2018 WNBA draft

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox sports draft

| name = 2018 WNBA draft

| image =

| caption =

| logo =

| logosize =

| sport = Basketball

| date = April 12, 2018

| location = Nike New York Headquarters, New York City

| network = ESPN2 (first round)
ESPNU (Second and Third Rounds)

| league = WNBA

| teams =

| first = A'ja Wilson
Las Vegas Aces

| territorial =

| prev = 2017

| next = 2019

}}

The 2018 WNBA draft was the league's draft for the 2018 WNBA season. On March 12, the league announced the draft would be held on April 12 at Nike New York Headquarters, a recently opened secondary headquarters for the athletic apparel giant located in Midtown Manhattan.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/22734742/2018-wnba-draft-held-april-12-nike-new-york-headquarters|title=2018 WNBA draft to be held April 12 at Nike New York headquarters|website=espn.com|first=Mechelle |last=Voepel|date=March 12, 2018|access-date=March 12, 2018}}{{cite press release|url=http://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-draft-2018-presented-state-farm-held-april-12-new-york/ |title=WNBA Draft 2018 Presented By State Farm to be Held on April 12 in New York |publisher=WNBA |date=March 12, 2018 |access-date=March 12, 2018}}

Draft lottery

The lottery selection to determine the order of the top four picks in the 2018 Draft was set to take place on September 14, 2017, but was delayed by the league to November 13.

=Lottery chances=

The lottery selection to determine the order of the top four picks in the 2018 draft occurred on November 13, 2017. The lottery odds were based on combined records from the 2016 and 2017 WNBA seasons.{{cite web |title=Las Vegas Wins Top Pick In 2018 WNBA Draft Presented By State Farm® |url=https://www.wnba.com/news/las-vegas-wins-top-pick-2018-wnba-draft-presented-state-farm |website=WNBA |date=November 13, 2017 |access-date=April 24, 2025}} The San Antonio Stars, with the worst two-year record, were guaranteed no worse than the third pick. With the Stars relocating to Las Vegas, Las Vegas retained these best odds. All odds out of 1,000 based on percentages (the 11–12–13–14 combination was ignored).

Note: Team selected for the No. 1 pick noted in bold text.

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center; width: 70%"

! Team

! Combined 2016–17 record

! Lottery chances

! Result

Las Vegas Aces

| 15–53

| 44.2%

| 1st pick

Indiana Fever

| 26–42

| 22.7%

| 2nd pick

Chicago Sky {{small|(via Atlanta)}}{{cite web |title=Dream Acquire Boyette, Young, Pick from Chicago Sky |url=https://dream.wnba.com/news/dream-acquire-boyette-young-pick-chicago-sky |website=WNBA |date=August 1, 2017 |access-date=April 24, 2025}}

| 29–39{{efn|Atlanta's record}}

| 17.8%

| 3rd pick

Chicago Sky

| 30–38

| 10.4%

| 4th pick

{{notelist}}

This is the fifth time that the lottery was won by the team that had the highest odds and second consecutive number 1 pick for Las Vegas.

Notable prospects

On November 7, 2017, the WNBA announced the following notable prospects for the 2018 draft:{{cite news|url=http://www.wnba.com/news/senior-watch-preseason-edition/|title=Senior Watch: Preseason Edition|date=November 7, 2017|access-date=April 2, 2018|work=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA}}

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Draft invitees

On April 6, 2018, the WNBA released the names of the players invited to be in attendance at the draft.[http://www.wnba.com/news/south-carolinas-wilson-headlines-list-top-college-prospects-attend-wnba-draft-2018/ South Carolina’s Wilson Headlines List of Top College Prospects to Attend WNBA Draft 2018 Presented by State Farm]

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{{div col end}}

Key

{{WNBA Draft legend|1=|2=|3=y|4=y|5=y|6=y|7=y}}

Draft

File:A'ja Wilson (53756794398) (cropped).jpg was selected 1st overall by the Las Vegas Aces.]]

File:Kelsey Mitchell 2024 (cropped).jpg was selected 2nd overall by the Indiana Fever.]]

File:Diamond DeShields (cropped).jpg was selected 3rd overall by the Chicago Sky.]]

File:Gabby Williams (cropped).jpg was selected 4th overall by the Chicago Sky.]]

File:Jordin Canada (cropped).jpg was selected 5th overall by the Seattle Storm.]]

File:Ariel Atkins 3 Fenerbahçe WB 20241002 (cropped).jpg was selected 7th overall by the Washington Mystics.]]

=Round 1=

class="wikitable sortable"
width=30|Pick

! width=333|Player

! width=200|Nationality

! width=383|Team

! width=333|School / club team

1

| bgcolor="#FBCEB1"|A'ja Wilson *

| rowspan=9| {{USA}}

| Las Vegas Aces

| South Carolina

2

| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| Kelsey Mitchell +

| Indiana Fever

| Ohio State

3

| bgcolor="#FBCEB1"|Diamond DeShields *

| Chicago Sky {{small|(from Atlanta)}}{{refn|July 31, 2017: Atlanta to Chicago{{cite web |title=Dream Acquire Boyette, Young, Pick from Chicago Sky |url=https://dream.wnba.com/news/dream-acquire-boyette-young-pick-chicago-sky |website=WNBA |date=August 1, 2017 |access-date=April 24, 2025}}

| Tennessee / Çukurova {{small|(Turkish Super League)}}

4

| Gabby Williams

| Chicago Sky

| UConn

5

| Jordin Canada

| Seattle Storm

| UCLA

6

| Azurá Stevens

| Dallas Wings

| UConn

7

| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| Ariel Atkins +

| Washington Mystics

| Texas

8

| Victoria Vivians

| Indiana Fever {{small|(from Phoenix)}}{{refn|March 6, 2018: Phoenix to Indiana{{cite web|url=http://fever.wnba.com/news/fever-acquire-no-8-pick-wnba-draft-exchange-briann-january/|title=Fever Acquire No. 8 Pick in WNBA draft in Exchange for Briann January|access-date=March 6, 2018|publisher=WNBA|work=Indiana Fever}}

  • Indiana received 2018 No. 8 pick
  • Phoenix received Briann January|group=lower-alpha|name=PHOIND}}

| Mississippi State

9

| Lexie Brown

| Connecticut Sun

| Duke

10

| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| Kia Nurse +

| {{CAN}}

| New York Liberty

| UConn

11

| Maria Vadeeva

| {{RUS}}

| Los Angeles Sparks

| Dynamo Kursk {{small|(Russia)}}

12

| Marie Gülich

| {{GER}}

| Phoenix Mercury {{small|(from Minnesota)}}{{refn|March 6, 2018: Minnesota to Phoenix{{cite web|url=http://lynx.wnba.com/news/minnesota-lynx-acquire-guard-danielle-robinson-2019-second-round-pick-exchange-2018-first-round-pick/|title=Minnesota Lynx Acquire Guard Danielle Robinson and a 2019 Second Round Pick in Exchange for a 2018 First Round Pick|access-date=March 6, 2018|publisher=WNBA|work=lynx.wnba.com}}

  • Phoenix received 2018 No. 12 pick
  • Minnesota received Danielle Robinson and a 2019 second round pick|group=lower-alpha|name=MINPHO}}

| Oregon State

=Round 2=

class="wikitable sortable"
width=30|Pick

! width=333|Player

! width=200|Nationality

! width=383|Team

! width=333|School / club team

13

| Jaime Nared

| rowspan=3| {{USA}}

| Las Vegas Aces

| Tennessee

14

| Stephanie Mavunga

| Indiana Fever

| Ohio State

15

| Monique Billings

| Atlanta Dream {{small|(from Atlanta via Connecticut)}}{{refn|April 12, 2018: Connecticut to Atlanta{{cite web|url=http://dream.wnba.com/news/atlanta-dream-trade-bria-holmes-connecticut-sun/|title=Atlanta Dream Trade Bria Holmes to Connecticut Sun|access-date=April 12, 2018|publisher=WNBA|work=Atlanta Dream}}

  • Atlanta re-acquired the 2018 No. 15 pick and received a 2019 second-round pick
  • Connecticut received Bria Holmes|group=lower-alpha|name=note_d}}{{refn|June 8, 2017: Atlanta to Connecticut{{cite news|url=https://sun.wnba.com/news/sun-trade-hooper-dream/|title=Sun trade Hooper to Dream|publisher=WNBA|work=Connecticut Sun|date=June 8, 2017}}
  • Connecticut received a 2018 second-round pick
  • Atlanta received Jordan Hooper|group=lower-alpha|name=note_e}}

| UCLA

16

| Kristy Wallace

| {{AUS}}

| Atlanta Dream {{small|(from Chicago)}}{{refn|group=lower-alpha|name=ATLCHI}}

| Baylor

17

| Park Ji-su {{small|(traded to Las Vegas)}}{{refn|April 13, 2018: Las Vegas to Minnesota{{cite web |title=Lynx Make Trade On Draft Night, Add Two Pieces Including Familiar Face |url=https://lynx.wnba.com/news/lynx-make-trade-draft-night-add-two-pieces-including-familiar-face |website=WNBA |date=April 13, 2018 |access-date=April 24, 2025}}

  • Las Vegas acquired rights to Park Ji-su and Kahlia Lawrence
  • Minnesota acquired rights to Jill Barta and a 2019 second round pick|group=lower-alpha|name=draftdaytrade}}

| {{KOR}}

| Minnesota Lynx {{small|(from Seattle)}}{{refn|February 7, 2018: Seattle to Minnesota{{cite web|url=http://lynx.wnba.com/news/minnesota-lynx-acquire-2018-second-round-draft-pick-exchange-forward-natasha-howard/|title=Minnesota Lynx Acquire Multiple Draft Picks in Exchange for Forward Natasha Howard|access-date=February 7, 2018|publisher=WNBA|work=Minnesota Lynx}}

  • Minnesota received the 2018 No. 17 pick and the ability to swap 2019 first round picks
  • Seattle received Natasha Howard|group=lower-alpha|name=note_g}}

| Cheongju KB Stars {{small|(South Korea)}}

18

| bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Loryn Goodwin #

| rowspan=3| {{USA}}

| Dallas Wings

| Oklahoma State

19

| bgcolor=#CCFFCC| Myisha Hines-Allen x

| Washington Mystics

| Louisville

20

| bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Tyler Scaife #

| Phoenix Mercury

| Rutgers

21

| bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Raisa Musina #

| {{RUS}}

| Phoenix Mercury {{small|(from Connecticut)}}{{refn|February 2, 2018: Connecticut to Phoenix{{cite web|url=http://sun.wnba.com/news/sun-acquire-george-mercury/|title=Sun Acquire George From Mercury|access-date=February 2, 2018|publisher=WNBA|work=Connecticut Sun}}

  • Phoenix received the 2018 No. 21 pick
  • Connecticut received Cayla George|group=lower-alpha|name=note_h}}

| UMMC Ekaterinburg {{small|(Russia)}}

22

| Mercedes Russell

| rowspan=3| {{USA}}

| New York Liberty

| Tennessee

23

| bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Shakayla Thomas #

| Los Angeles Sparks

| Florida State

24

| bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Kahlia Lawrence # {{small|(traded to Las Vegas)}}{{refn|group=lower-alpha|name=draftdaytrade}}

| Minnesota Lynx

| Mercer

=Round 3=

class="wikitable sortable"
width=30|Pick

! width=333|Player

! width=200|Nationality

! width=383|Team

! width=333|School / club team

25

| Raigyne Louis

| rowspan=10| {{USA}}

| Las Vegas Aces

| LSU

26

| Imani Wright

| Phoenix Mercury {{small|(from Indiana via Las Vegas)}}{{refn|February 2, 2018: Las Vegas to Phoenix{{cite web|url=http://mercury.wnba.com/news/mercury-acquires-two-draft-picks-sign-trade-deal/|title=Mercury Acquires Two Draft Picks in Sign-And-Trade Deal|access-date=February 2, 2018|publisher=WNBA|work=Phoenix Mercury}}

  • Phoenix received the 2018 No. 26 pick and a 2019 second-round pick
  • Las Vegas received Kelsey Bone|group=lower-alpha|name=note_i}}{{refn|May 9, 2017: Indiana to Las Vegas (San Antonio){{cite news |title=Stars trade guard Jazmon Gwathmey to Fever in exchange for 2018 Draft 3rd round pick |url=https://www.hoopfeed.com/content/2017/05/stars-trade-guard-jazmon-gwathmey-to-fever-in-exchange-for-2018-draft-3rd-round-pick/ |work=Hoopfeed |date=May 9, 2017}}
  • San Antonio received a 2018 third round pick
  • Indiana received Jazmon Gwathmey|group=lower-alpha|name=note_j}}

| Florida State

27

| bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Mackenzie Engram #

| Atlanta Dream

| Georgia

28

| bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Amarah Coleman #

| Chicago Sky

| DePaul

29

| Teana Muldrow

| Seattle Storm

| West Virginia

30

| bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Natalie Butler#

| Dallas Wings

| George Mason

31

| bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Rebecca Greenwell #

| Washington Mystics

| Duke

32

| bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Jill Barta # {{small|(traded to Minnesota)}}{{refn|group=lower-alpha|name=draftdaytrade}}

| Las Vegas Aces {{small|(from Phoenix)}}{{refn|June 28, 2017: Phoenix to Las Vegas (San Antonio){{cite web|url=http://mercury.wnba.com/news/phoenix-mercury-acquires-monique-currie/|title=Phoenix Mercury Acquires Monique Currie|access-date=June 28, 2017|publisher=WNBA|work=wnba.com}}

  • San Antonio received Shay Murphy, Sophie Brunner, and a 2018 third round pick
  • Phoenix received Monique Currie|group=lower-alpha|name=note_k}}

| Gonzaga

33

| bgcolor=#C0C0C0| {{ill|Mikayla Cowling|fr}} #

| Connecticut Sun

| California

34

| bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Leslie Robinson #

| New York Liberty

| Princeton

35

| bgcolor=#C0C0C0| {{ill|Julia Reisingerova|ca}} #

| {{CZE}}

| Los Angeles Sparks

| Femeni Sant Adrià {{small|(Spain)}}

36

| bgcolor=#C0C0C0| Carlie Wagner #

| {{USA}}

| Minnesota Lynx

| Minnesota

Viewership

The draft was telecast on ESPN2 (1st round) and ESPNU (2nd and 3rd rounds). The draft had an average audience of 212,000, which was an increase of 25% compared to the 2017 WNBA draft. The first round experienced an increase of 13% compared to 2017, with an average audience of 308,000. The 2nd and 3rd rounds saw a 49% increase in average viewers compared to 2017 (110,000 vs. 74,000). The 2018 draft was the most watched draft since 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.wnba.com/news/espns-audience-wnba-draft-2018-presented-state-farm-25-espn2-telecast-watched-since-2014/|title=ESPN's Audience for WNBA Draft 2018 Presented by State Farm Up +25%; ESPN2 Telecast Most-Watched Since 2014|website=wnba.com|publisher=WNBA|date=April 16, 2018|access-date=June 19, 2018}}

Footnotes

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

See also

References

{{reflist}}

{{WNBA Drafts}}

{{2018 WNBA season by team}}

{{2018 WNBA draft}}

Category:WNBA draft

Draft

WNBA draft

WNBA draft