2020 WNBA Draft Results: Complete Round-by-Round Selections and Twitter Reaction

The WNBA welcomed 36 new players to the league on Friday night as the 2020 draft was held virtually over two hours live on ESPN.

Sabrina Ionescu was this year's top prize and it took only a few moments after the New York Liberty were on the clock for the team to snatch her up with the No. 1 overall pick. The guard was a near-automatic triple-double in her senior season with Oregon, averaging 18 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.7 assists. Now she'll be the face of a New York team that underwent a rapid rebuild with six picks on Friday.

The draft officially began with the WNBA announcing it was posthumously drafting Payton Chester, Gianna Bryant and Alyssa Altobelli, who along with Kobe Bryant and five others died in a helicopter crash in late January.

"It's an honor to have Alyssa, Gianna and Payton join the WNBA family," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. "We thank their families for the privilege of drafting their girls and being a part of this special night." 

The somber beginning to the night quickly gave way to an electric event as Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Simone Biles all made surprise cameos to welcome players to the league.

Here's how the draft board looked after all 36 picks. 

2020 WNBA Draft Results 

Round 1

1. New York Liberty: Sabrina Ionescu, G, Oregon

2. Dallas Wings: Satou Sabally, F, Oregon

3. Indiana Fever: Lauren Cox, F, Baylor

4. Atlanta Dream: Chennedy Carter, G, Texas A&M

5. Dallas Wings (from Phoenix): Bella Alarie, G/F, Princeton

6. Minnesota Lynx: Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, F, South Carolina

7. Dallas Wings (from Seattle via Connecticut, Phoenix): Tyasha Harris, G, South Carolina 

8. Chicago Sky: Ruthy Hebard, F, Oregon

9. New York Liberty (from Dallas via Las Vegas): Megan Walker, F, Connecticut  

10. Phoenix Mercury (from Los Angeles via Connecticut): Jocelyn Willoughby, G/F, Virginia 

11. Seattle Storm (from Connecticut): Kitija Laksa, SF, Latvia 

12. New York Liberty (from Washington): Jazmine Jones, G, Louisville 

Round 2

13. New York Liberty (from Atlanta): Kylee Shook, F, Louisville 

14. Indiana Fever (from New York via Minnesota): Kathleen Doyle, G, Iowa

15. New York Liberty (from Dallas): Leaonna Odom, F, Duke

16. Minnesota Lynx (from Indiana): Crystal Dangerfield, G, Connecticut 

17. Atlanta Dream (from Phoenix): Brittany Brewer, F, Texas Tech

18. Phoenix Mercury (from Minnesota): Te'a Cooper, G, Baylor 

19. Seattle Storm: Joyner Holmes, F, Texas

20. Los Angeles Sparks (from Chicago): Beatrice Mompremier, F, Miami

21. Dallas Wings (from Las Vegas): Luisa Geiselsoder, C, Germany 

22. Los Angeles Sparks: Leonie Fiebich, SG, Germany

23. Connecticut Sparks: Kaila Charles, G/F, Maryland

24. Washington Mystics: Jaylyn Agnew, F, Creighton 

Round 3

25. Atlanta Dream: Mikayla Pivec, G, Oregon State

26. New York Liberty: Erica Ogwumike, G, Rice

27. Atlanta Dream (from Dallas): Kobi Thornton, F, Clemson

28. Indiana Fever: Kamiah Smalls, G, James Madison 

29. Phoenix Mercury: Stella Johnson, G, Rider

30. Chicago Sky (from Minnesota): Japreece Dean, G, UCLA

31. Seattle Storm: Haley Gorecki, G, Duke

32. Chicago Sky: Kiah Gillespie, F, Florida State

33. Las Vegas Aces: Lauren Manis, F, Holy Cross

34. Los Angeles Sparks: Tynice Martin, G, West Virginia 

35. Connecticut Sun: Juicy Landrum, G, Baylor

36. Washington Mystics: Sug Sutton 

Not all of the action happened on the draft board, however, as two trades were brokered throughout the evening. 

The New York Liberty acquired Jocelyn Willoughby from Phoenix, who had just been announced as the 10th overall pick, for Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. Then the Liberty flipped the No. 26 pick, Erica Ogwumike, to the Minnesota Lynx for Stephanie Talbot. 

With Ogwumike's selection, she joins her two sisters in the WNBA.

Finally, at the end of the draft, Engelbert made one last major announcement, unveiling the Kobe and Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award, which strives to recognize individuals or groups who have made significant contributions to the advancement of women's and girl's basketball. 

It was a fitting tribute after an evening that included multiple league personalities sharing their memories of Kobe and Gigi. 

The award will be handed out annually at the NBA All-Star Game beginning in 2021 and the winner will be largely determined by Vanessa Bryant, who will present the award each year.