Kysre Gondrezick Selected Fourth Overall in a Pick No Expert Saw Coming

In the biggest surprise in a draft we’ve seen since the Chicago Bears drafted Mitch Trubisky second overall, West Virginia guard Kysre Gondrezick was taken fourth overall by the Indiana Fever. 

We have a feeling, however, that this draft pick might turn out a little bit better for the Fever. 

While the team is undeniably OK in the backcourt, Gondrezick is a solid 3-point shooter and should be able to make an immediate impact from that standpoint. However, the fact that she plays the same position as the Fever’s best player, Kelsey Mitchell, also enables her to take some time to develop her game. 

But that’s not all that the Fever saw in Gondrezick that led them to take her fourth overall.

She also had a stellar college career, establishing herself as one of the top players in the Big 12 as a senior. During the 2020-21 season she averaged 19.5 points per game and was a 2021 AP All-American Honorable Mention. 

Fever GM Tamika Catchings also highlighted Gondrezick’s “championship mentality” as one of the reasons why they took her off the draft board so soon. 

“We came into tonight really focused on we need scorers and we need championship-type caliber players in our organization,” Catchings said. “One of the qualities we really focused on was the championship mentality. That’s what she has.”

That and if her reaction is any indication of her now-commitment to the Fever, we’d say it was a pretty good pick.

You can read more of Just Women’s Sports’ 2021 WNBA draft coverage here and here.