New ESPN WNBA mock draft: 2 players make big jumps, 3 enter first round

Dominique Malonga, Aneesah Morrow rise in ESPN’s latest WNBA mock draft, while Hailey Van Lith and Sedona Prince fall out of the first round.

Just a few days before the WNBA Draft, ESPN has received a new WNBA mock draft — its first post-March Madness iteration.

The biggest change between the two mock drafts is the absence of Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles. Miles was widely expected to be the No. 2 pick next season, but instead opted to enter the transfer portal and will be playing at TCU next season. As such, other players have risen, with French phenom Dominique Malonga projected to be selected second overall in the latest iteration — up from fifth just a few weeks ago.

Here’s who ESPN’s Michael Voepel currently projects will be selected in the first round on draft night on April 14:

1. Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers
2. Seattle Storm: Dominique Malonga
3. Washington Mystics: Kiki Iriafen
4. Washington Mystics: Sonia Citron
5. Golden State Valkyries: Aneesah Morrow
6. Washington Mystics: Shyanne Sellers
7. Connecticut Sun: Ajsa Sivka
8. Connecticut Sun: Aziaha James
9. Los Angeles Sparks: Georgia Amoore
10. Chicago Sky: Sania Feagin
11. Minnesota Lynx: Justė Jocytė
12. Dallas Wings: Saniyah Rivers

ESPN’s previous WNBA mock draft, published on March 25th amid the NCAA tournament, projected the following draft order:

1. Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers
2. Seattle Storm: Olivia Miles
3. Washington Mystics: Kiki Iriafen
4. Washington Mystics: Sonia Citron
5. Golden State Valkyries: Dominique Malonga
6. Washington Mystics: Shyanne Sellers
7. Connecticut Sun: Aneesah Morrow
8. Connecticut Sun: Ajsa Sivka
9. Los Angeles Sparks: Hailey Van Lith
10. Chicago Sky: Georgia Amoore
11. Minnesota Lynx: Saniyah Rivers
12. Dallas Wings: Sedona Prince

Dominique Malonga, Aneesah Morrow made biggest jump draft projections

French star Dominique Malonga, who did not compete in the NCAA tournament, makes the biggest jump in Voepel’s draft, rising from No. 5 a few days ago to No. 2 in Friday’s version.

Aneesah Morrow, who had a strong NCAA tournament run with LSU, rose from No. 7 to No. 5, and is now projected to be selected by the Golden State Valkyries.

Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images

Voepel also projects three new players will be picked in the first round who weren’t previously there: South Carolina forward Saniah Feagin, NC State forward Saniyah Rivers, and French shooting guard Justė Jocytė.

On the flip side, TCU standouts Hailey Van Lith (previously 9th) and Sedona Prince (previously 12th) both fall out of the first round since the latest iteration of the mock draft was published.

Other WNBA mock drafts see Te-Hina Paopao, Serena Sundell going in the first round

The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant currently projects the following draft order:

1. Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers
2. Seattle Storm: Dominique Malonga
3. Washington Mystics: Sonia Citron
4. Washington Mystics: Justė Jocytė
5. Golden State Valkyries: Kiki Iraifen
6. Washington Mystics: Saniyah Rivers
7. Connecticut Sun: Aneesah Morrow
8. Connecticut Sun: Shyanne Sellers
9. Los Angeles Sparks: Serena Sundell
10. Chicago Sky: Te-Hina Paopao
11. Minnesota Lynx: Georgia Amoore
12. Dallas Wings: Rayah Marshall

Yahoo Sports’ Maggie Hendricks has the following first-round mock order:

1. Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers
2. Seattle Storm: Dominique Malonga
3. Washington Mystics: Kiki Iriafen
4. Washington Mystics: Sonia Citron
5. Golden State Valkyries: Aneesah Morrow
6. Washington Mystics: Te-Hina Paopao
7. Connecticut Sun: Shyanne Sellers
8. Connecticut Sun: Saniyah Rivers
9. Los Angeles Sparks: Georgia Amoore
10. Chicago Sky: Hailey Van Lith
11. Minnesota Lynx: Justė Jocytė
12. Dallas Wings: Sedona Prince

The WNBA Draft is set to take place on Monday, April 14th.