An NCAA champion has been crowned, bringing an end to the college basketball season, and the official list of players declaring for the WNBA Draft is in.

Before teams make their selections on Monday night, with the event being held in person in New York City and airing live on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET, Just Women’s Sports projects how every team will draft in the first, second and third rounds based on franchise needs and player fits. Be sure to check out our big board of the top 50 prospects in the draft class, and away we go!

Round 1

1. Atlanta Dream

Rhyne Howard, G, Kentucky

The Mystics had several directions they could have gone with this No. 1 pick, including using it as trade bait in the type of deal they made Wednesday with Atlanta. The Dream, who sent the No. 3 and No. 14 picks to Washington as part of the trade, are now in a position to add the best overall player and fit for the franchise. Howard is the most talented guard in this class and, at 6-foot-2, she has an elite skill set that can quickly translate to the pros.

Howard showcased her talents during the SEC tournament last month, leading the Wildcats to their first conference championship in 40 years while averaging 22 points and shooting 48 percent from the field. She makes the game look effortless at times. The Dream gave up quite a bit to target a specific player at the top of the board, and Howard fits the mold of a cornerstone the franchise can build around.

2. Indiana Fever

NaLyssa Smith, F, Baylor

If Smith falls to No. 2, she seems like a no-brainer for the rebuilding Fever. The 6-foot-3 forward was a walking double-double for Baylor and one of the most effective rebounders in the country, averaging 22.1 points and 11.5 rebounds this past season. Smith is the type of competitive forward and impact player the Fever desperately need on their roster to rebound from five straight losing seasons.

Smith has expanded her game and showcased her versatility, switching from a more traditional low-block role to one where she can face up, attack off the bounce and knock down mid-range jumpers. Her ability to run the floor and finish at the rim in transition is elite and will fit nicely into a pro setting. And while Smith has been playing the best basketball of her career in the past year, her raw potential is even more tantalizing.

3. Washington Mystics

Nyara Sabally, C/F, Oregon

The 6-5 forward has draft lottery potential due to her unique size and mobility in the paint combined with her ability to face up and stretch the floor. She has great vision as a passer and would be a strong match for the Mystics’ pick-and-roll action.

If Washington isn’t too concerned with her past knee injuries, Sabally has the potential to serve in a backup forward role right away behind the Mystics’ talented core and develop into an impact player for the future.

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Shakira Austin's stock rose during the season and SEC tournament. (Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

4. Indiana Fever

Shakira Austin, F/C, Ole Miss

Austin showcased her pro-ready frame and physicality during her standout senior season at Ole Miss. The Fever have to commit to investing in player development in order to turn around the franchise, and Austin is just that type of project.

The 6-5 Austin, capable of playing alongside another center, brings versatility to the post. She is an elite rebounder who can advance the ball herself in the open floor, and her ability to be a low-post and high-post threat is a rarity. With the Fever, Austin would likely have the chance to play and thrive early on in her career.

5. New York Liberty

Emily Engstler, G/F, Louisville

The Liberty have established something of a Louisville-to-New York pipeline over the years, and selecting Engstler here would also serve as a homecoming for the New York City native. Engstler’s edge makes her different from anyone else in this draft.

When she’s aggressive on offense, Engstler can score at all three levels, as evidenced by the 11.9 points per game and 37.2 3-point shooting percentage she averaged this season. Her instincts and length would be a game-changer for the Liberty on defense, where is also a strong rebounder at the guard position, having averaged 9.4 per game for Louisville. Engstler has the intangibles and willingness to shift roles and make plays for her team night in and night out.

6. Indiana Fever

Kierstan Bell, G, Florida Gulf Coast

With four picks in the first round, Indiana has an opportunity to add key pieces at nearly every position. Bell, as a big guard, can flat-out score the basketball. She has a pro skill set and a swagger that seem made for the WNBA. She will need to transition to a pure guard role after playing 1 through 5 in college.

Bell was one of the most prolific scorers in the country this season, averaging 22.8 points per game at FGCU. While those numbers can be attributed to the high volume of shots she took, she was also efficient from the floor, shooting 46.7 percent. While Bell will need to work on her 3-point shooting, after averaging 28.8 percent from beyond the arc this season, the Fever can add a pro-ready guard to go along with the size they picked up in the first two picks.

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Elissa Cunane starred on a talented NC State team during her NCAA career. (Lance King/Getty Images)

7. Dallas Wings

Elissa Cunane, C, NC State

With so much young talent on the roster, the Wings’ immediate needs are less clear, and you could certainly make an argument for more depth on the wing. But if Cunane is still on the table at No. 7, she’ll be hard to pass up. The Wings are in a position where they can take the best player on the board who adds to their competition in the post.

The 6-5 center averaged 13.6 points and 7.6 rebounds a game while shooting an efficient 39.7 percent from beyond the arc during her career with the Wolfpack. Cunane’s ability to stretch the floor and shoot the 3 makes her a unique weapon for Dallas at the center position.

8. Minnesota Lynx

Sika Kone, F, Mali

The Lynx can begin to prepare for the post-Sylvia Fowles era in this draft by adding interior depth. They also have the option to stash an asset for the future, with more immediate salary cap concerns looming.

Kone, at 19 years old, is one of the youngest prospects in this draft class, but she stands out for her impressive international resume. The 6-3 forward has competed for Spar Gran Canaria in Spain and is a member of Mali’s national team. At the U19 World Cup in 2021, Kone averaged 19.7 points and 14.8 rebounds per game. She is explosive on the block and has a knack for the basketball, pursuing it at will. Kone is still very much coming into her own, but she has appealing long-term value for Minnesota.

9. Los Angeles Sparks

Rae Burrell, F/G, Tennessee

Burrell’s final season at Tennessee was hampered by a mid-season knee injury, but the 6-1 senior still showcased her potential during key moments of the season and into the NCAA Tournament. Burrell has the length and shooting ability the Sparks could covet for wing depth on their retooled roster. After averaging 12.3 points per game during the regular season, the guard elevated her play in the tournament with 17 points per game on 36 percent shooting across her final five contests.

As a junior in 2020-21, Burrell showed what she’s capable of when 100 percent healthy, averaging 16.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from 3.

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Destanni Henderson showed off her electric skill set during the NCAA final. (Bri Lewerke/Just Women's Sports)

10. Indiana Fever

Destanni Henderson, PG, South Carolina

Here we are again, as the Fever get to cast a wide net in this draft. So far in this exercise, they’ve added interior depth and a scoring guard, and now they need a point guard. Henderson’s performance in the national championship game certainly caught the attention of WNBA teams. She would bring speed and playmaking ability to an initial backup role, and have a real chance to compete for a starting spot down the road with her steady and confident play. Henderson does well in the pick-and-roll game and has been an efficient 3-point shooting threat, averaging 39.9 percent from deep this season for the No. 1 Gamecocks.

11. Las Vegas Aces

Naz Hillmon, F, Michigan

The Aces could go a number of different ways to fill holes on their roster, but if Hillmon is still on the board at No. 11, she is an obvious choice because of her motor. At 6-2, Hillmon is undersized for a traditional post player in the WNBA and has limited range offensively, but she’s made up for it so far with her work ethic and efficiency, having shot nearly 60 percent from the field during her career.

She is highly effective around the rim, capable of being in the right place at the right time for rebound and putbacks. To make an impact in the WNBA, Hillmon will likely need to play more of a 3/4 role and learn to score against taller defenders, and who better to learn those skills from than A’ja Wilson?

12. Connecticut Sun

KiKi Smith, G, Florida

The Sun are in a tough drafting position this year, since it’s unlikely they’ll be able to roster 12 players under the salary cap unless they make drastic cuts. Connecticut is in need of a mid-range scorer on the wing, and Smith could give them that in the future while not affecting their salary cap this season. Smith suffered a knee injury in the SEC tournament and will need more time to recover and rehab, giving Connecticut the option to draft her and suspend her contract for the season so it doesn’t count against the cap.

Offensively, Smith has a quick first step and hunts for opportunities to score. She has gotten better every year, learning to elevate her play in big moments and against top opponents. Her stock rose significantly as Florida went on a run this season largely on her shoulders before she got hurt.

Round 2

13. Minnesota Lynx

Veronica Burton, G, Northwestern

The Lynx could afford to add depth at the point guard position, and Burton would give them that and more. The 5-9 point guard put WNBA teams on notice during her junior year at Northwestern, and now she enters the draft as one of the best facilitating options in the class. Burton knows how to stuff a stat sheet, averaging 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, four steals and 6.4 assists this season. She is known for her above-average defense, work ethic and toughness, all of which are key elements for any WNBA franchise.

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Christyn Williams is a crafty scorer and playmaker. (M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

14. Washington Mystics

Christyn Williams, G, UConn

Williams is one of the most exciting players in the draft class in terms of her ability to play downhill in transition, and the Mystics could stand to add a dynamic guard to their roster. The 5-11 Williams averaged 14.2 points per game on 45.4 percent shooting from the field for the Huskies this season. She can score in bunches when she gets going and finds ways to impact the game on both ends of the floor. With her speed, she’s difficult to stop when she gets to the rim in the open court, and she is also tenacious on defense.

15. Atlanta Dream

Lorela Cubaj, F, Georgia Tech

Cubaj would bring both experience and competitiveness to the Dream, while not straying too far from the place where she became a college star. There’s a good chance she doesn’t fall this far, but the 6-4 forward is a tenacious defender with coveted size and strength to go along with an elite rebounding ability. While her offensive game still needs to expand, she was a consistent double-double contributor for Georgia Tech, averaging 10 points and 11.1 rebounds per game this season.

16. Los Angeles Sparks

Lexie Hull, G, Stanford

Hull’s draft stock has been on the rise, and if she were to fall this far into the second round, I don’t see how the Sparks can pass her up based on their short- and long-term needs. Hull has valuable length, a strong IQ and impressive shooting ability. Before the Final Four, Hull had been playing the best basketball of her career, elevating her scoring average to 22 points per game for Stanford in the NCAA Tournament.

17. Seattle Storm

Queen Egbo, F/C, Baylor

The Storm have always had success with long, highly athletic paint threats, and Egbo fits that bill with her aggressiveness on the glass and efficiency around the rim. At 6-3, she shot over 50 percent from the field during her collegiate career, and her rebounding numbers increased every season while at Baylor. Her activity around the rim and ability to disrupt opponents on defense are appealing attributes for any team, and especially the Storm as they build with an eye toward the future.

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Nia Clouden set multiple scoring records at Michigan State. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

18. Seattle Storm

Nia Clouden, G, Michigan State

Clouden, a high-octane scorer at Michigan State, could be an underrated player in this draft. Seattle is undergoing changes at the guard spot — after Jordin Canada left for the Sparks in free agency, Briann January signed a one-year deal and Sue Bird announced her intention to retire after this season — and Clouden could be a future asset there. She can initiate offense, play off the ball and manufacture points as well as any other player in the class.

19. Los Angeles Sparks

Aisha Sheppard, G, Virginia Tech

Sheppard is an experienced guard who is capable of scoring it in a multitude of ways, but her ability to stretch the floor is what sets her apart and is what the Sparks could look to add to their arsenal. A high-volume 3-point shooter who averaged 37 percent during her college career, she has also made big strides in her passing game.

20. Indiana Fever

Olivia Nelson-Ododa, F, UConn

With as many picks as Indiana has in this draft, zeroing in on size and depth in the post seems like the smartest approach. Nelson-Ododa, at 6-5, has the length and athleticism to be effective in the pick-and-roll and run the floor before creating separation to score at the rim. Defensively, she is disruptive with her rim protection in the lane, but she will need to get stronger to compete against WNBA bigs. Overall, Nelson-Ododa is at her best in the paint, which can be extremely valuable at the next level.

21. Seattle Storm

Joanne Allen-Taylor, G, Texas

As a reliable off-ball guard, Allen-Taylor would bring a defensive tenacity to the Storm, allowing them to slide players over and fill gaps within their rotation. Allen-Taylor is a capable scorer at all three levels, but it’s her toughness and competitiveness teams will be vying for this draft.

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Khayla Pointer had her best season under first-year LSU head coach Kim Mulkey. (John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

22. Minnesota Lynx

Khayla Pointer, G, LSU

Pointer is a highly experienced point guard who wants the ball in her hands and thrives in big moments. She makes up for her lack of size with her quickness, motor and determination. In addition to her two triple-doubles this season, Pointer led LSU with 19.6 points per game on 36 percent shooting from the 3-point line, the best mark of her NCAA career.

23. Las Vegas Aces

Evina Westbrook, G, UConn

Westbook has good size at the guard spot and a well-rounded skill set that should make her a versatile option at the next level. Westbrook was a consistent offensive weapon for the Huskies this season, averaging nine points, 3.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game through the regular season and NCAA Tournament. Her length, ability to facilitate and overall IQ should be appealing to any franchise looking for depth at the guard spot.

24. Connecticut Sun

Kianna Smith, G, Louisville

We know the Sun are in the market for shooters and scoring guards, and Smith is one of the purest shooters in the class. Her arsenal also isn’t just limited to 3-pointers, which she made at a 36.7 percent clip this season. The experienced 6-foot guard helped Louisville to the Final Four by scoring in a number of ways, averaging 12 points per game on 37 percent shooting from the field this season.

Round 3

25. Indiana Fever: Maya Dodson, F, Notre Dame

26. Phoenix Mercury: Mya Hollingshed, F, Colorado

27. Los Angeles Sparks: Chloe Bibby, G/F, Maryland

28. Minnesota Lynx: Macee Williams, C, IUPUI

29. New York Liberty: Jasmine Dickey, G/F, Delaware

30. Dallas Wings: Faustine Aifuwa, C, LSU

31. Dallas Wings: Hannah Sjerven, C, South Dakota

32. Phoenix Mercury: Jordan Lewis, G, Baylor

33. Seattle Storm: Jenna Staiti, C, Georgia

34. Indiana Fever: Ali Patberg, G, Indiana

35. Las Vegas Aces: Kayla Wells, G, Texas A&M

36. Connecticut Sun: Chloe Lamb, G, South Dakota

Rachel Galligan is a basketball analyst at Just Women’s Sports. A former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, she also contributes to Winsidr. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RachGall.

As college basketball heads into the postseason and the WNBA prepares for the 2022 draft on Monday, the list of top women’s basketball prospects who have officially declared is coming into focus.

The Atlanta Dream will draft first on Monday night after acquiring the No. 1 pick from the Washington Mystics in a trade on Wednesday. In return, the Mystics received the No. 3 and No. 14 picks as well as the opportunity to swap their 2023 first-round pick with Atlanta’s. Washington originally secured the No. 1 overall pick during the WNBA Draft Lottery in December. Rounding out the top five are the Indiana Fever with the second and fourth picks and the New York Liberty with the fifth.

We have spent the past few months watching game film, combing through stats and talking to coaches and general managers to gain an accurate understanding of which players they are keeping an eye on as they prepare to make their selections on April 11. Just Women’s Sports’ WNBA Draft Big Board includes the top 50 prospects in the upcoming draft.

NOTE: This list reflects changes to the draft class since the original version was published on March 2. Several players on our initial big board opted to use their NCAA-granted fifth year of eligibility and return to school, while others officially declared for the draft since their NCAA Tournament runs came to an end.

NaLyssa Smith, F, Baylor

Smith has been playing the best basketball of her career toward the end of her senior season and has a legitimate shot to go No. 1 overall in April’s draft. The 6-foot-3 forward is a walking double-double for Baylor and one of the most effective rebounders in the country, averaging 21.8 points and 11.7 rebounds this season. Smith has expanded her game and showcased her versatility, switching from a more traditional low-block role to one where she can face up, attack off the bounce and knock down mid-range jumpers. Smith wants to run the floor and finish at the rim in transition. Her potential is what’s most appealing to WNBA GMs since she has only begun to scratch the surface of the caliber of player she can be.

Rhyne Howard, G, Kentucky

The 6-foot-2 guard has showcased her versatility and scoring ability at all three levels while starring for Kentucky. She has the size and athleticism to make the game look effortless at times — when she kicks it into a high gear, she is nearly impossible to stop. Howard is also highly effective when coming off screens and playing within the two-woman game. Averaging 20.4 points per game this season, she has well over 2,000 points for her career. Howard led the Kentucky Wildcats to an SEC tournament championship in front of representatives from nearly every WNBA franchise, solidifying her place among the top prospects.

Shakira Austin, F/C, Ole Miss

At 6-foot-5, Austin has a pro-ready frame and the strength, skill and athleticism that are highly appealing to pro scouts. She’s also willing to put in the work to expand her game shows, giving her even more upside. Austin’s numbers are down, from 18.6 points per game her junior year to 15.0 this season, but the dip is less concerning given her minutes are down as well. Austin can advance the ball herself off the rebound, face up and attack off the bounce and is an effective low-post and high-post threat. She will need to continue to extend her range on the perimeter to be successful at the next level, but her defense and timing as a rim protector are already there.

Naz Hillmon, F, Michigan

The biggest question surrounding Hillmon’s readiness for the next level is whether she has the size to be a true post player in the WNBA. At 6-2, she has limited range offensively, but she’s made up for it so far with her work ethic and efficiency, having shot nearly 60 percent from the field during her four-year college career. She has a phenomenal motor and is highly effective around the rim, with an ability to be in the right place at the right time that is hard to come by. To be effective in the WNBA, Hillmon will likely need to play more of a 3/4 role and learn to score against taller defenders.

Nyara Sabally, C/F, Oregon

At 6-5, Sabally has the unique combination of size, athleticism, strength and all-around skill that is necessary for the pros. She has been efficient during her career at Oregon, shooting 51.9 percent and averaging 14.8 points and 7.3 rebounds this season. Similar to sister Satou Sabally, the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft, Nyara has great hands and vision as a passer, as well as the mobility to advance the ball herself or thrive in the pick-and-roll. Sabally dealt with knee injuries early on in her collegiate career, but appears to have hit her stride the past two seasons. She has lottery pick potential if she chooses to enter the draft.

Elissa Cunane, C, NC State

Cunane has dominated the ACC for some time now in a low-block post role for NC State. She is about as consistent as any other player in the country, even though her numbers have dropped a bit this year. At 6-5, she can go to work on the block and has the range to force defenses to respect her beyond the arc, shooting 40 percent from the 3-point line during her college career. When she creates enough space to take defenders one-on-one in the post, it’s game over. Cunane would provide size, offense and rim protection down low for a WNBA team to develop next season.

Rae Burrell, F/G, Tennessee

Burrell is still working her way back into full stride this season, returning to the court from a knee injury in early January. She showed what she’s capable of during a healthy junior campaign, averaging 17 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 45 percent from the field and over 40 percent from 3. At 6-1, Burrell has the length to play wing and make plays on defense. Burrell will be intriguing to WNBA teams because she has all the tools to be successful and hasn’t come close to hitting her ceiling.

Destanni Henderson, PG, South Carolina

As the floor general for the No. 1 team in the country, Henderson does a great job of controlling the pace and setting up the offense with strong decision-making. She has the quickness and agility to get to the rim with ease, fitting the mold of a pick-and-roll player at the next level. She has shown she can be a 3-point threat shooting 40 percent this season. Henderson makes up for her smaller 5-7 frame with her competitiveness and leadership qualities. She stayed the course during her career at South Carolina, trusting in the process and evolving into a WNBA-ready guard.

Lorela Cubaj, F, Georgia Tech

Cubaj returned to Georgia Tech in 2021-22 for a fifth year, making the 23-year-old one of the oldest and most experienced players on the board. At 6-4, Cubaj is a high-post threat whose vision and IQ make her an effective passer. She can face up, take defenders off the bounce and create separation with her shot. Known for her defensive tenacity, Cubaj is a big reason Georgia Tech is one of the best defensive teams in the country. WNBA teams will value Cubaj’s size, facilitating, experience and energy, but she’ll need to keep developing her offensive game to make an impact in the pros.

Jenna Staiti, C, Georgia

Also a fifth-year senior, Staiti has the experience to go along with size and efficiency around the rim. Having committed to her conditioning, Staiti has gone head-to-head with some of the best post players in the country this season and outperformed them. The 6-4 center has good hands, understands low-block footwork and has found success as a paint defender and rim protector. She can also face up and be a threat as a passer in the high post, making her an intriguing pick-and-roll option. Staiti could improve her value by working on her range from beyond the arc, where she’s shooting just 25 percent on limited attempts.

Aisha Sheppard, G, Virginia Tech

Sheppard broke out offensively as a senior last season, averaging 17.7 points per game. Her scoring has dipped to 12.4 points per game in her fifth year, but Sheppard is a high-volume 3-point shooter (averaging 37 percent for her career) and has made big strides in her passing game. Shepard has an explosiveness to her game that could appeal to WNBA coaches, but her ability to get selected in the draft will come down to showcasing what else she can do.

Kianna Smith, G, Louisville

The long and athletic 6-0 guard is one of the best pure shooters in this draft class, averaging 38.5 percent from 3 this season. Smith’s experience as a fifth year has been vital to Louisville’s success this season. Smith is not limited in her offensive ability: Averaging 11.9 points and 2.9 assists per game this year, she uses her length well when she gets into the paint and is savvy enough to score from different angles.

Emily Engstler, G/F, Louisville

Louisville has a track record of developing players for the pros, and Engstler has a WNBA-ready edge to her. She’s gotten herself into great shape and has evolved into a versatile player on both ends of the floor. On offense, Engstler is at her best when she’s aggressive, with the length at 6-1 to exploit mismatches. On defense, she has the instincts to be disruptive and the ability to guard inside and out. Averaging 11.6 points and 9.1 rebounds on 47.6 percent shooting from the field this season, Engstler will appeal to GMs because of her versatility and untapped potential.

Christyn Williams, G, UConn

Williams has shown flashes of how explosive and dynamic she can be offensively, but she’s also had a tendency to be streaky. The 5-11 guard is averaging 14.9 points on 46.7 percent shooting from the field as a senior, and she’s improved her 3-point shooting to 37.1 percent late in the season. When Williams is knocking down shots, she can have a significant impact on games. With her speed, she’s difficult to stop when getting to the rim in the open court and is tenacious on defense. Williams’ WNBA future will come down to whether a team thinks it can develop her into a more consistent producer.

Nia Clouden, G, Michigan State

Clouden can both initiate offense and play off the ball as a scoring guard. She has been the go-to scorer for the Spartans this season, averaging 20.4 points per game and setting a program record with 50 points in a game against Florida Gulf Coast earlier this season. Clouden has been efficient and consistent with her shot selection, pulling up for mid-range jumpers or scoring it off the bounce. She can create shots for herself, often getting to the free-throw line when she attacks opposing defenses, and manufactures points as well as any other player in this class.

Veronica Burton, G, Northwestern

Burton hit the radars of WNBA GMs after an impressive junior campaign, has carried that momentum into her senior season this year and now is arguably the best point guard in the 2022 draft class. Burton is known for her toughness and defensive tenacity, having been named the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year the last two seasons. She plays hard, has a very high basketball IQ and can stuff the stat sheet, averaging 17.5 points, 6.5 assists and 4.1 steals in 36.3 minutes per game. The 5-9 guard has the all-around skill set and toughness to succeed, but she will need to elevate her explosiveness to be effective at the next level.

Lexie Hull, G, Stanford

At 6-1, Hull has the playmaking skills to go along with her high basketball IQ and impressive length at the guard spot. Hull is having the best shooting season of her collegiate career from beyond the arc, making 38.6 percent of her attempts. The senior is also an effective rebounder from the guard spot, pulling down 5.4 boards per game for the Cardinal. Hull is an appealing option as a tall, sharp-shooting guard, but she might struggle early on with the physicality of the WNBA. She’ll also need to adapt to the amount of ball screens at the next level since they’re not a big part of Stanford’s game plan.

Khayla Pointer, PG, LSU

Pointer is a big reason LSU has played itself back into contention this season. The fifth-year senior is one of the most experienced guards on the board (she will have played well over 4,000 minutes by the end of her career) and is known for wanting the ball in her hands in the biggest moments. At 5-7, Pointer makes up for her lack of size with her quickness and motor. She also is a phenomenal rebounder from the guard spot, reeling in 6.5 per game, and is elite at getting herself to the free-throw line. Adding to her two triple-doubles this season, Pointer leads LSU with 18.7 points per game and is shooting 37.4 percent from the 3-point line, the best mark of her NCAA career.

Kierstan Bell, G, Florida Gulf Coast

Bell played her freshman season at Ohio State before transferring to FGCU, where she has cemented herself as one of the most prolific scorers in the nation, averaging 24.4 points per game this season. Only a junior, Bell plans to enter the 2022 WNBA Draft. A partially torn meniscus in her knee seemed to dampen her prospects, but Bell returned on Saturday less than one month after surgery. At 6-1, she has good size at the guard spot and the overall skill and strength to do well in the pros, but she’ll need to work on getting more explosive off the bounce. Her confidence and scoring ability alone, however, make her a legitimate first-round option in this draft.

Mya Hollingshed, G/F, Colorado

Hollingshed has worked really hard to become a more efficient shooter from beyond the arc, averaging 38.8 percent from 3 this season. A fifth-year senior for Colorado, she has great length at 6-3, long arms and elite athleticism and agility. The biggest concern with Hollingshed is how she will acclimate to the physicality of the WNBA. She’ll likely need to move from the 4 position to the 3 and continue to expand her ball-handling skills, which is more than possible given her work ethic. That combined with her state line of 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and her efficiency from deep make her an intriguing draft prospect.

Jade Melbourne, PG, Australia

The young, promising talent caught the eye of many elite college programs overseas. Originally committed to Arizona State in 2020, the now 19-year-old instead decided to turn pro and compete in the WNBL in her native Australia. Melbourne is a long-time member of the Australian national team and an impressive scorer at 5-10, but she’ll need to continue to develop to compete in the WNBA. Teams could view her as a long-term option, with the chance to make an impact down the road as a scoring option off the bench, and maybe even a lead playmaker.

Evina Westbrook, G, UConn

Westbook has good size at the guard spot and a well-rounded skill set that should make her a versatile option at the next level. Having played five collegiate seasons between Tennessee and UConn, including a redshirt year, Westbrook is one of the older and more veteran guards in the draft pool. She has been consistent for the Huskies this season, averaging 9.4 points, 3.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. Her length, size, ability to facilitate and overall IQ should be appealing to any franchise looking for depth at the guard spot.

Sika Kone, F, Spar Gran Canaria

At 19 years old, Kone is one of the youngest prospects in this draft class but stands out for her impressive international resume. The 6-3 forward has competed for Spar Gran Canaria in Spain and is a member of Mali national team. At the U19 World Cup in 2021, Kone averaged 19.7 points and 14.8 rebounds per game. She is explosive on the block and has a knack for the basketball, pursuing it at will. She is still raw, but would be an appealing long-term project and asset for a team that values her strength, athleticism and physicality.

Que Morrison, G, Georgia

The fifth-year guard is a strong on-ball defender, earning her SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2021 and a spot on the conference All-Defensive Teams the last two seasons. Morrison averages 13.6 points per game, is a phenomenal free-throw shooter at 88.2 percent and is one of Georgia’s top 3-point shooters at 32.9 percent. She will be a great option for a franchise looking for an explosive, dynamic guard on both ends of the floor in one of the later rounds.

Kayla Wells, G, Texas A&M

Wells has the frame, athleticism and size to excel at the guard spot. Now in her fifth season, Wells has played the most games in Texas A&M history. She’s averaging 15.8 points per game and shooting 47.3 percent from 3, by far the most efficient mark of her career and a strong return on one of her goals heading into this season. Wells is not being talked about enough given the season she is having and could be a sleeper in this draft.

Olivia Nelson-Ododa, F, UConn

Nelson-Ododa has the length and athleticism to thrive at the forward spot in the WNBA. She can be effective in the pick-and-roll, create separation to score at the rim and run the floor well for a 6-5 forward. Defensively, she is disruptive with her length and rim protection in the lane, but she will need to get stronger to compete against WNBA bigs. Overall, Nelson-Ododa has her niche in the paint, which can be extremely valuable at the next level.

Joanne Allen-Taylor, G, Texas

A competitive and reliable off-ball guard, Allen-Taylor led the nation in minutes per game last season. At 5-8, she takes a lot of pride in her defense. Offensively, she understands pace well enough to shift over and run the point, she has a solid mid-range jumper and can finish in the paint. To separate herself in the WNBA, however, Allen-Taylor has to become a greater threat from beyond the arc.

Kiki Smith, G, Florida

The fifth-year guard has spent the last four seasons with the Gators. Smith has a solid mid-range game and has consistently elevated her game against ranked opponents. Her stock has risen significantly as Florida has played itself into national contention this season. Offensively, Smith accelerates in transition, has a quick first step and sees the floor well. On the other end, she has the length and drive to be a great defender. Intriguing to WNBA teams is the fact that she has gotten better every year.

Jordan Lewis, G, Baylor

A sixth-year grad transfer out of Alabama, Lewis is an aggressive, versatile guard who can score and facilitate. She is smart with the ball in her hands and has an elite court vision and passing ability. Averaging 12.1 points per game for Baylor this season, Lewis has found success driving it to the rim, getting to the free-throw line and getting open beyond the arc, where she’s shooting 39.3 percent this season.

Queen Egbo, F/C, Baylor

Egbo stands out for her athleticism, aggressiveness on the glass and efficiency around the rim. At 6-3, she’s shooting 51.5 percent from the field during her collegiate career, and her rebounding numbers have increased every season while at Baylor. Her activity around the rim combined with her ability to defend and clean up the glass will get her looks in the WNBA. Her free-throw shooting ability has improved drastically during her senior season, but she still is not able to stretch the floor as a 3-point threat.

Vivian Gray, G, Texas Tech

The 6-1 guard has an effective jump shot and mid-range game, making her Texas Tech’s go-to player at 20.4 points per game. Gray is having a down year from beyond the arc, shooting an uncharacteristic 26.8 percent, but she has battled through injuries and inconsistencies. Gray is tough and more athletic than she gets credit for. She’s also been heating up in recent months, with three games of 30-plus points since Jan. 22.

Lexi Held, G, DePaul

Held is a hard-nosed, smart guard who is effective on both ends of the floor. She does a good job of hunting her opportunities and has proven to be one of the most prolific scorers in the Big East, shooting 39.4 percent from the 3-point line this season. Defensively, Held comes up with a lot of steals and has great anticipation. Given a chance, she could really impress at a WNBA training camp

Sam Thomas, F, Arizona

Thomas is the type of player who does a little bit of everything, but not everything she does shows up in the stat sheet. The 6-foot forward has the length and athleticism to clean up on the glass and be versatile on both sides of the ball. She is efficient at knocking down the open 3, shooting 44.9 percent from deep this season. If she can continue to expand her skill set as a scoring guard, she has all the tools to be a solid pro and is a viable option in the later rounds of the draft.

Reka Dombai, G, Hungary

At 19 years old, Dombai has already proven herself as a prolific scorer in the pros. The 5-10 guard’s production against top-level competition with her club, Gyor, has garnered the attention of international scouts for years now. Dombai’s ceiling is highly appealing, but she would likely be a long-term investment for a team if taken in this draft.

Chloe Bibby, G/F, Maryland

In the last two seasons at Maryland after transferring from Mississippi State, Bibby has shown she can impact the game with her strength and shooting ability. The 6-2 Australian native is a strong rebounder, passer and versatile scorer. Her ability to get hot from beyond the arc will be a big selling point for teams late in the draft.

Bethy Mununga, F, South Florida

Mununga has been a walking double-double for the Bulls this season, averaging 10.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. At 6-foot, she is undersized to play the forward position in the WNBA, but GMs will be scouting Mununga for her athleticism, aggressiveness on the glass and willingness to outwork anyone. Likely needing to transition to wing at the next level, she has shown she can stretch the floor and knock down 3s, but she is not very efficient from deep at just 22 percent.

Maya Dodson, C, Notre Dame

The fifth-year grad transfer spent the past four years with Stanford, where she played three seasons. Dodson is playing some of the best basketball of her career for the Fighting Irish this season, averaging 12.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in maximum minutes. The 6-3 forward has yet to hit her ceiling, and with her size and athleticism, is certainly on WNBA teams’ radars. It is uncertain, however, if she’ll declare for this year’s draft.

Faustine Aifuwa, C, LSU

At 6-5, Aifuwa has the size, strength and power to provide the type of rim protection WNBA teams covet. She has to the elite ability to alter shots with her length, recording 240 blocks during her college career, the second most in LSU program history. Her offense developed over the years and she played her most efficient basketball this season, shooting 51 percent from the field.

Ali Patberg, G, Indiana

Patberg is a high-level competitor in her seventh year of college after a knee injury, redshirt transfer rules and an extra COVID-19 year extended her NCAA eligibility. Between Notre Dame and Indiana, Patberg has gained significant experience and is now the oldest player in this draft class. She has been a steady force for Indiana this season with her ability to score, create for others and lead the team through pressure situations. It would be a mistake to overlook Patberg in this year’s draft due to her all-around skill, basketball IQ and leadership.

Moon Ursin, G, Tulane

Ursin is a unique prospect from the standpoint that she can play any position on the floor. At 5-6, she is undersized in height, but makes up for it with her athleticism and agility. Ursin went from playing a complementary wing role for Baylor to running the point at times for Tulane this season. While it could be tough for Ursin to make a WNBA roster, she could be a steal for the intangibles she brings to the court, including the ability to make everyone around her better.

Hannah Sjerven, C, South Dakota

A two-time Summitt League Defensive Player of the Year, Sjerven has made her mark on the mid-major scene since 2018. The 6-2 post player was one of five finalists for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year last season after a breakout junior campaign. This year, Sjerven’s numbers are down slightly (14.4 points and 7.4 rebounds in 24.9 minutes per game), but she is having her best 3-point shooting year after working on it during the offseason. Sjerven will need to continue to stretch her game at the next level, but she will be in the late-round conversation.

Chloe Lamb, G, South Dakota

Lamb caught a lot of attention with her play during the NCAA Tournament, where she led the Coyotes on a run to the Sweet 16. The 5-10 guard wanted the ball in her hands in key moments and came up big with clutch shots in wins over Ole Miss and Baylor. Lamb averaged 15.8 points and shot 37.4 percent from beyond the arc this season. During the best 3-point shooting season of her five-year college career in 2019-20, Lamb averaged 46.2 percent from deep.

Amber Ramirez, G, Arkansas

The fifth-year guard out of Arkansas is not afraid of the moment. She led Arkansas in scoring with 15.4 points per game this season, shot 40.2 percent from 3 and secured rebounds well from the guard spot at 4.6 per game. Named to the All-SEC Second Team, Ramirez is the type of sharp-shooting deep threat who could be a steal in the later rounds.

Iimar’i Thomas, F, UCLA

One of the most prolific scorers in the country over the last five years, Thomas compiled over 2,300 points during her career at Cincinnati and UCLA. She was second in scoring for UCLA this year, averaging 15.7 points per game. Thomas’ game has evolved every season as she’s slowly integrated a 3-point shot, shooting a career-best 40.6 percent from deep this season. At 5-10, Thomas is too undersized to be a forward at the next level, but she has all the tools to play on the perimeter or expose a mismatch on the interior with her high IQ and touch around the rim. Her flat-out scoring mentality should impress WNBA coaches.

Chelsie Hall, G, Louisville

Hall was the floor general and facilitator for the Cardinals during their run to the fourth Final Four in program history this season. A reliable playmaker, Hall takes care of the basketball on offense and has the on-ball tenacity on defense to fuel her team on the other end of the floor. She can pressure guards in the full court and wear her opponents out with how hard she plays.

Jailin Cherry, G, LSU

An elite-level athlete, Cherry has one of the most dynamic mid-range games in the country. The 5-8 guard thrived under first-year head coach Kim Mulkey, playing some of the best basketball of her career during her fifth and final year at LSU. Cherry averaged career-highs with 9.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game this season.

Nicole Cardaño-Hillary, G, Indiana

The fifth-year guard is disruptive defensively and plays with high energy on the court. She showcased her ability to score at a high volume at George Mason, leaving after three years as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,766 career points. She did not carry as much scoring pressure at Indiana, where she averaged 11.6 points, 3.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game this season and shot 35.7 percent from the 3-point line. She is a smart facilitator with a smooth shooting stroke who could be appealing to teams in later rounds.

Macee Williams, C, IUPUI

The four-time Horizon League Player of the Year was one of the most dominant collegiate players in the country during her five years at IUPUI. The 6-2 forward averaged a double-double this year of 18.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game and is one of the most efficient players on the board, shooting 63.8 percent from the field, which ranked fifth in the country. Williams has size, power, strength and great footwork on the interior and has become a skillful passer out of the post after being double-teamed night in and night out.

Lauren Van Kleunen, F, Marquette

Van Kleunen is one of the most experienced post players entering the draft after redshirting and playing five years at Marquette. She put up the best numbers of her career this season, averaging 13.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists from the block. At 6-2, she’s not big enough to fill a traditional post player role at the next level, but she could get looks in the third round if teams believe they can develop her ability to stretch the floor and her skills on the perimeter.

Nancy Mulkey, C, Washington

Mulkey’s 6-9 length is unique in this draft class. During a six-year collegiate career at Oklahoma, Rice and Washington, she averaged 8.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game while shooting 43 percent from the field. Despite her limited range, Mulkey brings a level of size and rim protection that are hard to come by in the league.

Rachel Galligan is a basketball analyst at Just Women’s Sports. A former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, she also contributes to Winsidr. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RachGall.

No. 10 seed Creighton knocked off No. 2 Iowa in front of a sellout crowd at Carver Arena last Sunday to advance to their first Sweet 16 in program history. That same day, No. 10 South Dakota went down to Waco, Texas and beat two-seed Baylor on their home floor.

Upsets have abounded through the early stages of this year’s NCAA Women’s Tournament, with eight double-digit-seed wins in Rounds 1 and 2 tying the record for the most ever, set in 2018. The madness has brought attention to the growing parity in women’s college basketball. But while most people think of UConn’s historic winning streaks and the dominance of No. 1 seeds in tournaments past, mid-major programs have been setting a competitive bar for years.

“Even this year, looking at some of the seeds these mid-majors get, they’re obviously being called upsets because of seed, but anybody who truly watches these games, some of these are not upsets. There’s a lot of parity there,” said South Dakota State head coach Aaron Johnston, whose team has been to 10 NCAA Tournaments during his tenure and is competing in the NIT Tournament this year.

“It’s up to us to keep getting those wins, to keep scheduling in November and December and proving it and not just talking about it. And I think this year’s been a good example that a lot of teams have really proved that.”

For the past 15 years, individual mid-major programs have been proving it, too. With insight from coaches, we highlight a few of those teams that have made deep NCAA Tournament runs since 2007.

Missouri State, 2019-21

Missouri State has an extensive NCAA Tournament history, with 17 appearances in the last three decades, five trips to the Sweet 16, two to the Elite Eight and two to the Final Four.

In 2019, Missouri State advanced to its fourth Sweet 16 as a No. 11 seed after taking down No. 6 DePaul and No. 3 Iowa State in the first two rounds. Even though the Bears fell to No. 2 Stanford in the Sweet 16, their win over Iowa State was extra sweet given it was their first second-round appearance since 2001.

Two years later, the Bears did it again, this time as a No. 5 seed after going 16-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference. They defeated No. 12 UC Davis and No. 13 Wright State before No. 1 Stanford, the eventual NCAA champions, beat them again in the Sweet 16.

South Dakota State, 2019

South Dakota State made noise in 2019 when it advanced to the program’s first and only Sweet 16, but the team’s success that year took root a decade earlier. The Jackrabbits set the bar high during their first season as a Division I Summit League program in 2008-09, finishing 34-3 and advancing to the second round of the tournament as a No. 7 seed.

In Johnston’s ninth full year at the helm, South Dakota State beat No. 10 seed TCU before two-seed Baylor ousted them in the second round.

“It’s really not supposed to happen like that,” Johnston said. “Usually it takes quite a bit of build-up and a process and a lot of steps to get to that point. We just kind of took off like a rocket. There were obviously a lot of things that fell into place, but also that experience really set a standard for what we wanted to try and do going forward.”

The Jackrabbits have maintained that standard nearly every year since then, making 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and three trips to the second round.

As Summit League champions, South Dakota State entered the 2019 tournament on an automatic bid but earned a No. 6 seed thanks to the program’s long track record of success, dominance in the conference and strength of schedule. They went on to beat No. 11 Quinnipiac in the first round, setting up a second-round matchup with No. 3 Syracuse.

“They remember the disappointment, they remember the feeling of not finishing that game and honestly, they were driven to want to succeed,” Johnston said. “I remember winning the first game against Quinnipiac. It’s hard to win in the tournament, and our team was excited, but that first win didn’t have the same joy you would think it would because they were so focused on wanting to get the second one.”

The Jackrabbits’ skilled perimeter guard play overcame Syracuse’s zone defense in the second round en route to a 75-64 win and a historic trip to the Sweet 16, where they lost to No. 2 Oregon.

Buffalo and Central Michigan, 2018

It was the year of the MAC at the 2018 NCAA Tournament as both Buffalo and Central Michigan advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time as 11 seeds.

That season, the Chippewas won the MAC regular season and tournament championship (after beating Buffalo 96-91) to earn their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance. They knocked off No. 6 LSU and No. 3 Ohio State before falling to No. 2 Oregon in the Sweet 16. Their overall 30-5 record still stands as one of the most memorable in school history.

“We were not going to be intimidated,” said Sue Guavara, the Central Michigan coach at the time. “We said, ‘You put your shoes on the same way they do. Now, they might have five or six more pairs, but that doesn’t matter. They are just like you.’”

The following season, Central Mighican earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as an eight seed. Guevara prioritized scheduling tough non-conference games during the regular season not only to prepare her team to win the conference, but also to improve their chances of earning an at-large bid. In 2018-19, the Chippewas played No. 3-ranked Louisville, No. 24-ranked Miami, Tulane, Western Kentucky, South Dakota State, UCF, Virginia, Vanderbilt and Quinnipiac all before taking on a stacked conference slate.

“At-large bids are so tough to get as a mid-major. The RPI of your conference matters, your body of work matters, your strength of schedule has to be high,” said Guevara. “That year, we loaded up as strong of a non-conference schedule as we could. We struggled to get games – nobody wanted to play. I credit Jeff Walz for bringing his team to Mount Pleasant that year.”

In 2021, Central Michigan earned its sixth trip to the big dance as a 12 seed but fell to No. 5 Iowa in the first round.

Buffalo’s route to the 2018 Sweet 16 was a bit different. Up until that point, the Bulls had been to the NCAA Tournament just once in 2016. In 2018, they lost to Central Michigan in the MAC tournament, seemingly ruining any chance they had of going dancing.

Even head coach Felisha Legette-Jack was getting ready to prepare for a WNIT run.

“I told the team we’re just going to watch this in the locker room, just us, and I can’t assure you what’s going to happen,” she said. “We always watched Selection Monday at the time. We had a camera in there just in case, but nobody believed we were going to get in.”

“It was the first segment, and we just lost it. We were like, ‘Are we really in?’ That’s how God works; He didn’t even make us wait long. We were a team that was just on our own. It was an incredible thing to see. We were so blessed.”

The Bulls were awarded their first ever at-large bid as an 11 seed and went on to dominate No. 6 South Florida and No. 3 Florida State behind Cierra Dillard’s 36 and 29 points, respectively. The Bulls eventually fell to No. 2 South Carolina.

“We just knew that our story needed to be told,” said Legette-Jack. “Our story was we do matter, we are worthy of this opportunity, we’ve earned the right to be here. Just let them know our story through this game.”

In 2019, Buffalo entered the tournament as a 10 seed, their highest ever, and beat No. 7 Rutgers to advance to play No. 2 UConn in the second round, where their run ended.

This year, Buffalo fell to No. 4 Tennessee 80-67 in the first round as a 13 seed. The result was a bit of a disappointment for the Bulls given their recent success.

“I’m hoping that we can get to neutral sites because it’s only fair,” said Legette-Jack, whose team played the Vols at their home arena instead of in a previously arranged venue, as the men’s tournament has done for years.

“Our fans couldn’t even sit behind our bench. There were empty seats behind our bench. Why would you set that up? They had to be across the court. They set it up for failure for a mid-major – that’s a 13 seed.”

The Bulls have now been to four NCAA Tournaments, and all under Legette-Jack. In her 10 seasons at the helm, she has compiled a record of 202-116, making her the winningest coach in school history.

“You have to give credit to these young people who really believed in the vision,” she said. “They didn’t look at the opponent that we were playing, the venue that we were playing in. They just listened to my words and they bought into us saying, ‘This is about you. You too can be great if you go take it every possession.’”

Quinnipiac, 2017

Quinnipiac orchestrated one of the most magical runs of the last decade when they advanced to the Sweet 16 as a 12 seed in 2017 for the first time in program history. The team had made the NCAA Tournament twice prior in 2013 and 2015, losing to No. 4 Maryland and then No. 5 Oklahoma. Those experiences taught head coach Tricia Fabbri how to get over the hump.

“We basically broke it down by asking ourselves, ‘What seed do we need to be?’ We were being educated by Dr. Marilyn McNeil (former Monmouth Coach and chair of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee) on what the committee room looks at,” Fabbri said.

“We were focused on what we had to do, and can you actually control the seed after you get the automatic qualifier? How do you control the seed and not just be happy you got there? We realized there was a strategy to it and that is what really made the difference.”

Fabbri applied that insight to scheduling a non-conference slate that would set the Bobcats up for a run at a 11 or 12 seed. That way, they wouldn’t have to play a team in the first round on their home court.

By 2017, Fabbri and her veteran team felt good about what they needed to do. When they heard their name called as a 12 seed on selection night, they knew their hard work was about to pay off.

“We went, wow, we’re the team in that pod that has got the most postseason experience in the NCAA Tournament, and now we were just positioned for it,” Fabbri said. “We felt really good about our matchup, on a neutral floor, having the experience, and just had to go play. We were ready to go win games.”

Their path included a first-round win over No. 5 Marquette and a second-round victory over No. 4 Miami. At the time, Quinnipiac was just the fourth 12 seed to reach the Sweet 16 since the field expanded in 1994. They went on to lose to the eventual national champions, No. 1 South Carolina.

The Bobcats advanced to their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance as a 9 seed the following season, validating the foundation Fabbri had built. But as much as a 9 seed, in many ways, is a stamp of respect, it also presents a challenging path in the bracket.

“It’s not a good thing from the standpoint of going to win games,” Fabbri said. “That 8/9 game is going to put you against the top team in the bracket, the No. 1, and your chances go down exponentially to get to the second weekend.”

The Bobcats beat No. 8 seed Miami again in 2018 to advance to the second round, where they met No. 1 UConn in Storrs. The Huskies erased any hope of a second Sweet 16 appearance, defeating the Bobcats 71-46.

Dayton, 2015

After losing in the 2015 A-10 Championship game to Jonquel Jones and George Washington, Dayton received an at-large bid as a No. 7 seed to the NCAA Tournament. The Flyers beat No. 10 Iowa State and upset No. 2 Kentucky and No. 3 Louisville to advance to the program’s first Sweet 16 and Elite Eight.

“It was a transformational moment in the program,” said Jim Jabir, Dayton’s head coach from 2003-16. “That group really, really believed that they could play with anybody. They had been to four NCAA Tournaments, we had beaten all of these Big-10, ACC, Big 12 schools. The game against Kentucky, we were down close to six or eight towards the end of the game, and we ended up winning in overtime.”

Dayton’s run ended against Breanna Stewart and No. 1 UConn, who went on to win their 10th national title. But the Flyers remain one of the most dominant mid-major programs in the country, having made the NCAA Tournament nine times from 2010-22.

“It was amazing, but you have to be lucky and you have to work at a place that supports you,” Jabir said. “Because if you don’t, you’re spinning your tires and you’re not going to get anywhere.”

This year, Dayton, led by Shauna Green, was a part of the NCAA Women’s Tournament debut First Four as an at-large No. 11 seed. The 26-2 Flyers demolished DePaul 88-57, before losing to No. 6 Georgia 70-54 in the first round.

Delaware, 2013

In Delaware’s first and only Sweet 16 appearance, Elena Delle Donne led the six-seed Blue Hens past 11-seed West Virginia and three-seed North Carolina to the third round of games, where they fell to No. 2 Kentucky.

This season, the Blue Hens received an automatic bid to their fifth NCAA Tournament as a 13 seed after winning the CAA tournament championship. Led by Jasmine Dickey, one of the most prolific scorers in the country, Delaware couldn’t keep up with Maryland’s own offensive firepower in a 102-71 first-round loss.

Gonzaga and Green Bay, 2011

Gonzaga is one of the most decorated and experienced mid-major teams in the NCAA Tournament, having been to an Elite Eight and four Sweet 16s since 2010. Of the Zags’ 13 NCAA Tournament berths, five have come in the last five seasons. This year, Gonzaga earned a nine seed and beat No. 8 seed Nebraska before falling to No. 1 Louisville in the Round of 32.

Gonzaga’s run to the Elite Eight in 2011 remains the furthest the program has ever made it in the NCAA Tournament, led by then-head coach Kelly Graves and point guard Courtney Vandersloot. As an 11 seed, the Zags upset No. 6 Iowa, No. 3 UCLA and No. 7 Louisville before the run came to an end against No. 1 Stanford.

That same year, Green Bay entered the tournament as a regular, having made the big dance 18 times. The Phoenix were coming off a dominant 36-2 campaign and a Horizon League regular season and tournament championship.

The longtime success of the program helped them earn a five seed for the first time in history. Prior to 2011, Green Bay’s best seed was No. 8 in 2003. They beat No. 11 Little Rock and then four-seed Michigan State to earn their first trip to the Sweet 16, where they fell to No. 1 Baylor.

San Diego State, 2010

San Diego State made it to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 25 years, and just the third time in program history, after upsetting No. 6 Texas in the first round and No. 3 West Virginia in the second as an 11 seed.

Superstar seniors Jene Morris and Quenese Davis combined for 46 points in the win over West Virginia, making the Aztecs the lowest seed to advance beyond the second round. The magic ran out in the next round against Duke. San Diego State, which has made nine total NCAA Tournament appearances, earned another berth in 2012 but hasn’t been back since then.

Marist and Bowling Green, 2007

Before Quinnipiac became the MAAC’s most recent postseason darling, Marist set a precedent for the conference, making nine-straight appearances on the big stage from 2006-14.

In 2007, the No. 13-seed Red Foxes beat No. 4 seed Ohio State behind Julianne Viani’s 24 points on six 3-pointers in a pivotal moment for the MAAC conference and women’s college basketball as a whole. Next, Marist beat No. 5 see Middle Tennessee, a team with the longest active win streak in the country at the time, set at 27 straight wins. Marist ultimately lost in the Sweet 16 to Tennessee, who went on to win it all that year.

Marist made seven straight trips to the NCAA Tournament after their Sweet 16 run, advancing to the second round three times in that span.

Bowling Green also made history in 2007, advancing to its first Sweet 16 as a No. 7 seed and were already in the national spotlight as a top-25 ranked team. Connecticut Sun head coach Curt Miller, then coach of the Falcons, had led them to three straight NCAA Tournament berths from 2005-07 and a top-25 ranking in the latter season, earning the respect of the NCAA committee.

The Falcons couldn’t get past the first round in their first two trips, but in 2007, they had the experience needed to make a deep run.

“One of our big unchecked boxes and goals for that tremendous senior class was to advance and win in the NCAA Tournament,” Miller said. “One of the ways we talked about positioning ourselves to do that was to try to become a better seed if we could. One of the ways we could control that was scheduling in the non-conference.”

Earlier that season, Bowling Green lost to Notre Dame on the road in overtime and beat Indiana by 35 at home. Then they faced Duke, the undefeated and fourth-ranked team in the nation, on a neutral floor and gave the Blue Devils their closest game of the season at that point.

After another MAC regular season and tournament sweep, the Falcons eagerly awaited their seeding on selection night. After earning a 13 and 12 seed in their past two trips, they had their concerns about the committee’s decision-making.

“All that we were hoping for was that it didn’t show up as 8/9. We didn’t want the 1 seed in the second round,” Miller said. “We would have been satisfied if we were a 10 seed. When the bracket was revealed, it was just outstanding because we knew we could win and take care of business in the first round, and that we would get a 2 seed next and not a 1.”

Thanks to the seeding, the Falcons knocked off No. 10 Oklahoma State and No. 2 Vanderbilt before falling to No. 3 Arizona State in the Sweet 16.

“It was a remarkable time because there was support from not only the university, but the local community in Bowling Green,” Miller said. “We were just in this little piece of heaven that really supported women’s basketball.”

Bowling Green has been to 11 NCAA Tournaments, but 2007 still marks their only run past the second round.

“There is something special about it. I truly admire other mid-major coaches that can lead their teams to the Sweet 16,” Miller said. “There’s almost this fraternity or sorority of so much respect, knowing just how difficult it is to do.”

Rachel Galligan is a basketball analyst at Just Women’s Sports. A former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, she also contributes to Winsidr. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RachGall.

NASHVILLE — From competitive early rounds to a thrilling finish in the championship game Sunday, the SEC women’s basketball tournament delivered.

Here are my main takeaways from four days spent watching some of the best in the sport before the NCAA Tournament begins.

Kentucky shocked us all

Every program in the country strives to do what the Wildcats have accomplished these last few weeks, playing their best basketball at the right time. Kentucky bounced back from an underwhelming campaign to end the regular season and conference postseason on a 10-game win streak and stun No. 1 South Carolina for the program’s first SEC tournament championship in 40 years. The only people who believed they could win the SEC Tournament were the Wildcats themselves.

Rhyne Howard certainly did not need to prove her greatness in Nashville, but to lead her team to a championship against all odds is next-level heroics. The 6-foot-2 senior guard earned tournament MVP honors after averaging 22 points in Kentucky’s four games, including a 32-point performance against LSU and a near triple-double against Tennessee.

The projected top WNBA draft pick has faced immense pressure these last two years. Howard not only brought a championship back to Kentucky, she also did it against the team that’s been ranked No. 1 in the country all season long and in front of nearly every WNBA franchise there to watch her. Regardless of where she goes in the draft, Howard’s impact on the game of basketball will span far beyond her collegiate career.

South Carolina’s “big” lineup is unbelievable

South Carolina took the loss Sunday, but Dawn Staley’s lineup of three to four post players will be difficult for any opponent to game-plan for in the NCAA Tournament.

When the 6-foot-4 Aliyah Boston and the 6-7 Kamilla Cardoso throw high-low passes to one another from the free-throw line, their length is nearly impossible to defend. And when you add 6-4 Laeticia Amihere and 6-2 Victaria Saxton to the mix, South Carolina has one of the biggest rotations in the country.

On the other end of the floor, Kentucky struggled to find looks at the basket against the pair, especially in the second quarter when they managed just three points. When you’re facing a lineup of that size, it’s easy to get in your own head and second guess your decision-making. The Gamecocks will be betting on that as they make a run at the national championship later this month.

Shakira Austin shows off pro-ready skills

Austin was named First Team All-SEC for the second consecutive season and solidified herself as one of the greatest players to ever wear an Ole Miss uniform. The senior center averaged 15.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks to lead Ole Miss to a 23-7 finish, its best record since 2006-07. Austin also elevated her play in the SEC tournament, averaging 21.5 points and 9.5 rebounds to lift Ole Miss to the semifinals.

Her 27-point, 13-rebound double-double against Florida in the quarterfinals in front of 10 WNBA teams was the highlight of the tournament. Austin is an automatic lottery pick in the upcoming WNBA draft and deserves to be in the conversation for No. 1 because of her pro-ready frame, athleticism and ceiling. For as good as she currently is, she will only get better as a pro. When you watch her 6-5 frame elevate over opponents, snag a rebound with power and proceed to advance the ball down the court, you realize her sheer potential might surpass any other prospect in this draft class.

The relentlessness of Florida

Florida has been one of the best stories of the college basketball season. This was a dormant program that overcame an early-season scandal and the transfer of their leading scorer earlier in the season and to earn five top-25 wins and a 21-10 finish. Kelly Rae Finley rightfully had the interim tag removed from her title last week, signing a five-year contract as head coach and solidifying her position as the leader of this program.

WNBA draft prospect Kiki Smith had a phenomenal season, averaging 14.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game before going down with a season-ending knee injury in Florida’s one-point win over Vanderbilt in the second round. When Smith hit the floor, the Florida team circled together and held hands in support of their leader. After the win, Finley’s eyes swelled with emotion as her players ran to the training room to be with Smith.

The following day, Smith joined her team on the bench in a different role, clipboard in hand as the Gators fell to Ole Miss, 70-60, and now await their NCAA Tournament fate. As outsiders, it’s difficult to understand everything this team has gone through in the last eight months. If they get a bid to the NCAA Tournament, their first since 2015-16, they’ll do so with a level of collective resolve that will be hard to count out.

Keep an eye on Vanderbilt

First-year head coach Shea Ralph took over a Commodores program that won just nine conference games in the last four seasons and led them to a 14-18 record, their best finish since 2015-16.

Vanderbilt has shown flashes of promise throughout the season, but none more clearly than in the last two weeks when the Commodores beat Florida on Feb. 24 and Texas A&M in the first round of the SEC tournament, 85-69. Vanderbilt was one point away from advancing to the SEC tournament semifinals, falling to Florida 53-52 last Thursday.

While the Commodores’ season could continue in the WNIT, the SEC has gotten the message: Watch out for Vanderbilt next year. Senior guard Jordyn Cambridge is expected to return following a strong season, and All-SEC Freshman honorees Iyana Moore (12.2 points per game) and Sacha Washington (seven) earned valuable experience. With top-100 recruits Ryanne Allen and Amauri Williams entering the mix next fall, Ralph’s team is on the rise.

Missouri’s rocky SEC finish

Aijha Blackwell did not play in three games in the final two weeks of the season, including losses to Kentucky and Georgia. The 6-foot guard leads Missouri in scoring and averaged 31 minutes per game this season, but she played just 11 minutes in Missouri’s 61-52 overtime loss to Arkansas in the first round of the SEC tournament. She remained on the bench in overtime as the Tigers fought to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive. A win would have nearly solidified an at-large bid, and yet head coach Robin Pingeton kept Blackwell sidelined.

No matter what was going on behind the scenes, Missouri will now have to wait patiently until Selection Sunday to find out if their 18-12 overall record, 7-9 SEC record, and 70-69 win over No. 1 South Carolina back on Dec. 30 will be enough to send them to the tournament.

Rachel Galligan is a basketball analyst at Just Women’s Sports. A former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, she also contributes to Winsidr. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RachGall.

Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot are each returning to the Chicago Sky on one-year deals, the team confirmed Thursday. The move reunites the married couple and longtime teammates after they helped lead the Sky to their first WNBA championship last season.

Quigley’s fully-protected deal is worth $135,000, while Vandersloot’s is also fully protected for $195,000, sources tell Just Women’s Sports.

With Quigley and Vandersloot locked in, the Sky enter the 2022 season with their entire starting five from the 2021 WNBA Finals under contract.

Quigley, the No. 22 pick of the Seattle Storm in the 2008 draft, bounced around the WNBA — Phoenix, Indiana, San Antonio and back to Seattle — and overseas leagues before settling in with the Sky in 2013. The Illinois native and DePaul grad revived her career with the Sky and has been integral to the team’s success during her nine seasons.

A three-time WNBA All-Star, two-time Sixth Woman of the Year and three-time champion of the 3-Point Contest, Quigley has averaged 12 points and 2.1 assists per game to go along with 40 percent shooting from the 3-point line during her time in Chicago.

Vandersloot has been with the Sky since they drafted her third overall out of Gonzaga in 2011. The point guard, who’s led the league in assists for five consecutive seasons, also holds the all-time WNBA records for the most assists in a season (300), the most assists in a game (18) and the highest assists average in a season (9.1 per game). A three-time All-Star, Vandersloot has averaged 10.1 points and 6.7 assists per game on 44 percent shooting from the field during her 11-year career.

Vandersloot’s decision to return to Chicago comes after a report earlier this month that UMMC Ekaterinburg was considering paying her to sit out the WNBA season. At the time, ESPN’s Holly Rowe reported that the Sky had made Vandersloot a “disrespectful” offer.

The Sky were aggressive early in free agency, placing the core designation on 2021 WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper and later signing her to a multi-year deal. They also agreed to terms with Emma Meesseman, the 2019 Finals MVP with the Washington Mystics, adding skill at the forward position after losing Stefanie Dolson to the New York Liberty in free agency.

Meeseeman gives Chicago another scoring weapon in the frontcourt alongside Candace Parker and Azurá Stevens, while Quigley, Vandersloot and Copper fill out the backcourt. The Sky also addressed their bench depth, acquiring point guard Julie Allemand from Indiana in a three-team trade and signing 2021 No. 4 pick Kysre Gondrezick to a training camp contract.

Rachel Galligan is a basketball analyst at Just Women’s Sports. A former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, she also contributes to Winsidr. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RachGall.

The Los Angeles Sparks are finalizing a one-year deal with two-time WNBA champion Jordin Canada, bringing the Los Angeles native home, sources tell Just Women’s Sports.

The Seattle Storm rescinded Canada’s qualifying offer over the weekend, making the 5-foot-6 point guard an unrestricted free agent. The protected contract she’s signing with the Sparks is worth $98,000 in 2022, according to sources.

Canada spent the last four seasons with the Seattle Storm after the team selected her with the fifth overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft. She averaged 7.2 points, 4.1 assists, 1.3 steals in 21.7 minutes per game with the Storm, primarily serving as the team’s sixth woman outside of the 2019 season, when she started 29 of 30 games.

To go along with her two championship rings in 2018 and 2020, the 2019 WNBA steals leader and All-Defensive First Team member brings experience, poise and a high basketball IQ to the Sparks after backing up Sue Bird for the last four years. Canada knows how to defend, how to run an offense and how to win.

Canada, who grew up in Los Angeles and played college basketball at UCLA, will join a reloading Sparks team that has been highly aggressive in free agency.

Last week, the Sparks traded Gabby Williams to the Storm for Katie Lou Samuelson and the No. 9 pick in this year’s draft, opening up significant cap space for additional major signings. Los Angeles then traded Erica Wheeler, a 2022 No. 15 pick and a 2023 first-round pick to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Chennedy Carter and the rights to 6-7 post player Li Yueru.

The package deals created enough cap space for the Sparks to officially court star center Liz Cambage, who reportedly “verbally committed” to play for Los Angeles over the weekend.

Rachel Galligan is a basketball analyst at Just Women’s Sports. A former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, she also contributes to Winsidr. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RachGall.

Rebecca Allen has re-signed with the New York Liberty on a multi-year deal, the team announced Friday.

Allen’s contract, as first reported by Just Women’s Sports, is a protected two-year deal worth $141,000 in the first year and $136,850 in the second, according to The Next. The Liberty previously waived guard Jazmine Jones and forward Leaonna Odom to make room for Allen’s deal.

The 6-foot-2 Australian guard is coming off of the best season of her career with the Liberty. Allen averaged 9.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 38 percent from the 3-point line in 25 games to help New York advance to the WNBA playoffs for the first time in four years.

In addition to her increasing offensive production, Allen provides length and the ability to stretch defenses with her shot. Having played in 133 games (and started 21) across six seasons with the Liberty, Allen also brings crucial experience to a youth-heavy roster featuring Sabrina Ionescu, Michaela Onyenwere and Betnijah Laney.

Stefanie Dolson, officially introduced this week after signing with the Liberty in free agency, adds another veteran presence and brings championship pedigree to New York. Dolson won both a gold medal in 3×3 basketball at the Tokyo Olympics and a WNBA championship with the Chicago Sky last year.

Allen will join fellow Aussie and newly named Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello, who was hired in January after parting ways with the Phoenix Mercury. Allen is also a member of the Australian women’s national team, which is coached by Brondello.

Rachel Galligan is a basketball analyst at Just Women’s Sports. A former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, she also contributes to Winsidr. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RachGall.

Sophie Cunningham is expected to re-sign with the Phoenix Mercury, her agent tells Just Women’s Sports. The exact details of the contract terms were not disclosed.

An unrestricted free agent, Cunningham also received offers from the Los Angeles Sparks and Indiana Fever before deciding to return to the Mercury.

The 6-foot-1 guard has become an integral part of Phoenix’s roster since the team drafted her 13th overall out of the University of Missouri in 2019. Starting in 20 of 83 game appearances with the Mercury during her three-year career, Cunningham improved in nearly every statistical category in 2021.

After averaging 5.6 points and two rebounds while shooting a career-best 41-percent from the 3-point line during the regular season, Cunningham raised her game even more during the Mercury’s run to the WNBA Finals. The 25-year-old was the difference-maker in Phoenix’s first-round, single-elimination win over the New York Liberty, scoring 21 points on 6-for-7 shooting from deep. She provided a spark on several occasions in the playoffs, as the Mercury overcame a shorthanded roster to push the Chicago Sky to four games in the Finals.

Now that Cunningham is locked in alongside the veteran core of Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins-Smith, it appears the Mercury are going all in on settling unfinished business in 2022. Cunningham’s play should continue to trend in the right direction as she continues to find her confidence. Her toughness and ability to stretch defenses make her an asset to the Mercury when opposing defenses are focused on the Big Three.

Vanessa Nygaard will lead Phoenix into the 2022 season after she was named head coach last week. Nygaard replaces 2014 WNBA champion Sandy Brondello, who was hired as head coach of the Liberty after her contract with the Mercury was not renewed.

Rachel Galligan is a basketball analyst at Just Women’s Sports. A former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, she also contributes to Winsidr. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RachGall.

WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper is finalizing a multi-year deal to return to the Chicago Sky, sources tell Just Women’s Sports.

The Sky put the core designation on Copper earlier this month, expressing their long-term commitment to the All-Star.

Copper, who has been with the Sky since 2017, helped the franchise win its first-ever WNBA championship after leading Chicago in scoring during the regular season (14.4 points per game) and playoffs (17.7). The guard’s return is the first major domino to fall for a veteran Sky team looking to run it back in 2022.

The Philadelphia native entered the WNBA as the No. 7 overall pick of the Washington Mystics in the 2016 draft. Washington traded Copper to the Sky the following season as part of the deal for Elena Delle Donne. In her first three seasons in Chicago, Copper came off the bench and averaged 6.8 points in 15 minutes per game. She broke out during the 2020 WNBA bubble season, starting every contest and leading the team with 14.9 points per game.

Copper was named the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP after a dominant playoff performance. The Sky overcame two single-elimination games and the No. 1 seed Connecticut Sun in the semifinals before defeating the Phoenix Mercury in four games in the Finals. Copper scored in double digits in each of Chicago’s 10 playoff games.

With Copper, 27, locked in, the Sky can turn their attention to the rest of their unrestricted free agents, notably Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot. Stefanie Dolson, a center on the Sky’s championship team, is on her way out after agreeing to a multi-year deal with the New York Liberty, The Athletic reported on Sunday. Free agents can officially begin signing contracts with teams on Tuesday.

Rachel Galligan is a basketball analyst at Just Women’s Sports. A former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, she also contributes to Winsidr. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RachGall.

The Chicago Sky are expected to name WNBA champion and former All-Star Ann Wauters as assistant coach, league sources tell Just Women’s Sports. It will be Wauters’ first professional coaching job after she retired from playing in 2020.

Wauters entered the WNBA at just 19 years old when the Cleveland Rockers selected her No. 1 overall in the 2000 draft. The 6-foot-5 center was the first Belgian-born player in the WNBA and the youngest player in the league at the time. She joined the New York Liberty through the dispersal draft after Cleveland folded in 2003, making her first All-Star team in 2005. In 2008, the Atlanta Dream selected Wauters in the expansion draft but traded her to the San Antonio Silver Stars, who reached the WNBA Finals that same year.

After two years in San Antonio, Wauters sat out for two seasons before returning with the Seattle Storm in 2012. In 2016, she signed with the Los Angeles Sparks and won a WNBA championship with current Sky player Candace Parker in her first and only season in L.A.

Wauters averaged 10 points, 5.1 rebounds, and shot 54 percent from the field during her nine-year WNBA career.

Wauters’ extensive basketball career also included stops all over Europe. She spent time with powerhouse clubs UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia, Galatasaray and Yakin Dogu in Turkey, WBC CSKA Moscow in Russia and Ros Casares Godella in Spain. In 2021, Wauters served as captain of the Belgian national team and played in her first Olympics at the age of 40.

Wauters is a four-time EuroLeague champion, two-time Russian National League champion and four-time French Cup winner.

Wauters, 41, will join a Sky team looking to repeat as WNBA champions in 2022 under head coach James Wade. Currently, the team is negotiating with several of its core players turned free agents, such as Allie Quigley, Courtney Vandersloot and Stefanie Dolson. The Sky placed the core designation on 2021 Finals MVP Kahleah Copper earlier this month.

Rachel Galligan is a basketball analyst at Just Women’s Sports. A former professional basketball player and collegiate coach, she also contributes to Winsidr. Follow Rachel on Twitter @RachGall.