WNBA Draft 2015: Draft Order, Most Promising Prospects in Round 1

The WNBA draft is often a crapshoot after the first handful of picks, and 2015's installment is no different. There are definitely three sure-fire prospects capable of adding something valuable at the next level, but it's all a huge question after that.

There are fringe prospects who might succeed down the line. That's a risk for teams picking early in the draft, as they're looking for impact players who will become staples right away.

Disparity is common in the WNBA draft. This season is no different. Be sure to tune in Thursday night to see how each of the dozen franchises makes an effort to improve heading into the upcoming season.

Draft Order

Round 1	Team
Round 2	Team
Round 3	Team
1	Seattle Storm
2	Tulsa Shock
3	Seattle Storm (via Connecticut)
4	Connecticut Sun (via New York)
5	Chicago Sky
6	San Antonio Stars (via Indiana)
7	Los Angeles Sparks
8	Washington Mystics
9	San Antonio Stars
10	Atlanta Dream
11	Minnesota Lynx
12	Phoenix Mercury
13	Tulsa Shock
14	Los Angeles Sparks (via Seattle)
15	Washington Mystics (via Seattle, from Conn.)
16	New York Liberty
17	Chicago Sky
18	Phoenix Mercury (via Indiana)
19	Connecticut Sun (via Los Angeles)
20	Seattle Storm (via Washington)
21	Indiana Fever (from San Antonio)
22	Chicago Sky (via Atlanta)
23	Minnesota Lynx
24	Phoenix Mercury
25	Tulsa Shock
26	Seattle Storm
27	New York Liberty (via Connecticut)
28	Minnesota Lynx (via New York)
29	Atlanta Dream (via Chicago)
30	San Antonio Stars (via Indiana)
31	Los Angeles Sparks
32	Washington Mystics
33	San Antonio Stars
34	Atlanta Dream
35	New York Liberty (via Minnesota)
36	Phoenix Mercury

Mock Round 1

Pick	Team	Selection
1	Seattle Storm	Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, F, Connecticut
2	Tulsa Shock	Amanda Zahui B., C, Minnesota
3	Seattle Storm (via Connecticut)	Jewell Loyd, G, Notre Dame
4	Connecticut Sun (via New York)	Reshanda Gray, F, Cal
5	Chicago Sky	Elizabeth Williams, F Duke
6	San Antonio Stars (via Indiana)	Dearica Hamby, F, Wake Forest
7	Los Angeles Sparks	Samantha Logic, G, Iowa
8	Washington Mystics	Isabelle Harrison, C, Tennessee
9	San Antonio Stars	Brittany Boyd, G, Cal
10	Atlanta Dream	Crystal Bradford, F, Central Michigan
11	Minnesota Lynx	Aleighsa Welch, F, South Carolina
12	Phoenix Mercury	Amber Orrange, G, Stanford

1. Seattle Storm: Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, SF, Connecticut

Jessica Hill/Associated Press

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis is as close to a guarantee in the top three as you can get.

Seattle Storm coach Jenny Boucek recognizes that, according to Jayda Evans of The Seattle Times:

Mosqueda-Lewis is the right pick for Seattle. The team finished second in made threes in 2014, and adding a stellar shooter into the mix would help make the offense even more dynamic. Mosqueda-Lewis hit 48.8 percent of her shots from beyond the arc for Connecticut last season, and Seattle can certainly respect a lights-out shooter.

Adding another shooter helps the offense as a whole. With multiple shooters to guard beyond the arc, Seattle will create space down low in the paint. This is crucial in improving the team's 12-22 record from a season ago.

But Mosqueda-Lewis isn't a lock, according to Evans:

With the No. 1 overall pick, the Storm can explore every avenue imaginable before making their selection.

2. Tulsa Shock: Amanda Zahui B., C, Minnesota

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

It's extremely rare for women to leave college early and enter the WNBA, but that's exactly what Amanda Zahui B. announced she would do earlier in April. Adding her name into the mix really adds depth to the front end of Round 1.

The Big Ten Player of the Year averaged 18.8 points, 12.9 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2014, and it's reasonable to think that now is the perfect time for her to explore taking the jump to the next level.

Leaving college also gives her the option to explore a larger payday overseas, as women's players often find more lucrative deals outside of the WNBA.

Zahui B. isn't exactly an ideal fit for the Tulsa Shock at No. 2, but a team that only mustered 12 victories on the season must focus on stockpiling as much pure talent as possible.

3. Seattle Storm: Jewell Loyd, PG, Notre Dame

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Seattle has the luxury of owning two of the draft's first three picks, meaning a significant infusion of youth is on the horizon. Of course, the Storm could easily flip this pick to another team for veteran talent. There's no shortage of options.

The roster overhaul began in January. Camille Little and Shekinna Stricklen were shipped to the Connecticut Sun for Renee Montgomery and the third and 15th picks in this draft. Those are three valuable selections, especially considering the three young players will presumably have the opportunity to grow together in Seattle.

Following the selection of Mosqueda-Lewis, the Storm should consider Jewell Loyd at No. 3.

She averaged 19.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and three assists a game last year for Notre Dame, the runners-up to the University of Connecticut in the NCAA tournament.

Connecticut Sun coach Anne Donovan was surprised to see the junior forgo her senior season with the Irish, via espnW.com's Michelle Smith: 

"

I'll be honest, I have to say I was very surprised. Coming from Notre Dame, I wasn't going to see that jump anytime soon. It's got a lot of people talking outside of the WNBA and women's basketball, and it's bringing a different look into the league and providing an opportunity for some outsiders to talk about it.

"

She immediately shot up draft boards following her decision, making her a prime candidate at No. 3 for the Storm.

Kenny DeJohn is a Breaking News Team Featured Columnist. Follow him on Twitter.