The draft, held on Friday morning (PHT), was done virtually for the second time in a row in light of the pandemic.
Big names from womenโs college basketball and international competitions made their way into the three-round draft board.
Hereโs a quick rundown of the top three picks of this year's draft:
First pick: Charli Collier, Dallas Wings
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โ Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) April 15, 2021
With the top pick in the 2021 #WNBADraft, we select @charlicollier from @TexasWBB! ๐ค๐ค๐ค#TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/1IkCYxMN4x
Projected as the consensus No. 1 overall selection, Collier fittingly became the headline of the 2021 WNBA Draft.
The 6-foot-5, two-time All-American became the first Texas Longhorn to become the top pick.
Collier averaged 19.0 points on 51.1 percent field goal shooting and 11.3 rebounds in her final season for Texas as a junior (she was draft-eligible since she will turn 22 this year). The Longhorns went 21-10 and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight.
The Wings are hoping to get a boost from Collier after finishing last season with an 8-14 record and missing the playoffs.
Second pick: Awak Kuier, Dallas Wings
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ @KuierAwak ๐ช#TakeFlight#WNBADraft pic.twitter.com/3MecF6Ne9V
โ Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) April 15, 2021
The Wings went with size with the first two picks. After selecting Collier, they acquired another 6-foot-5 post player in Awak Kuier out of Finland. It was the first time in WNBA history that a team had the top two picks after the Wings earned the second selection via lottery and the No. 1 pick from a trade in February.
At 19, Kuier already has pro experience under her belt, playing for Ragusa in Italy. She posted 8.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks this season. Amazingly, she was also fresh off a playoff win before getting drafted.
Kuier made history as the first player from Finland to be drafted in the WNBA. Born in Cairo, she and her family moved to Finland when she was two. Her parents were originally from South Sudan.
Set to become the first Finnish player in the league, Kuier turned heads in the Basketball Without Borders camp at the 2017 NBA All-Star in New Orleans when she dunked as a 15-year-old.
Third pick: Aari McDonald, Atlanta Dream
With the third pick in the 2021 WNBA draft, the Atlanta Dream select... @AariMcdonald from @ArizonaWBB! #GoDream | #WNBADraft pic.twitter.com/CpFkCHQGbz
โ Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) April 15, 2021
Aari McDonald caused quite a stir in the NCAA tournament with her incredible play, instantly making her a star and a fan favorite.
With a staggering line of 26 points, four triples, and seven rebounds in the Final Four, McDonald propelled the Arizona Wildcats to the programโs first championship appearance after beating the UConn Huskies. She also had that iconic arms-folded, you-canโt-mess-with-me pose against the Huskies in case you needed a reminder.
McDonald will carry her playmaking, shooting, and swagger to the Atlanta Dream as the No. 3 pick. It was also a momentous occasion for her in becoming the first Wildcat in the school's history to be taken in the first round.
Even though she flamed out in the final against Stanford, it seems that she did enough to boost her stock in the draft. In her final year in Arizona, she posted 20.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.
