2022 WNBA Draft Winners and Losers: Which Prospects, Teams Lucked Out?

It wouldn't be a WNBA draft without some shock value. 

At B/R we mocked this draft multiple times. Once in December a month after the college season began. Twice right before the NCAA tournament. And then a third time on draft day. Some we nailed, like the top of the draft with Rhyne Howard and NaLyssa Smith being chosen first and second. Also, Rae Burrell was chosen by the Sparks at No. 9, which we also had. But other picks, such as Stanford's Lexie Hull at No. 6 and Baylor's Queen Egbo at No. 10, came as jaw-dropping shocks. 

When the 2021 WNBA season ended in October, all teams knew their needs when it came to best preparing for the 2022 season. While some addressed those in free agency, others relied on the draft, another opportunity for franchises to improve their rosters. 

How did teams, general managers, coaches, players and even some of the incoming rookies do? Who is best set up for the 2022 season, and who faces uncertainty?

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Winner: Las Vegas Aces

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In free agency, I deemed the Las Vegas Aces as losers. They had lost a lot of depth, had hired a new head coach bound to play a different style and did not have a general manager yet. 

Las Vegas knew this, and instead of filling holes prematurely in free agency, the franchise addressed them in the draft. The Aces' most gaping hole going into Monday night was on the wing, which is what they addressed when they picked Kierstan Bell at No. 11. Bell, who is known for her physical and gritty play on the offensive end, will fit well nicely as a player from FGCU about to play for a mid-major-made coach in Becky Hammon. 

The Aces also needed shooters in both the frontcourt and backcourt and succeeded in drafting those needs in their surprise pick with stretch 4 Mya Hollingshed at No. 8, explosive and tough point guard Khayla Pointer at No. 13 and one of the best shooters in this draft class in Aisha Sheppard at No. 23.

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Winner: Rhyne Howard

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

When the Washington Mystics traded the No. 1 pick Thursday, that meant they weren't completely sold on the player who was projected at the top of the draft, Rhyne Howard. But the Mystics found a trading partner in the Atlanta Dream that was gung-ho on Howard and what she brings to the table. General manager Dan Padover believes his team has a foundational piece as the Dream continue their rebuild. 

Being drafted to Atlanta has other benefits for Howard, as she gets to be close to where she grew up in Cleveland, Tennessee. "It'll mean a lot of family and close friends will be able to come and support me," she said. "But to go first, I don't even have words for it right now. I'm still kind of shaking. But it is super exciting, and I'm proud of what I've done, proud of myself and thankful for everyone that's been on this journey with me and that's helped me to get here."

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Winner: Indiana Fever 

The Fever are also in rebuild mode and had seven draft picks. Interim general manager Lin Dunn added talented pieces with two lottery picks, drafting NaLyssa Smith at No. 2 and Emily Engstler at No. 4. Both players add something Indiana hasn't had in years: defensive intensity and athleticism in the frontcourt.

Smith and Engstler will help shape the Fever's identity as they shift from a team that had difficulty playing hard to a team who has players who only know how to play hard. The Fever will also have two University of Louisville alumnae on their training camp roster in Engstler and Jazmine Jones. And if both make the team, they ought to bring in the dedicated Louisville fan base from Kentucky to Indiana.

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Winner: Curt Miller

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

While No. 11 Nia Clouden isn't a direct replacement for Briann January, head coach and general manager Curt Miller got a dynamic scoring combo guard who can back up Courtney Williams and play point guard when needed. In my most recent mock draft, I referred to Clouden as the steal of the draft. 

Miller also selected Baylor point guard Jordan Lewis at the end of the second round. While Lewis doesn't have the highest probability of making the roster, she will be a helpful piece, especially with Jasmine Thomas still probably competing overseas when training camp begins.

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Winners: Stefanie Dolson and Natasha Howard

The New York Liberty will be a lot deeper in the post when they add No. 5 pick Nyara Sabally and No. 18 pick Lorela Cubaj. When I assessed New York's needs following the 2021 season, it had major holes in the post with a roster built mainly of tweener types who were positioned in a small-ball five-out system.

Under Sandy Brondello, however, the goal will still be to play five out but rather with post players who have enough versatility and enough size to do so. Natasha Howard won't be playing center, and Stefanie Dolson won't have to worry about being the only natural center on the roster. And also there's Kylee Shook, a serviceable 6'4" big with a high basketball IQ.

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Loser: Veronica Burton 

Veronica Burton was drafted to the Dallas Wings, whose roster isn't evenly constructed and who already have two other point guards in Moriah Jefferson and Tyasha Harris. What is the plan for Burton, a player who defensively can be serviceable? Is this how Dallas attempts to get better on the defensive end?

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Loser: Indiana Fever (Stay with Me)

Darren Carroll/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

There is no doubt the Fever got better on draft night, which was a goal of Dunn's. But their two other picks in the first round left a lot of people scratching their heads, including two league talent evaluators I spoke to during the evening.

While Hull has a ton of pro intangibles, was she really the most ready wing available? Dunn addressed her reasoning for this pick after the draft; she believes Hull was the best shooter in the class and didn't think she'd be available at No. 10.

This I understand, but what about Egbo, a long big who took time to adjust to Nicki Collen's pro-oriented system at Baylor?

What am I missing here?

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Losers: International Prospects

Many mock drafts and big boards predicted there'd be talented international prospects to keep our eyes on. Both Jade Melbourne and Sika Kone were featured in almost all mocks, including our own. So what happened?

Melbourne and Kone dropped to the third round, as it looks as though both 19-year-olds will stay out of the W this season to work on their games and develop. These would be the types of players who would be in the WNBA's talent pipeline, similar to the G League...oh wait.

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Losers: 2nd- and 3rd-Round Picks

A recurring draft issue has been the lack of attention paid to second- and third-round picks, especially when the broadcast floats their names across the screen quickly. Some second-round picks, such as Elissa Cunane and Destanni Henderson, were invited to the draft but weren’t given attention and shine on the broadcast.

The WNBA expanded its draft window to two hours, but still not all the draftees were announced. 

Speaking of the broadcast…

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Loser: The 1st In-Person Draft Broadcast in 3 Years

The WNBA tried to do too much with its first in-person draft in three years. There, I said it. It was a celebration of prospects, but it was also a two-hour window to discuss the Brittney Griner situation and have a segment that honored the 50th anniversary of Title IX.

Similar to my point above about the second- and third-rounders, history was made, and the broadcast said nothing about it. The first player out of an HBCU was drafted—Ameshya Williams-Holliday of Jackson State—but no one touched on it as they should have.