2021 WNBA Draft Preview: Las Vegas Aces look to draft for depth

The Las Vegas Aces finished 18-4 in 2020 and ended their season as the WNBA Finals runner-up. In 2021, Liz Cambage will be back after sitting out the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns. Kelsey Plum will also return to her role as the team’s point guard after missing the season due to a torn ACL.

Picks: 12, 14, 36

Needs: frontcourt depth\shooting

The Aces have 10 players on their roster and Emma Cannon on a training camp contract, which creates the potential for all three draftees to make the opening day roster. The Aces have decent depth at the guard positions but could use some depth at the wing and in the paint.

Michaela Onyenwere is a bit of “tweener”. At 6-foot, Onyenwere makes for an undersized post player, but is not especially effective from beyond the arc (29 percent for her UCLA career). However, she has the strength and athleticism that is highly prized by head coach Bill Laimbeer. Onyenwere can get her own offense while holding her own on the defensive end.

Another forward that could hear their name called by the Aces is Chelsey Perry of out University of Tennessee-Martin. Although Perry was on a mid-major team, she competed very well against the top programs when given the opportunity. At 6-foot-2, Perry would provide good depth behind A’ja Wilson, Dearica Hamby and Liz Cambage. In her final season, Perry shot 50 percent from the floor, 42 percent from beyond the arc, and 83 percent from the free throw line. Additionally, Perry amassed 228 blocks over 118 career games.

Aleah Goodman is a player that could be taken near the end of the draft or signed as an undrafted player. Either way, she fits a need for the Aces as a 2-guard who is reliable from deep. In her junior season, as role player off the bench, Goodman shot 44 percent on 3-point shots and in her final collegiate season, as a starter, she shot 49 percent on 4.9 attempts per game. If Goodman finds herself on the roster, she could be a good rotation player for the Aces.