The women’s basketball calendar continues to churn along. But between a wildly entertaining NCAA Tournament and the dawn of another WNBA season, the next crop of young talent looks poised to make its mark. The 2022 WNBA Draft is here.
Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard and Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith appear to have separated themselves from the pack at the top of the draft board, with each prospect vying to be selected No. 1.
Howard has been remarkably consistent on an unbalanced Wildcats squad, averaging over 20 points per game in each of her past three seasons. Meanwhile, Smith was one of the most effective players in the country, using her strength and finesse to dominate the opposition to the tune of 22.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game on 55 percent shooting. Already a dominant presence on the glass with serious two-way potential, Smith hopes to be the Lady Bears’ first No. 1 selection since Brittney Griner in 2013.
MORE: Watch the 2022 WNBA Draft live with fuboTV (free trial)
The Atlanta Dream acquired the first overall pick from the Washington Mystics last week and will be hoping to pair one of Howard or Smith with skilled guard Aari McDonald, the third overall pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft.
What channel is the WNBA Draft on today?
- TV channels: ESPN
- Live stream: Watch ESPN app | fuboTV
You can watch the 2022 WNBA Draft on ESPN or stream it via the Watch ESPN app or fuboTV, which offers a free trial.
This year’s draft will be held at the Spring Studios in New York. Last year’s event was conducted virtually from ESPN’s studios in Bristol, Connecticut.
WNBA Draft start time
- Date: Monday, April 11
- Start time: 7 p.m. ET
Coverage of the 2022 NBA Draft begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Draft-night coverage will be hosted by the trio of Rebecca Lobo, LaChina Robinson and Holly Rowe.
WNBA Draft order 2022
In the first round, each team has five minutes to make a selection. That time limit drops to two minutes for the second round.
The Dream will hold the No. 1 overall pick. It will be their first No. 1 overall pick since they selected first in 2009. The Fever will pick second, followed by the Mystics who will round out the top three.
First Round
| 1. | Atlanta Dream |
| 2. | Indiana Fever |
| 3. | Washington Mystics |
| 4. | Indiana Fever |
| 5. | New York Liberty |
| 6. | Indiana Fever |
| 7. | Dallas Wings |
| 8. | Minnesota Lynx |
| 9. | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 10. | Indiana Fever |
| 11. | Las Vegas Aces |
| 12. | Connecticut Sun |
Second Round
| 13. | Minnesota Lynx |
| 14. | Washington Mystics |
| 15. | Atlanta Dream |
| 16. | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 17. | Seattle Storm |
| 18. | Seattle Storm |
| 19. | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 20. | Indiana Fever |
| 21. | Seattle Storm |
| 22. | Minnesota Lynx |
| 23. | Las Vegas Aces |
| 24. | Connecticut Sun |
Third Round
| 25. | Indiana Fever |
| 26. | Phoenix Mercury |
| 27. | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 28. | Minnesota Lynx |
| 29. | New York Liberty |
| 30. | Dallas Wings |
| 31. | Dallas Wings |
| 32. | Phoenix Mercury |
| 33. | Seattle Storm |
| 34. | Indiana Fever |
| 35. | Las Vegas Aces |
| 36. | Connecticut Sun |
Five players to look out for in the 2022 WNBA Draft
- Rhyne Howard, G, Kentucky: Fluid athlete who possesses a smooth handle and promising three-level game. At 6-foot-2, Howard has positional versatility — an alluring proposition for a team like the Dream, who have talented guard Aari McDonald waiting in the wings.
- NaLyssa Smith, F, Baylor: Smith is a bruising force in the paint, capable of overpowering opponents on both ends of the floor. Her two-way upside will push her to the top of draft boards.
- Nyara Sabally, F, Oregon: Sabally’s talent is appealing — she racked up 31 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks in a double-overtime loss to Belmont in the tournament. However, she struggled to stay on the floor throughout her Ducks career, appearing in just 47 games across three seasons. Sabally’s injury history makes her a risk, but she projects as a high-level inside-out presence if she can stay healthy.
- Christyn Williams, G, UConn: Williams toiled in the Huskies’ loss to South Carolina in the national championship game, scoring just two points on 1-of-7 shooting. Still, with a lethal first-step and a solid build, Williams will hope to find more consistency at the next level.
- Sika Kone, F, Mali: At just 19 years old, Kone intrigues as a potential draft-and-stash option. Although unlikely to be ready to play games in 2022, Kone’s long-term potential may be too much to pass up for teams picking toward the end of the first round.