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The Seattle Storm have won the 2015 WNBA Draft tonight, as announced on ESPN2 during halftime of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals series between the Indiana Fever and Washington Mystics.
Pick | Team | Odds |
#1 | Seattle Storm | 359 |
#2 | Tulsa Shock | 359 |
#3 | Connecticut Sun | 178 |
#4 | Connecticut Sun (via NY) | 104 |
2015 WNBA Draft lottery results.
Rebounding and defense have been a problem for the Storm, as Albert Lee has described at length previously. Lauren Jackson's return would help with some of that, but at this point they just need an infusion of young talent. Coach Brian Agler also mentioned needing some young guards, which might be even more pressing with news that Tanisha Wright is thinking about retirement and Sue Bird having her least productive year in her career.
If Storm lucky enough to get #1 pick, wonder if they take best offer available for Strick. Isn't KML basically a rich man's Stricklen? #wnba
— Richard Cohen (@RichardCohen1) August 18, 2014
We've also sort of been through the strengths and weaknesses of the rest of the lottery teams.
- Tulsa Shock: More on the Shock later, but we alluded to some of their issues when discussing our point guard rankings. But in short, they already have plenty of young talent at the positions where this draft would help them most and defense has to be a concern for them at this point. But one major question that might be relevant for Tulsa: will 6-foot-8 Australian center Liz Cambage return to the league next season?
- Connecticut Sun: With Chiney Ogwumike, Alyssa Thomas, and Chelsea Gray acquired in the 2014 draft as well as the acquisitions of Alex Bentley and Kelsey Bone, they're also a team that is loaded with young talent. It will be interesting to see whether they opt to keep this pick or look to make a trade. But they have a young leader and a great core to build around now - as Aaron Fischman described at length the other day - meaning they have some options in terms of shaping their rebuilding process moving forward.
REMAINING ORDER FOR FIRST ROUND
5. Chicago
6. Indiana
7. Los Angeles
8. Washington
9. San Antonio
10. Atlanta
11. Minnesota
12. Phoenix