The 2022 WNBA Draft has finally arrived, and for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will be held in person in New York City. Players selected will once once more get to go on stage, receive a jersey and meet with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
After the Atlanta Dream pulled off a blockbuster trade to acquire the No. 1 overall pickthe Dream selected Rhyne Howard. NaLyssa Smith and Shakira Austin followed at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. This is a deep class, but there is not much separation between a group of regarding a dozen players, which should lead to an interesting night. Here are the biggest needs and best fits for every team.
Draft results – Round 1
PICK | TEAM | PLAYER | POS | COLLEGE |
1 | Atlanta Dream | Rhyne Howard | Guard | Kentucky |
2 | Indiana Fever | NaLyssa Smith | Forward | Baylor |
3 | Washington Mystics | Shakira Austin | Forward/Center | Be Miss |
4 | Indiana Fever | Emily Engstler | Forward | Louisville |
5 | New York Liberty | Nyara Sabally | Forward | Oregon |
6 | Indiana Fever | Lexie Hull | Guard | Stanford |
7 | Dallas Wings | Veronica Burton | Guard | Northwestern |
8 | Las Vegas Aces | Mya Hollingshed | Forward | Colorado |
9 | Los Angeles Sparks | Rae Burrell | Guard | Tennessee |
10 | Indiana Fever | Queen Egbo | Center | Baylor |
11 | Las Vegas Aces | Kierstan Bell | Guard | Florida Gulf Coast |
12 | Connecticut Sun | Nia Clouden | Guard | Michigan State |
Draft results – Round 2
13. Aces: Khayla Pointer — LSU — Guard
14. Mystics: Christyn Williams — UConn — Guard
15. Dream: Naz Hillmon — Michigan — Forward
16. Sparks: Kianna Smith — Louisville — Guard
17. Storm: Elissa Cunane — NC State — Center
18. Liberty: Lorela Cubaj — Georgia Tech — Forward (via trade with Storm)
19. Sparks: Olivia Nelson-Ododa — UConn — Forward
20. Fever: Destanni Henderson — South Carolina — Guard
21. Storm: Evina Westbrook — UConn — Guard
22. Lynx: Kayla Jones — NC State — Forward
23. Aces: Aisha Sheppard — Virginia Tech — Guard
24. Sun: Jordan Lewis — Baylor — Guard
Draft results – Round 3
25. Fever: Ameshya Williams-Holliday — Jackson State — Center
26. Mercury: Maya Dodson — Notre Dame — Forward
27. Sparks: Amy Atwell — University of Hawaii — Forward
28. Lynx: Hannah Sjerven — South Dakota — Center
29. Liberty: Sika Kone – Mali – Center
30. Wings: Jasmine Dickey — Delaware — Guard
31. Wings: Jazz Bond — North Florida — Forward
32. Mercury: Macee Williams — IUPUI — Forward/Center
33. Storm: Jade Melbourne — Australia — Guard
34. Fever: Ali Patberg — Indiana — Guard
35. Aces: Faustine Aifuwa — LSU — Center
36. Sun: Kiara Smith — Florida — Guard
CBS Sports provided live updates and analysis from the 2022 WNBA Draft. You can relive that coverage below.