). The 2018 draft was the most watched draft since 2014.^[15]

Footnotes

1. July 31, 2017: Atlanta to Chicago^[4]
   • Chicago received this pick and Jordan Hooper
   • Atlanta received Tamera Young, Imani Boyette, and a 2018 second-round pick
2. March 6, 2018: Phoenix to Indiana^[5]
   • Indiana received this pick
   • Phoenix received Briann January
3. March 6, 2018: Minnesota to Phoenix^[6]
   • Phoenix received this pick
   • Minnesota received Danielle Robinson and a 2019 second-round pick
4. April 12, 2018: Connecticut to Atlanta^[7]
   • Atlanta re-acquired this pick and received a 2019 second-round pick from Connecticut
   • Connecticut received Bria Holmes
5. June 8, 2017: Atlanta to Connecticut^[8]
   • Connecticut received a 2018 second-round pick
   • Atlanta received Jordan Hooper
6. July 31, 2017: Chicago to Atlanta. See Note A.
7. February 7, 2018: Seattle to Minnesota^[9]
   • Minnesota received this pick and the ability to swap 2019 first-round picks
   • Seattle received Natasha Howard
8. February 2, 2018: Connecticut to Phoenix^[10]
   • Phoenix received this pick
   • Connecticut received Cayla George
9. February 2, 2018: Las Vegas to Phoenix^[11]
   • Phoenix received this pick and a 2019 second-round pick
   • Las Vegas received Kelsey Bone
10. May 9, 2017: Indiana to Las Vegas (San Antonio Stars)^[12]
    • San Antonio received this pick
    • Indiana received Jazmon Gwathmey
11. June 28, 2017: Phoenix to Las Vegas (San Antonio)^[13]
    • San Antonio received this pick, Shay Murphy, and Sophie Brunner
    • Phoenix received Monique Currie

See also

• List of first overall WNBA draft picks

References

1. Voepel, Mechelle (March 12, 2018). "2018 WNBA draft to be held April 12 at Nike New York headquarters". espn.com. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
2. "WNBA Draft 2018 Presented By State Farm to be Held on April 12 in New York" (Press release). WNBA. March 12, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
3. South Carolina’s Wilson Headlines List of Top College Prospects to Attend WNBA Draft 2018 Presented by State Farm
4. "Atlanta Acquires Young and Boyette in Deal with Chicago for Hooper, Draft Pick". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
5. "Fever Acquire No. 8 Pick in WNBA draft in Exchange for Briann January". Indiana Fever. WNBA. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
6. "Minnesota Lynx Acquire Guard Danielle Robinson and a 2019 Second Round Pick in Exchange for a 2018 First Round Pick". lynx.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
7. "Atlanta Dream Trade Bria Holmes to Connecticut Sun". Atlanta Dream. WNBA. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
8. "Sun trade Hooper to Dream". Connecticut Sun. WNBA. June 8, 2017.
9. "Minnesota Lynx Acquire Multiple Draft Picks in Exchange for Forward Natasha Howard". Minnesota Lynx. WNBA. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
10. "Sun Acquire George From Mercury". Connecticut Sun. WNBA. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
11. "Mercury Acquires Two Draft Picks in Sign-And-Trade Deal". Phoenix Mercury. WNBA. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
12. "Stars trade guard Jazmon Gwathmey to Fever in exchange for 2018 Draft 3rd round pick". Hoopfeed. May 9, 2017.
13. "Phoenix Mercury Acquires Monique Currie". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
14. "Senior Watch: Preseason Edition". wnba.com. WNBA. November 7, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
15. "ESPN's Audience for WNBA Draft 2018 Presented by State Farm Up +25%; ESPN2 Telecast Most-Watched Since 2014". wnba.com. WNBA. April 16, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.