WNBA Draft Order 2015: Top Prospects in Play for League's Worst Teams

On April 16, the Seattle Storm will try once again to take a significant step toward improving their roster. After this draft, there's really no excuse for the Storm not to see a jump in the win column. Not only does the team have the first overall selection, but it also picks third and 20th.

Here's a look at the complete draft order for all three rounds. Just below the pick order is a spotlight on three of the top prospects and where each might land in the upcoming draft.

"

First Round

1) Seattle (12-22)
2) Tulsa (12-22)
3) Seattle from Connecticut (13-21)
4) Connecticut from New York (15-19)
5) Chicago (15-19)
6) Indiana (16-18)
7) Los Angeles (16-18)
8) Washington (16-18)
9) San Antonio (16-18)
10) Atlanta (19-15)
11) Minnesota (25-9)
12) Phoenix (29-5)

 

Second Round

1) Tulsa (12-22)
2) Los Angeles from Seattle (12-22)
3) Washington from Connecticut (13-21) via Seattle
4) New York (15-19)
5) Chicago (15-19)
6) Phoenix from Indiana (16-18)
7) Connecticut from Los Angeles (16-18)
8) Seattle from Washington (16-18)
9) San Antonio (16-18)
10) Chicago from Atlanta (19-15)
11) Minnesota (25-9)
12) Phoenix (29-5)

 

Third Round

1) Tulsa (12-22)
2) Seattle (12-22)
3) New York from Connecticut (13-21)
4) Minnesota from New York (15-19)
5) Atlanta from Chicago (15-19)
6) Indiana (16-18)
7) Los Angeles (16-18)
8) Washington (16-18)
9) San Antonio (16-18)
10) Atlanta (19-15)
11) New York from Minnesota (25-9)
12) Phoenix (29-5)

"

Draft order per WNBA.com.

Jewell Loyd and Amanda Zahui B.

Mike Carlson/Getty Images

Seattle's primary issues have been on the inside. It ranked dead last in rebounding and blocked shots. The Storm also allowed opponents to shoot the third-highest field-goal percentage in the WNBA.

Everything about that is screaming take the best frontcourt player available with the No. 1 pick, right? Usually that would be the case, but it's not every year that a prospect like the Notre Dame Fighting Irish's Jewell Loyd is available.

Loyd declared for the WNBA draft last Wednesday, per The Associated Press (h/t WNBA.com). She averaged 20.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists for Notre Dame this past season and led the team to the national championship game.

Without question, Loyd is the type of talent you build around despite other positional needs. That becomes even easier when a team has the third selection as well. Storm president Alisha Valavanis knows her team is in a good position.

After Loyd declared, Valavanis said, "The draft certainly got more interesting over the last couple of days. We'll continue to analyze the best possible way to maximize our picks."

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

In a perfect world for the Storm, the team could draft Loyd and fellow early entrant Amanda Zahui B. from the University of Minnesota. Zahui B. is a 6'5" center who could help fill the team's biggest need while also allowing the Storm to draft Loyd.

There's only one problem with that scenario: The Tulsa Shock select No. 2, and Zahui B. would be a really nice player to pair with Skylar Diggins and Odyssey Sims.

The saving grace for the Storm might be the fact that the Shock have two good rebounders in Glory Johnson and Courtney Paris. Because of that, it's possible Tulsa goes another route and leaves Zahui B. and Loyd for the Storm.

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis

LM Otero/Associated Press

Fresh off a third straight national championship, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis could be the player Tulsa agrees to take at No. 2 if the Shock tab Loyd with the No. 1 pick. KML is a lights-out three-point shooter. She tied for the nation's lead in three-point percentage this past season by knocking down an insane 48.8 percent of her attempts.

On such a deep team, KML still averaged 14.9 points per game. The 5'11" forward has the size to be effective close to the basket as well.

A starting five of Diggins, Lewis, KML, Johnson and Paris sounds like it might be a better fit than taking Zahui B. or possibly even Loyd. Sims finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting to the Connecticut Sun's Chiney Ogwumike. You'd have to believe the best is yet to come for her and Diggins.

KML is a floor-spacer and all-around talent. The Shock would be young, but there's no disputing the talent of that core.

---

Height references per Draftsite.com

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter: