When Las Vegas Aces general manager and head coach Bill Laimbeer headed to the 2018 WNBA Draft last year, there was no question in his mind who he’d be selecting with the first overall pick — standout forward A’Ja Wilson. It worked out well. Wilson won Rookie of the Year honors and became the face of the WNBA while the team missed the playoffs by one game. Now, for the third straight year, the Aces have the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft.
This time around, the decision isn’t so obvious for Laimbeer and Co. Rumors have the Aces possibly trading the pick for Dallas Wings star Liz Cambage, while mock drafts have Laimbeer choosing Notre Dame guard Jackie Young, Louisville guard Asia Durr or even Mississippi center Teaira McCowan. While nothing is set in stone, the Aces have plenty of flexibility knowing they have Wilson, as well as fellow All-Star guard Kayla McBride.
“We’re sitting here with the No. 1 pick looking at, OK, what is what, ” Laimbeer said. “There’s no question we are out in the marketplace right now, looking to maybe move it. There are multiple choices at the top that can be had, depending on who’s picking. There’s a lot of stuff or a lot of talk that’s going to happen this week about who, what, where, how.”
The trade rumors keep swirling but Laimbeer says he’s playing close to the vest.
“There are lots of rumors,” Aces coach Bill Laimbeer told WNBA.com. We got thrown into the rumor mix about Liz (Cambage). … I don’t think anybody really has a handle on what the final outcome is going to be.”
The draft starts at 4 p.m. PST on ESPN2, and will then move over to ESPNU at 5 p.m. PST.
With so much drama surrounding this year’s draft, and the Aces continuing to grow into one of the best teams in the league (even hosting the 2019 All-Star Game in Vegas this July), it’s important to know who might be the big selection for the Aces. Here’s a look at the three most frequently rumored choices for Laimbeer and his personnel staff.
Jackie Young — G, Notre Dame
After forgoing her final year of eligibility with the Fightin’ Irish, Young jumped to the top of the board when Oregon standout Sabrina Ionescu decided to return for her final year of school. At 6-foot on the wing, Young has great size on the perimeter and will be an impact player from the get-go on both the offensive and defensive side of the floor. McBride’s presence on the Aces make this less of a desperation draft and could open the door for some Laimbeer style wheeling and dealing.
Asia Durr — G, Louisville
Durr is an elite scorer who’s can create off the dribble, but — if the Aces want to add scorers behind Wilson — Durr may be the steal of the draft. The Louisville guard dropped 47 on NC State this past season, and averaged 21.2 points per game her last year with the Cardinals, and averaged 17.8 in her collegiate career. Adding Durr to the backcourt with McBride could make the Aces unstoppable on the offensive end of the floor. Again, though, with McBride, Laimbeer doesn’t have to make a pick that doesn’t feel right.
Teaira McCowan — C, Mississippi State
McCowan might seem like an odd pick considering Wilson’s presence on the floor, but adding a strong rebounding center to pair with Wilson in the paint could prove valuable and take needed pressure off A’Ja in her sophomore season in the WNBA. Averaging 13.5 rebounds per game with the Bulldogs, McCowan still hasn’t developed into her total package yet and this, teamed with Laimbeer’s extensive knowledge of post-player development, McCowan could be a major addition for the Aces as they try to tear the league up in 2019.
Other possible choices:
Kalani Brown (C, Baylor); Arike Ogunbowale (G, Notre Dame); Katie Lou Samuelson (G/F, UConn); Alanna Smith (F, Stanford); Napheesa Collier (F, UConn); Bridget Carleton (G/F, Iowa State).
