Joel Welser WNBA Mock Draft – 6 April 2012

April 7, 2012 · Joel Welser
1. Nnemkadi Ogwumike 2. Shenise Johnson 3. Courtney Hurt 4. Glory Johnson 5. Shekinna Stricklen
Round 1
1 Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Los Angeles Nnemkadi Ogwumike SF Stanford
Britney Griner will have to wait until next year, but nabbing Nnemkadi Ogwumike is not a bad deal at all for Los Angeles. They were lucky to get the first pick overall anyway in the lottery, so the Sparks will get a dynamic forward who can do a lot of work on both ends of the floor.
2 Seattle Storm 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Seattle (from CHI) Shenise Johnson SF Miami (FL)
There is a pretty large gap between Ogwumike and the rest of the players in this class, although the gap will be larger next year, so things might start to get interesting with Seattle and the second overall selection. Shenise Johnson is one of the best all-around players in the nation.
3 Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Minnesota (from WASH) Courtney Hurt SF Virginia Commonwealth
Minnesota has a slew of draft picks to work with and picking up a premiere talent like Courtney Hurt is a good place to start. She is more of a power forward than a small forward, averaging 22.3 points and 13.1 rebounds during her senior campaign at VCU.
4 Tulsa Shock 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Tulsa Glory Johnson PF Tennessee
Tulsa has a lot of rebuilding to do and they need to do some of it through the draft. Glory Johnson may have had a slightly disappointing senior campaign compared to many peoples expectations, but she is still a superb post player who can score, rebound and play some defense.
5 San Antonio Silver Stars 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles San Antonio Shekinna Stricklen SG Tennessee
Glory Johnson’s teammate at Tennessee, Shekinna Stricklen led the Lady Vol’s in scoring during the 2011-2012 campaign. San Antonio could use another scorer and Stricklen is the best on the board. She will help on the glass quite a bit too.
6 Phoenix Mercury 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Phoenix Samantha Prahalis PG Ohio State
Just who the best point guard in this class is up for debate. Natalie Novosel, Riquna Williams and Samantha Prahalis can all make a strong case. However, Prahalis is probably the best pure point guard among that trio and she can make things happen in Phoenix.
7 New York Liberty 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles New York Riquna Williams PG Miami (FL)
Riquna Williams can run the point, but she can also step over to the two guard spot without much of a problem. That will give the Liberty plenty of options in their backcourt. Williams is a prolific outside shooter and that is very dangerous if New York wants to develop her into just a point guard.
8 Washington Mystics 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Washington (from ATL) Keisha Hampton SF DePaul
When Keisha Hampton went down with a knee injury, DePaul’s season started to go pretty bad. A rash of other injuries helped, but Hampton was the star player for the Blue Demons. Two years ago she led the team in scoring and her ability to score inside and out will transition to the WNBA. However, she has to prove her knee is fine first.
9 Connecticut Sun 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Connecticut Tiffany Hayes SG Connecticut
The Sun can get a good value and pick up a local product at the same time. Tiffany Hayes averaged 14.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals while helping Connecticut reach the Final Four. Hayes will give the Connecticut pro team another scoring threat. 
10 Washington Mystics 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Washington (from SEA) Natalie Novosel PG Notre Dame
Natalie Novosel really boosted her draft stock late in her senior season. With Skylar Diggins handling the point guard duties, Novosel was left to shoot. And she shot very well, connecting on 41.1 percent of her attempts from long range. At the next level, Novosel could stay as a shooting guard or turn into a dynamic point guard.
11 Indiana Fever 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Indiana Cierra Bravard PF Florida State
There is not a huge amount of top tier talent in the post in this class. However, there are still some very good players out there and a player like Cierra Bravard is a good deal this late in the first round. Bravard is a superb interior scorer, but needs to toughen up on the glass to be a star in the WNBA.
12 Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Minnesota Tyra White SG Texas A&M
Tyra White rarely put up huge numbers at Texas A&M. The Aggies do not score a ton of points and they tend to share the ball quite a bit. White is not a shooter, but she can create opportunities for herself off of the dribble and that is always a nice skill to have on your team.
Round 2
13 Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Los Angeles (from TUL) Sasha Goodlet C Georgia Tech
Every team could use more size in the post and Los Angeles is no exception. Sasha Goodlet is another one of those quality post players who should be around at this point in the draft.
14 Atlanta Dream 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Atlanta (from WAS) LaSondra Barrett SF LSU
This is Atlanta’s only pick in the first two rounds and they can grab a versatile forward with a ton of potential in LaSondra Barrett.
15 Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Los Angeles (from CHI) Devereaux Peters SF Notre Dame
Devereaux Peters plays big. She averaged 9.3 rebounds during her senior campaign and was usually the one forward around Notre Dame’s four guards. She can develop into a more traditional power forward at the next level.
16 Los Angeles Sparks 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Los Angeles Jericka Jenkins PG Hampton
Los Angeles can keep grabbing talent and Jericka Jenkins is a fine point guard even though she was often overlooked in college.
17 Tulsa Shock 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Tulsa (from SA) Kayla Standish SF Gonzaga
Tulsa still needs talent and going after Kayla Standish is not a bad move. She can put the ball in the basket and add size to the wing.
18 Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Minnesota (from PHO) Lynetta Kizer C Maryland
The Lynx have three picks in a row and can kick things off by taking 6-4 Lynetta Kizer. She may not be able to start, but Kizer can be a great option off of the bench.
19 Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Minnesota (from NY) Sydney Carter PG Texas A&M
Sydney Carter has proven that she can be a great leader. With a  little more consistency from long range, she could be a starter sooner or later.
20 Minnesota Lynx 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Minnesota (from ATL) Da’Shena Stevens SF St. John’s
Da’Shena Stevens came onto the national scene when St. John’s started winning a lot of games during the 2011-2012 campaign. She is a strong slasher and a solid rebounder who can also play very tough defense.
21 Connecticut Sun 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Connecticut Alyssia Brewer PF Tennessee
Connecticut can keep adding more and more talent in the second round and Alyssia Brewer is the type of tough player who can earn a role on this team.
22 Seattle Storm 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Seattle Kierra Mallard PF Texas Tech
Texas Tech had a forgettable 2011-2012 campaign, but Kierra Mallard led the squad in scoring, rebounding and blocks. 
23 Chicago Sky 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Chicago (from IND) Whitney Hand SG Oklahoma
This is Chicago’s only pick in the first two rounds, so they will want to find a difference maker. Whether it is from beyond the arc, on the glass or finding a teammate, Whitney hand will make a difference.
24 Phoenix Mercury 2012 WNBA Mock Draft Women's College Basketball Player Profiles Phoenix (from MIN) Ashley Gayle C Texas
Phoenix got a true point guard in the first round and now have the opportunity to add a bench presence in the frontcourt who can come in and grab boards and block shots at any level.