All Scores

WNBA Draft team grades: Dream, Fever and Sparks earn top marks

The Sparks addressed a need on the wing by taking Rae Burrell with the 9th overall pick. (Evan Yu/Just Women’s Sports)

Now that the 2022 WNBA Draft is complete, we can evaluate the selections and take a closer look at how each of the 12 teams performed.

The Atlanta Dream made an aggressive move to trade for the No. 1 pick and land guard Rhyne Howard; Lexie Hull and Mya Hollingshed were easily the biggest surprises of the first round; and several projected first-round picks fell to the second round, which is not necessarily a reflection of their ability to compete for highly coveted roster spots in training camp.

Below, we hand out post-draft grades for every WNBA team.

Atlanta Dream: A+

No. 1 Rhyne Howard, No. 15 Naz Hillmon

The Dream had their eyes set on someone specific when they traded up to the No. 1 pick in a deal with Washington last week, and that someone was Howard. Howard’s pro-readiness and elite skill set have been highly touted for years, and the rebuilding Dream have an opportunity to make her a focal point of the organization under new management.

Landing Naz Hillmon in the second round was a home run, as the Michigan star easily could have been off the board at that point. Although she is undersized at 6-foot-2, Hillmon’s work ethic, character and heart make her a perfect fit for the culture Atlanta is looking to build as she develops her game over time.

Indiana Fever: A

No. 2 NaLyssa Smith, No. 4 Emily Engstler, No. 6 Lexie Hull, No. 10 Queen Egbo, No. 20 Destanni Henderson, No. 25 Ameshya Williams-Holliday, No. 34 Ali Patberg

The Fever’s 2022 draft class could be an expansion team of its own. There is a lot to unpack from Indiana’s draft night, but one thing is for certain: The Fever loaded up on young and promising talent at nearly every position.

General manager Lin Dunn is looking toward the future, a process that involves tearing down the roster and adding players with size and defensive tenacity. The team’s first two selections, NaLyssa Smith and Emily Engstler, fit that mold to a tee. While Lexie Hull at No. 6 was a bit of a surprise, she brings undeniable length and sharpshooting at the wing spot.

Reuniting Smith with Queen Egbo out of Baylor was a good move for the sake of chemistry and consistency. While some are higher on the 6-3 Egbo than others, her elite athleticism and efficiency at the rim are two highly valued traits in the WNBA.

Destanni Henderson shined in the national championship game as the floor general for No. 1 South Carolina and gives the Fever high-level depth at the point, which they need. While it will be challenging for Ameshya Williams-Holliday and Ali Patberg to make the roster, they bring size and, in Patberg’s case, homegrown talent that will make Fever training camp even more competitive.

Los Angeles Sparks: A

No. 9 Rae Burrell, No. 16 Kianna Smith, No. 19 Olivia Nelson-Ododa, No. 27 Amy Atwell

After loading up in free agency, the Sparks were on a mission to add length, depth and shooting ability at the wing in this draft, and they did just that. Rae Burrell played the majority of her senior season with Tennessee at less than 100 percent. If she can take the time to get healthy, her potential in the league is appealing as a 6-1 guard.

Kianna Smith was a bit overlooked in this draft. The 6-0 sharpshooting and steady guard out of Louisville has a legitimate chance to earn a roster spot. While the Sparks are fairly deep already in the post, they would have been remiss to pass on Olivia Nelson-Ododa in the second round given her skill set in the paint and history at UConn.

Amy Atwell is also an intriguing, late addition. An athletic, experienced and offensive-minded guard, she will bring a valuable element to Sparks training camp.

New York Liberty: A-

No. 5 Nyara Sabally, No. 18 Lorela Cubaj, No. 29 Sika Kone

The Liberty addressed the one glaring area on their roster — post play — by adding three extremely promising talents in this draft. Nyara Sabally has the potential to be one of the best post players in the class with her 6-5 frame, versatile skill set, touch around the rim and face-up ability. She has yet to hit her stride after battling injuries at Oregon, an issue that hung over her draft stock but does not seem to concern the Liberty. I did not expect her to be available at No. 5, so this feels like a steal for New York.

The Liberty also added a highly competitive, defensive-minded pro with a great motor in Lorela Cubaj. If she can expand her offensive game, she has a real shot at making an impact in this league. Sika Kone, at just 19 years old, has a high ceiling for the future of the franchise.

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The Mystics traded down and still landed a player they coveted in Shakira Austin. (Evan Yu/Just Women's Sports)

Washington Mystics: A-

No. 3 Shakira Austin, No. 14 Christyn Williams

The Mystics gave up the No. 1 pick and still had one of the best drafts, landing Shakira Austin and Christyn Williams with the No. 3 and No. 14 picks. As part of their pre-draft deal with Atlanta, they also still own the right to swap first-round picks in the highly touted 2023 draft.

Austin’s 6-5 frame, power and strength might be the most impressive in this class, and the Mystics have the opportunity to mold her into a long-term impact player.

Williams gives the Mystics necessary depth at the wing position. UConn has one of the best track records of preparing players for the WNBA, and Williams should be no exception given her explosiveness and ability to attack the rim in the open court.

Connecticut Sun: B

No. 12 Nia Clouden, No. 24 Jordan Lewis, No. 36 Kiara Smith

Connecticut, facing a limited salary cap, had a trade in place to move down the board on draft night, sources tell Just Women’s Sports. Instead, they were able to secure the player they had near the top of their list in Nia Clouden. The Sun needed scoring depth at the off-guard position, and Clouden’s ability to facilitate, score and play off the ball will force the Sun to make some difficult roster decisions out of training camp.

Jordan Lewis had a strong season for Baylor and enters the WNBA with an experienced resume. Kiara “Kiki” Smith was an absolute steal as the last pick in the draft. The Florida product is still recovering from a late-season injury, giving the Sun the option to suspend her contract and hold onto her playing rights for the future.

Las Vegas Aces: B-

No. 8 Mya Hollingshed, No. 11 Kierstan Bell, No. 13 Khayla Pointer, No. 23 Aisha Sheppard, No. 35 Faustine Aifuwa

The Aces addressed multiple positions in this draft, but they specifically needed depth at the stretch four, and they added that right at the top of the board in Mya Hollingshed.

Las Vegas’ decision to trade away vital 2023 first- and second-round draft picks to move up in this year’s draft and select a player who likely would have been available later on was perplexing. Hollingshed, however, does give the Aces elite length and athleticism coming off the best season of her NCAA career. They clearly view her as a valuable asset to Becky Hammon’s system in this new era of the franchise.

The Aces were fortunate to get Kierstan Bell at No. 11, since the confident and versatile scorer was projected to go higher. Bell’s game should translate well to Las Vegas’ high-octane offense. From there, the Aces reunited LSU’s Khayla Pointer and Faustine Aifuwa with their former coach and current Las Vegas president, Nikki Fargas, who knows the competitive edge both players will bring to camp. Aisha Sheppard gives the Aces another experienced offensive weapon who shoots the ball well from the perimeter.

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The Wings added Veronica Burton, a well-rounded point guard, with their first pick of the draft. (Evan Yu/Just Women's Sports)

Dallas Wings: B-

No. 7 Veronica Burton, No. 30 Jasmine Dickey, No. 31 Jazz Bond

This Wings team has so much young talent that it’s hard to determine where it goes from here. This season could serve as a barometer for the players Dallas decides to hold onto and those it opts to move on from.

Despite the lack of space on the roster, the Wings landed a great point guard in Veronica Burton. The Northwestern product has the mentality, facilitating and scoring ability, and defensive tenacity to carve out a long career in the WNBA.

Jasmine Dickey is a prolific scorer who will challenge for a spot in camp. Jazz Bond, a big who can shoot the 3, might warrant an extra look now that the Wings will be without Bella Alarie this season.

Minnesota Lynx: B-

No. 22 Kayla Jones, No. 28 Hannah Sjerven

Lynx head coach and GM Cheryl Reeve has spoken openly about the Lynx’s roster and cap space challenges this season. Trading the No. 8 and No. 13 picks to the Aces for 2023 first- and second-round picks was a savvy move given their current situation and the strength of next year’s draft. The combination of that trade and their current roster bind earned the Lynx the B- grade.

This draft was not going to be a focal point for the 2022 season, and it didn’t need to be. The Lynx still added Kayla Jones, a well-rounded player and effective rebounder and shooter. Hannah Sjerven put the world on notice after leading South Dakota to the Sweet 16. At 6-2, she will have a learning curve, but she brings a strong presence to the interior.

Seattle Storm: C+

No. 17 Elissa Cunane, No. 21 Evina Westbrook, No. 33 Jade Melbourne

Seattle jumped at the opportunity to select Elissa Cunane in the middle of the second round, since many did not expect her to fall to No. 17. Cunane showed at NC State that she is most effective when she can go one-on-one in the paint and shoot open 3s. Her physicality remains a concern, but the 6-5 center adds an element that Seattle will need to consider deeply after this season.

Evina Westbrook adds depth at the combo spot, but it’s unclear if the Storm have a place for her on their guard-heavy roster. Jade Melbourne, just 19 years old, could be an asset down the road if Seattle can hold onto her.

Phoenix Mercury: C

No. 26 Maya Dodson, No. 32 Macee Williams

With all of their picks coming in the third round, the Mercury were always going to be limited in this draft. Their biggest need was depth in the post given Brittney Griner’s uncertain future in Russia, and they added two five-year collegiate posts in Maya Dodson and Macee Williams.

The 6-3 Dodson, after a standout season at Notre Dame, brings athleticism and the ability to run the floor. Williams had one of the most dominant collegiate careers at IUPUI and might shock some people in camp with her strength, power, footwork and efficiency. They’ll both have their work cut out for them in training camp, competing against a talented Phoenix roster.

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.

‘Sports Are Fun!’ Rates the NWSL with Gotham FC’s Ryan Campbell

Cover image for Sports Are Fun! with Kelley O'Hara featuring the Washington Spirit.
'Sports Are Fun!' talks NWSL in the latest episode. (JWS)

Welcome to another episode of Sports Are Fun! presented by TurboTax.

Every week on Sports Are Fun!, co-hosts soccer legend Kelley O'Hara, sports journalist Greydy Diaz, and JWS intern BJ serve up their hottest takes on the biggest women's sports headlines.

This week, Sports Are Fun! talks all things NWSL with Gotham FC goalkeeper — and O'Hara's fellow Stanford alum — Ryan Campbell.

"We're five games in at this point and now I feel like things are starting to take shape — we can talk about them," O'Hara opens, referencing the start to the 2025 NWSL season. "I'm excited... the settling's happened, now we can get into season."

"So we're going to talk about what happened this weekend," she continues. "First on the list: Gotham FC. Thankfully we have our very own Gotham FC player in the house."

"I feel like what you're saying is like totally correct — the first three games, I think we scored not very much — a bit of a drought," says Campbell. "But, I mean, I practice with these girls every day. I know Ella Stevens can hit it upper-90, I know Esther's chipping me at practice. I know we have scoring power."

"We all had the sentiment and didn't really get discouraged and I don't think the staff was discouraged at all," she adds. "The resounding sentiment was, 'The rain's going to fall, like it's going to drop for us.' And I think you saw that against Angel City."

In addition to this weekend's NWSL action, Sports Are Fun! also tackles the WNBA Draft's viewership, the NCAA Gymnastics Championship, and so much more.

'Sports Are Fun!' reflects on former USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski

Then, Sports Are Fun turned to coaching. The headline? Angel City bringing on new manager Alexander Straus from Germany's Bayern Munich.

What makes a good coach? What do players look for in a coach? O'Hara knows one thing — playing under USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski wasn't exactly a learning experience.

"Hollywood's got a new hitman you guys," Campbell quips about Straus. "He has piercing blue eyes. They rival Leo DiCaprio."

"But can he coach a soccer team to a championship?" asks O'Hara.

"I've always wondered this," says BJ. "You played at the college level. You play now professionally, you played for the national team — how are you listening to a coach?"

"I think a good coach is going to go in and take a player as experienced as Christen Press, Sydney Leroux, and say, 'This is what I see. This is what I think you can bring to the team. This is how I'm going to utilize you in the system that I want to play,'" O'Hara answers.

"What is funny is — this is going to sound bad. I feel like I shouldn't say this. I don't feel like I learned anything new from Vlatko," she says, subsequently referencing the former USWNT coach. "And, actually, post-having him as a coach, I was like, 'Wow, is that on me? Did I stop learning or did he not coach me?"

"I had conversations with other other players about it. They were like, 'No, no, no, that was on him.' Because I feel like I was always open. I was like, 'I want to be coached, tell me how I can.' Because as a player, yes, you become the type of player you are, but you're never perfect."

Sports Are Fun! graphic featuring soccer legend Kelley O'Hara.
'Sports Are Fun!' places Kelley O'Hara at the intersection of women's sports and fun. (Just Women's Sports)

About 'Sports Are Fun!' with Kelley O'Hara

'Sports Are Fun!' is a show that’ll remind you why you fell in love with women's sports in the first place.

Join World Cup champ, Olympic gold medalist, and aspiring barista Kelley O'Hara as she sits down with sports journalist Greydy Diaz and a revolving cast of co-hosts and friends. Together, they're talking the biggest, funnest, and most need-to-know stories in the world of women’s sports.

From on-court drama to off-field shenanigans, to candid (and silly) chats with the most important personalities in the space, this show screams "Sports Are Fun!"

Subscribe to Just Women's Sports on YouTube to never miss an episode.

WPSL to Launch First-Ever 2nd Division U.S. Pro Women’s Soccer League

The new WPSL Pro league logo on a red-to-blue ombre gradient background.
The new WPSL Pro league is set to launch in 2026. (WPSL Pro Soccer)

The Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) announced a plan to launch a Division II pro arm in 2026, providing a domestic stepping stone for players aspiring to top-flight leagues like the NWSL and USL Super League.

The same Cleveland ownership group that recently fell short of securing an NWSL expansion team is backing the venture, making good on their promise to bring professional women's soccer to Northeast Ohio.

The league will launch with a shortened season following the 2026 men's World Cup, before beginning its first full-fledged campaign in April 2027.

With 15 teams already confirmed, WPSL Pro intends to field clubs in an initial 16 to 20 markets.

Along with Cleveland, the inaugural WPSL Pro season will include teams in Austin, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Fargo, Houston, Oklahoma City, Sioux Falls, Wichita, and the Bay Area, among others. Each franchise will pay a $1 million fee to enter the league.

The WPSL has a history of fostering high-level amateur competition, currently housing over 100 clubs and boasting a roster of former players that includes USWNT icons Brandi Chastain, Alex Morgan, and Rose Lavelle. WPSL Pro, however, will become the US soccer pyramid's first-ever second-tier league.

"WPSL Pro is the bridge that's been missing — not just for players, but for the communities, investors, and brands ready to be part of the next chapter in women's sports," league co-founder Sean Jones said in a statement.

Caitlin Clark Scores 2nd Best-Selling Jersey Across WNBA and NBA Sales

Fans clamor to buy Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark jerseys before a 2024 WNBA game.
Caitlin Clark sold the second-most basketball jerseys in the US in 2024. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

The No. 22 kit of Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark weighed in as last fall's second best-selling basketball jersey in the US according to sports outfitter Fanatics, with the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year trailing only NBA superstar Steph Curry on the top sales list.

Clark's merch dominance is nothing new, however. Her Indiana jersey sold out less than an hour after the Fever drafted her as the overall No. 1 pick in April 2024, making Clark the top seller of any draft night pick in the company's history.

Even more, Clark's merchandise led last season's record-shattering WNBA sales, with Fanatics reporting that 2024 sales of player-specific gear earned a jaw-dropping 1,000% year-over-year increase by last summer's All-Star break — in large part thanks to the 2024 WNBA rookie class.

Fellow 2024 WNBA debutants Chicago Sky standout Angel Reese and then-Las Vegas Aces guard Kate Martin — Clark's NCAA teammate at Iowa — trailed the Fever star with the league's second- and fourth-most merchandise sales, respectively.

This year, a new WNBA rookie could give Clark a run for her money, as the No. 5 Dallas Wings jersey for 2025's No. 1 draft pick, Paige Bueckers, is already doing numbers at retailers across the country.

Already a brand mogul in her own right, Bueckers topped the 2024 NIL list as college basketball’s biggest earner via endorsement deals and merchandise sales prior to going pro.

Kenyan Runner Sharon Lokedi Shatters Boston Marathon Record

Kenya's Sharon Lokedi raises her arms in triumph as she crosses the 2025 Boston Marathon finish line.
Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi beat the Boston Marathon course record by over two minutes. (Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Kenyan runner Sharon Lokedi shattered the women’s course record at the 2025 Boston Marathon on Monday, finishing the 129th edition of the race in 2:17:22 — more than two and a half minutes faster than the previous record set by Ethiopia's Buzunesh Deba in 2014.

The victory marked the 31-year-old runner's second major marathon championship following her 2022 New York City Marathon win.

After finishing second in the 2024 Boston Marathon behind fellow Kenyan Hellen Obiri, Lokedi avenged her runner-up status by overtaking the back-to-back defending champion in the final kilometer of Monday’s race.

"I'm always second to her and today I was like, 'There’s no way,'" Lokedi said of her rivalry with Obiri. "I just have to put it out there and fight 'til the end and see how it goes. I'm so glad I ran that fast and she was right behind me. We all fought and wanted this so bad."

All of this year’s top three finishers broke through the course record pace, with Obiri and Ethiopia's Yalemzerf Yehualaw joining Lokedi both at the finish line and in the Boston Marathon's record book.

Along with her $150,000 winner's check, Lokedi will pocket an additional $50,000 for claiming the fastest women's time in Boston Marathon history.

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