The New York Liberty will have the number one overall draft pick in this year’s WNBA Draft. As of now, the WNBA Draft is scheduled for April 17th, 2020.
Currently, the nation is experiencing a pandemic known as the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Worst-case scenario the WNBA Draft may be a closed or virtual event. But either way, 36 women will be drafted and have the opportunity to compete at the next level.
New York State of Mind
When the draft clock starts April 17th the Liberty will be able to take another step forward with the number one draft pick. To no one’s surprise, Sabrina Ionescu is projected to go number one overall to the Liberty.
In addition to having the number 1 pick, New York will have the 13th and 26th pick as well. This draft alone could change the trajectory of the franchise that has a new head coach in Walt Hopkins. Not to mention this will be the second year for Joseph Tsai as the owner.
New York Liberty Draft Profile
Here is a preview of the New York Liberty’s 2020 draft profile:
Draft Pick Number One
Team Needs: Point Guard/Scoring Option
Draft Selection: Sabrina Ionescu
Obviously the consensus is that New York will select Ionescu with the first pick in the draft. Drafting the Oregon Duck legend is a wise move. Last season the franchise selected Asia Durr with the second pick in the draft.
Durr missed some games due to injury but had a solid rookie year considering the build of the team. Toward the end of the season, the Liberty started to connect and catch fire. Pairing Durr with Ionescu in the backcourt will be something special (assuming she starts).
Ionescu will provide this team with a pass-first point guard who can score at will, crash the glass and lock in on defense. Her ability to space the floor will help Durr and Tina Charles with floor spacing.
Often times last season teams would clog the paint daring Durr to shoot while limiting Charles to contested hook shots and mid-range shots. Ionescu will also help run Hopkins’s new offense while getting other teammates involved. Drafting the 5’11” guard will help with the continued development of Kia Nurse, Amanda Zahui B., and Rebecca Allen.
A league of her own ?@sabrina_i20 becomes the 1st player in D-I history to reach 2K Pts, 1K Ast and 1K Reb … and she did it on 2.24 ?? pic.twitter.com/uBQTtz8Lne
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 25, 2020
New York will be a fun team to watch and there will be a lot of fast-break opportunities and stellar half-court offense. Ionescu finished her senior season averaging (as of now with the Coronavirus) 17.5 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Not to mention she recorded a record-breaking 26 triple-doubles and is the first D-1 player in history to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 assists, and 1,000 rebounds.
Draft Pick Number 13
Team Needs: Wing Player/ 3-and-D Player
Draft Selection: Joyner Holmes
In addition to drafting Ionescu, the Liberty will have an interesting decision to make for their next pick. Currently, the roster is clustered with guards and centers who can play multiple positions.
For the 13th pick, New York needs to select Joyner Holmes out of Texas. She will provide the Liberty with a true forward who can battle on the boards, score in the post and run the fast break.
Senior Letters ??
— Texas Women’s Basketball (@TexasWBB) March 8, 2020
Joyner Holmes shares her appreciation for the teammates and coaches who have become family during her time at Texas. @JoynerTooTall | #AllForTexas pic.twitter.com/duRY5FRHPj
Holmes’s ability to play physical and impact a game on the glass will help the Liberty with extra possessions on both sides of the floor. Her quick feet and soft hands will also allow tip-in opportunities.
By New York drafting Holmes, they will acquire a strong 3-and-D player. She ended the season averaging 13.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2 assists while playing 29.5 minutes a game. This is the type of player that the Liberty need in late-game situations when baskets are hard to come by.
Draft Pick Number 26
Team Needs: Back up Guard/Shooter
Draft Selection: Kathleen Doyle
New York will close the night with their third selection at pick number 26. This selection will be huge despite it being in the latter part of the draft. Although multiple mock drafts have them selecting a center they need to consider drafting Kathleen Doyle.
Clearly this pick may come as a surprise to some but when you look at their roster they need another primary ball-handler. Yes, they still have Brittany Boyd, Durr, and most likely Ionescu but their needs to be a firm back up ball-handler who can space the floor.
2019-20 Big Ten Player of the Year Kathleen Doyle is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. #B1GWBBall pic.twitter.com/Cq8TgBDw87
— Big Ten Women’s Hoops (@B1Gwbball) March 10, 2020
Boyd is a tremendous talent and can get to the rim at will and lock up on defense. But she does negatively affect this team when it comes to spacing the floor. On the flip side, at the end of the 2019-20 season, Doyle shot 44.1 percent from the three-point line.
The Iowa product will be prepared to contribute right away and she will provide toughness and stability in the backcourt. In addition to her strong three-point shooting, she is an excellent scorer as she averaged 18.1 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.6 rebounds while starting all of her games (prior to the abrupt end to the season).
Regardless of how the draft night goes for the Liberty, they have an opportunity to take another step in the right direction. Tune in to the WNBA Draft Friday, April 17th at 7:00 PM E.T.
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