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We know the NCAA Tournament begins today, but the mock draft will continue during the tournament - it gives pro fans a space to talk about the top draft prospects and where they might land.
Anyway, yesterday's third pick poll was a bit more low key after a bit of drama surrounding the selection of the second pick: Alyssa Thomas was the overwhelming choice for the San Antonio Stars, earning 53% of the vote. Now with the first three picks of the draft going pretty much as some might have expected, we move on to the fourth pick with plenty of talent left to choose from.
Replacing Thomas in our poll is N.C. State center Markeisha Gatling, who has put up some pretty phenomenal scoring numbers this season. So remember, even if the pick is an obvious one to you that doesn't require a lot of debate, definitely let us know who you'd like to add to the board for the next pick.
I will now stop rambling and get to the scenario.
You are the GM of the New York Liberty. After a disappointing 11-win season in 2013, you hold the fourth pick in the 2014 draft with no shortage of needs.
It's hard not to begin with Cappie Pondexter when talking about this roster: the all-star and future Hall of Famer led the team in scoring, but shot only 36% from the field. Essence Carson played just four games before a season-ending injury. Katie Smith's veteran presence was valuable last season, but she has now retired.
In the frontcourt, you drafted Kelsey Bone and Toni Young in the first round last year and after slow starts from both, Bone ended up being selected to the 2013 All-Rookie team. But the rest of the frontcourt has plenty of experience with starters Kara Braxton and Plenette Pierson returning.
That leaves an obvious area of uncertainty if not entirely concern: point guard.
Leilani Mitchell's up and down career continued last season with inconsistent minutes and the lowest assist average of her career (1.9). Samantha Prahalis didn't work out for whatever reason and was released after just three games. That left Pondexter and Smith (and Kamiko Williams) to handle point guard duties, which was a plan that many fans doubted and probably isn't a sustainable plan moving forward considering Smith is gone and Williams might be competing just to keep her spot this season.
Obviously, an 11-win team is looking for the best talent available and that probably holds true here even with Carson returning from injury.
Chelsea Gray might have been a great fit at point guard, but her health is in doubt after a second consecutive season-ending knee injury. Kayla McBride is arguably the best player available and has proven that she has some ball handling ability of her own during Notre Dame's undefeated season. Bria Hartley is a guard who most probably assume to go a bit further down the draft order, but would certainly be an interesting fit next to Pondexter. Although the frontcourt is already sort of crowded, if you determine one of the frontcourt prospects really is the best on the board you know you can just select her and work out the rest later.
The prospects you figured would be off the board in the first three picks - Chiney Ogwumike, Odyssey Sims, and Alyssa Thomas - so there aren't too many surprises to take into account here.
So with that, who do you pick with the fourth pick in the 2014 WNBA (mock) draft?
We are awaiting your pick in the poll below as well as your thoughts on who needs to be added to our list for future picks in the comments.
For more background on all of the draft's top prospects, check out our 2014 WNBA Draft prospect watch storystream.