Joel Welser WNBA Mock Draft - 6 April 2012

Joel Welser
1. Nnemkadi Ogwumike 2. Shenise Johnson 3. Courtney Hurt 4. Glory Johnson 5. Shekinna Stricklen
Fri, 04/06/2012
Round 1
1Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesLos AngelesNnemkadi OgwumikeSFStanford
Britney Griner will have to wait until next year, but nabbing Nnemkadi Ogwumike is not a bad deal at all for Los Angeles. They were lucky to get the first pick overall anyway in the lottery, so the Sparks will get a dynamic forward who can do a lot of work on both ends of the floor.
2Seattle Storm 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesSeattle (from CHI)Shenise JohnsonSFMiami (FL)
There is a pretty large gap between Ogwumike and the rest of the players in this class, although the gap will be larger next year, so things might start to get interesting with Seattle and the second overall selection. Shenise Johnson is one of the best all-around players in the nation.
3Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesMinnesota (from WASH)Courtney HurtSFVirginia Commonwealth
Minnesota has a slew of draft picks to work with and picking up a premiere talent like Courtney Hurt is a good place to start. She is more of a power forward than a small forward, averaging 22.3 points and 13.1 rebounds during her senior campaign at VCU.
4Tulsa Shock 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesTulsaGlory JohnsonPFTennessee
Tulsa has a lot of rebuilding to do and they need to do some of it through the draft. Glory Johnson may have had a slightly disappointing senior campaign compared to many peoples expectations, but she is still a superb post player who can score, rebound and play some defense.
5San Antonio Silver Stars 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesSan AntonioShekinna StricklenSGTennessee
Glory Johnson's teammate at Tennessee, Shekinna Stricklen led the Lady Vol's in scoring during the 2011-2012 campaign. San Antonio could use another scorer and Stricklen is the best on the board. She will help on the glass quite a bit too.
6Phoenix Mercury 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesPhoenixSamantha PrahalisPGOhio State
Just who the best point guard in this class is up for debate. Natalie Novosel, Riquna Williams and Samantha Prahalis can all make a strong case. However, Prahalis is probably the best pure point guard among that trio and she can make things happen in Phoenix.
7New York Liberty 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesNew YorkRiquna WilliamsPGMiami (FL)
Riquna Williams can run the point, but she can also step over to the two guard spot without much of a problem. That will give the Liberty plenty of options in their backcourt. Williams is a prolific outside shooter and that is very dangerous if New York wants to develop her into just a point guard.
8Washington Mystics 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesWashington (from ATL)Keisha HamptonSFDePaul
When Keisha Hampton went down with a knee injury, DePaul's season started to go pretty bad. A rash of other injuries helped, but Hampton was the star player for the Blue Demons. Two years ago she led the team in scoring and her ability to score inside and out will transition to the WNBA. However, she has to prove her knee is fine first.
9Connecticut Sun 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesConnecticutTiffany HayesSGConnecticut
The Sun can get a good value and pick up a local product at the same time. Tiffany Hayes averaged 14.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals while helping Connecticut reach the Final Four. Hayes will give the Connecticut pro team another scoring threat. 
10Washington Mystics 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesWashington (from SEA)Natalie NovoselPGNotre Dame
Natalie Novosel really boosted her draft stock late in her senior season. With Skylar Diggins handling the point guard duties, Novosel was left to shoot. And she shot very well, connecting on 41.1 percent of her attempts from long range. At the next level, Novosel could stay as a shooting guard or turn into a dynamic point guard.
11Indiana Fever 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesIndianaCierra BravardPFFlorida State
There is not a huge amount of top tier talent in the post in this class. However, there are still some very good players out there and a player like Cierra Bravard is a good deal this late in the first round. Bravard is a superb interior scorer, but needs to toughen up on the glass to be a star in the WNBA.
12Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesMinnesotaTyra WhiteSGTexas A&M
Tyra White rarely put up huge numbers at Texas A&M. The Aggies do not score a ton of points and they tend to share the ball quite a bit. White is not a shooter, but she can create opportunities for herself off of the dribble and that is always a nice skill to have on your team.
Round 2
13Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesLos Angeles (from TUL)Sasha GoodletCGeorgia Tech
Every team could use more size in the post and Los Angeles is no exception. Sasha Goodlet is another one of those quality post players who should be around at this point in the draft.
14Atlanta Dream 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesAtlanta (from WAS)LaSondra BarrettSFLSU
This is Atlanta's only pick in the first two rounds and they can grab a versatile forward with a ton of potential in LaSondra Barrett.
15Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesLos Angeles (from CHI)Devereaux PetersSFNotre Dame
Devereaux Peters plays big. She averaged 9.3 rebounds during her senior campaign and was usually the one forward around Notre Dame's four guards. She can develop into a more traditional power forward at the next level.
16Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesLos AngelesJericka JenkinsPGHampton
Los Angeles can keep grabbing talent and Jericka Jenkins is a fine point guard even though she was often overlooked in college.
17Tulsa Shock 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesTulsa (from SA)Kayla StandishSFGonzaga
Tulsa still needs talent and going after Kayla Standish is not a bad move. She can put the ball in the basket and add size to the wing.
18Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesMinnesota (from PHO)Lynetta KizerCMaryland
The Lynx have three picks in a row and can kick things off by taking 6-4 Lynetta Kizer. She may not be able to start, but Kizer can be a great option off of the bench.
19Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesMinnesota (from NY)Sydney CarterPGTexas A&M
Sydney Carter has proven that she can be a great leader. With a  little more consistency from long range, she could be a starter sooner or later.
20Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesMinnesota (from ATL)Da'Shena StevensSFSt. John's
Da'Shena Stevens came onto the national scene when St. John's started winning a lot of games during the 2011-2012 campaign. She is a strong slasher and a solid rebounder who can also play very tough defense.
21Connecticut Sun 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesConnecticutAlyssia BrewerPFTennessee
Connecticut can keep adding more and more talent in the second round and Alyssia Brewer is the type of tough player who can earn a role on this team.
22Seattle Storm 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesSeattleKierra MallardPFTexas Tech
Texas Tech had a forgettable 2011-2012 campaign, but Kierra Mallard led the squad in scoring, rebounding and blocks. 
23Chicago Sky 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesChicago (from IND)Whitney HandSGOklahoma
This is Chicago's only pick in the first two rounds, so they will want to find a difference maker. Whether it is from beyond the arc, on the glass or finding a teammate, Whitney hand will make a difference.
24Phoenix Mercury 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player ProfilesPhoenix (from MIN)Ashley GayleCTexas
Phoenix got a true point guard in the first round and now have the opportunity to add a bench presence in the frontcourt who can come in and grab boards and block shots at any level.