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WNBA mock draft 2019 – Sabrina Ionescu’s return to Oregon shuffles top pick

April 7, 2019
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  • Mechelle VoepelespnW.com

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      Mechelle Voepel covers the WNBA, women’s college basketball, and other college sports for espnW. Voepel began covering women’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.

Sabrina Ionescu returning to Oregon for her senior season changes what many thought might happen on Wednesday in the WNBA draft: The Oregon junior was expected to go No. 1.

So, we have a new top pick, but there are things to keep in mind. Might Las Vegas Aces coach/general manager Bill Laimbeer trade the top selection? Don’t be surprised if he does.

Also, could a Liz Cambage trade still happen before the draft to affect the selections? It’s a possibility.

  • Oregon star guard Sabrina Ionescu is returning for her senior season, writing in a bylined story on The Players’ Tribune that the Ducks have “unfinished business” after losing in the Final Four on Friday.
  • The WNBA draft will be held April 10 at Nike New York Headquarters in Manhattan, the league announced Tuesday.

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And we still have draft-eligible junior Jackie Young of Notre Dame on the board, now as a lottery pick. She is playing in the national championship game on Sunday (ESPN/ESPN App, 6 p.m. ET), then she’ll have 24 hours to make a decision about whether she will return to the Fighting Irish.

There’s still a lot of intrigue for the 2019 draft, but one thing is for sure: Ionescu won’t be in it.

First round

1. Las Vegas: Asia Durr, Louisville, 5-foot-10 guard

2. New York: Jackie Young*, Notre Dame, 6-0 guard

3. Indiana: Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State, 6-7 center

4. Chicago: Kristine Anigwe, Cal, 6-4 forward

5. Dallas: Napheesa Collier, UConn, 6-2 forward

6. Minnesota: Arike Ogunbowale, Notre Dame, 5-8 guard

7. Los Angeles: Katie Lou Samuelson, UConn, 6-3 guard

8. Phoenix: Alanna Smith, Stanford, 6-4 forward

9. Connecticut: Jessica Shepard, Notre Dame, 6-4 forward

10. Washington: Sophie Cunningham, Missouri, 6-1 guard

11. Atlanta: Kalani Brown, Baylor, 6-7 center

12. Seattle: Megan Gustafson, Iowa, 6-3 center

Second round

13. Phoenix: Ezi Magbegor, Australia, 6-4 forward

14. New York: Brianna Turner, Notre Dame, 6-3 forward

15. Chicago: Paris Kea, North Carolina, 5-9 guard

16. Minnesota: Caliya Robinson, Georgia, 6-3 forward

17. Dallas: Han Xu, China, 6-9 center

18. Minnesota: Kiara Leslie, N.C. State, 6-0 guard

19. Los Angeles: Kennedy Burke, UCLA, 6-1 guard

20. Minnesota: Naomi Davenport, West Virginia, 6-0 guard/forward

21. Connecticut: Natisha Hiedeman, Marquette, 5-8 guard

22. Dallas: Anriel Howard, Mississippi State, 5-11 forward

23. Atlanta: Cierra Dillard, Buffalo, 5-9 guard

24. Seattle: Bridget Carleton, Iowa State, 6-1 guard

Third round

25. Indiana: Kianna Ibis, Arizona State, 6-1 forward

26. New York: Kenisha Bell, Minnesota, 5-9 guard

27. Chicago: Marina Mabrey, Notre Dame, 5-11 guard

28. Indiana: Allazia Blockton, Marquette, 6-0 guard

29. Dallas: Maite Cazorla, Oregon, 5-10 guard

30. Minnesota: Sam Fuehring, Louisville, 6-3 forward

31. Los Angeles: Li Yueru, China, 6-7 center

32. Phoenix: Megan Huff, Utah, 6-3 forward

33. Connecticut: Taylor Emery, Virginia Tech, 5-10 guard

34. Washington: Alexis Jennings, South Carolina, 6-3 forward

35. Atlanta: Chloe Jackson, Baylor, 5-8 guard

36. Seattle: Teniya Page, Penn State, 5-7 guard

Previous mock drafts: April 2 | March 13 | Jan. 30

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