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WNBA Draft 2018: Mock Draft Roundup

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Now that the college basketball season is behind us, the 2018 WNBA Draft is coming up in just one week in New York City! The Las Vegas Aces will have the first pick in the Draft and hope to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2014 when they were the San Antonio Stars.

Two teams have two first round picks. The Indiana Fever pick second in this draft. They also acquired the eighth pick in a three-team deal with the Phoenix Mercury and Minnesota Lynx. That trade sent Briann January to Phoenix, Danielle Robinson to Minnesota, and the Lynx's 12th overall pick to Phoenix.

The Chicago Sky pick third in the draft which they acquired in a deal with the Dream. Chicago will also pick fourth.

Here are four mock drafts from around the web:

Associated Press

  1. Las Vegas - A’ja Wilson, C, South Carolina
  2. Indiana - Kelsey Mitchell, G, Ohio State
  3. Chicago (via Atlanta) - Diamond DeShields, G, Tennessee
  4. Chicago - Azura Stevens, C, Connecticut
  5. Seattle - Jordin Canada, G, UCLA
  6. Dallas - Gabby Williams, F, Connecticut
  7. Washington -Victoria Vivians, G, Mississippi St
  8. Indiana (via Phoenix)- Maria Vadeeva, C, Dynamo Kursk
  9. Connecticut - Kia Nurse, G, Connecticut
  10. New York - Ariel Atkins, G, Texas
  11. Los Angeles - Stephanie Mavunga, F, Ohio State
  12. Phoenix (via Minnesota) - Marie Gulich, C, Oregon State

The AP mock draft is made of several WNBA GM's and coaches. No GM or coach could pick for his or her team.

DraftSite

  1. Las Vegas - A’ja Wilson, C, South Carolina
  2. Indiana - Azura Stevens, C, Connecticut
  3. Chicago (via Atlanta) - Kelsey Mitchell, G, Ohio State
  4. Chicago - Diamond DeShields, G, Tennessee
  5. Seattle - Jordin Canada, G, UCLA
  6. Dallas - Mercedes Russell, C, Tennessee
  7. Washington - Gabby Williams, F, Connecticut
  8. Indiana (via Phoenix) - Kia Nurse, G, Connecticut
  9. Connecticut - Lexie Brown, G, Duke
  10. New York - Victoria Vivians, G, Mississippi St
  11. Los Angeles - Monique Billings, F, UCLA
  12. Phoenix (via Minnesota) - Marie Gulich, C, Oregon State

Aneela Khan

  1. Las Vegas - A’ja Wilson, C, South Carolina
  2. Indiana - Azura Stevens, C, Connecticut
  3. Chicago (via Atlanta) - Kelsey Mitchell, G, Ohio State
  4. Chicago - Gabby Williams, F, Connecticut
  5. Seattle - Jordin Canada, G, UCLA
  6. Dallas - Diamond DeShields, G, Tennessee
  7. Washington - Victoria Vivians, G, Mississippi St
  8. Indiana (via Phoenix) - Lexie Brown, G, Duke
  9. Connecticut - Kia Nurse, G, Connecticut
  10. New York - Maria Vadeeva, C, Dynamo Kursk
  11. Los Angeles - Monique Billings, F, UCLA
  12. Phoenix (via Minnesota) - Marie Gulich, C, Oregon State

High Post Hoops

  1. Las Vegas - A’ja Wilson, C, South Carolina
  2. Indiana - Kelsey Mitchell, G, Ohio State
  3. Chicago (via Atlanta) - Diamond DeShields, G, Tennessee
  4. Chicago - Azura Stevens, C, Connecticut
  5. Seattle - Jordin Canada, G, UCLA
  6. Dallas - Lexie Brown, G, Duke
  7. Washington - Gabby Williams, F, Connecticut
  8. Indiana (via Phoenix) - Victoria Vivians, G, Mississippi St
  9. Connecticut - Kia Nurse, G, Connecticut
  10. New York - Maria Vadeeva, C, Dynamo Kursk
  11. Los Angeles - Stephanie Mavunga, F, Ohio State
  12. Phoenix (via Minnesota) - Monique Billings, F, UCLA

Some trends from the mock drafts:

  • A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Mitchell, and Diamond DeShields are all going to be in the Top-4 barring an unforeseen surprise. Wilson is practically a lock for the number one pick at this point.
  • UConn's Azura Stevens declared for the WNBA Draft soon after the NCAA women's basketball tournament ended last Sunday. She figures to be a lottery pick as well, but she probably won't be the number one pick.
  • Not everyone is convinced that Russian national Maria Vadeeva will be a first-round pick, possibly because many European players prefer to play for their national teams over the WNBA in the summer. That may be holding Kia Nurse back a little too.