2023 WNBA Draft Breakdown: Quick-hitters and deep sleepers
Everyone knows the names at the top of the 2023 WNBA Draft. How about some of the sleepers in the class?
The 2023 WNBA Draft is here! My big board is being finalized and will be posted later this afternoon. This draft cycle was particularly busy for me and even though I won’t have full breakdowns on every player I wanted to write about, I wanted to post about some of the names that are flying under the radar in draft circles.
I’m not saying these players will be drafted. But I do firmly believe each of these names can contribute something to a training camp somewhere around the league. Without further ado, here are notes on some of the deepest sleepers in this draft.
Alex Fowler, forward, Portland
When I looked around at players who I thought could be sleepers and play a role at the next level, I looked for a few different factors. Does this player impact winning? Does this player have good size for the next level? How about the defensive metrics? It’s impossible to watch Fowler and not think she exceeds at every level.
Fowler averaged over 17 points per game for a Portland team that lost just nine games all year en route to an NCAA Tournament appearance, the first for that team since the 1996-97 season.
A 6-foot-2 forward, Fowler shot exceedingly well from all over the floor, putting up a 60.2% effective field goal percentage. That mark is second-best in the class, behind Oklahoma’s Taylor Robertson who coincidentally matched up against Portland in the tourney.
Fowler also showed a tendency to shoot from behind the arc, a skill that would go a long way in setting her up for success at the next level. Averaging 1.8 steals and 0.6 blocks per game, Fowler also fared well on the defensive end of the court. If there’s one area to nitpick, it would be that Fowler isn’t much of a rebounder for her size.
Abby Meyers, guard, Maryland
Meyers can seriously hoop and I’m surprised no one is talking about her as a three-and-D guard prospect in this class. Meyers averaged 14.3 points per game, shooting 38.8% from deep on just under five attempts per game. On the defensive end, Meyers put up 2.3 stocks to just 1.8 fouls per game.
Meyers showed what her value as a complementary piece can be next to a star, playing next to presumed No. 2 overall pick Diamond Miller all year long. Miller’s five stocks helped propel Maryland over Notre Dame in the tournament and she put up five in the first round matchup. All together, Meyers shot 50% from three and averaged 3.3 stocks in four NCAA Tournament games, one of which came against South Carolina.
At 6-foot-0, Meyers should garner looks in the first half of the draft.
Shaiquel McGruder, forward, New Mexico
When I started exploring potential sleepers, McGruder was one of the first names that stood out to me. A versatile defender, McGruder’s 3.9 stocks per game are incredible, just 0.2 behind Iowa State’s Stephanie Soares, who I have in my top six.
Of course, Mexico State’s conference schedule was quite easy, but those metrics aren’t to be simply ignored. At 6-foot-0, I would be interested in bringing McGruder to my training camp if I wanted a gritty, tough defender.
Lasha Petree, guard, Purdue
Even though Petree’s Purdue team fell in the First Four matchup against St. John’s, I’m intrigued by Petree’s combination of shot-making and size.
Petree shot 37.8% from three last season on 7.1 attempts per 40 minutes. Having made over 260 three-pointers in her collegiate career, Petree should have a long and prosperous career overseas. If she can cut down on the turnovers (she had six in that First Four matchup to zero assists), she could garner some attention stateside.
Shaniece Swain, guard, Australia
There’s not too much I can write about Swain that hasn’t already been written, but I thought I would include Swain coming off the heels of her 19-point performance in the inaugural women’s Nike Hoop Summit game.
In that game, Swain looked in control all day long and led the World Team in points. At just 19 years old, Swain showed off terrific guard skills overseas this year and should be getting looks in the first half of the draft rather than the last.
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, forward, South Florida
Fankam Mendjiadeu left a good impression on scouts to end the season, helping South Florida into the tournament and getting to the round of 32. Though many eyes have been on Elena Tsineke, and rightfully so, I think Fankam Mendjiadeu is an equally fun prospect.
In the round of 64, Fankam Mendjiadeu put up 22 points, 16 rebounds and three stocks in a two-point, overtime win. Fankam Mendjiadeu drew a much more difficult matchup in the round of 32 against Aliyah Boston and Laeticia Amihere, but still managed to put up four stocks and eight rebounds.
I don’t think Fankam Mendjiadeu is close to being a starter, but I think if a team invests in her development, she could pop.
Jayla Everett, guard, St. John’s
If you want a shot-maker, Everett is the person to call. Everett shot 43.1% from three on 5.8 attempts per game, one of the best clips in the draft class. Everett ended the season on a good note, helping St. John’s win its First Four matchup against Purdue. Then, St. John’s almost upset a good UNC team. In those two games, Everett had 37 combined points, five stocks and six threes.
Brooke Flowers, forward/center, Saint Louis
Flowers’s 6-foot-5 size alone would make her an appealing option for front offices who are looking for a late sleeper, but Flowers also averaged a hilarious 3.8 blocks per game. Flowers is an absolute shot-blocking force to be reckoned with, only putting up 1.7 fouls per game.
While Saint Louis didn’t face the toughest competition of all time in the A-10 this year, Flowers helped the team to the NCAA Tournament, where she posted 17 points and five blocks. Front offices should be pining for Flowers late in the draft or right after it concludes.
Elizabeth Balogun, guard, Duke
Duke got a reputation this season for having players that engage in a sort of smash-mouth form of basketball. Celeste Taylor was one of my favorite players in the class before deciding to remain at Duke. Even though the defensive menace from Duke will have to wait until 2024 to hear her name called, Taylor isn’t the only Duke product that intrigued me in this draft cycle.
Enter Balogun, who tempts me to write “Bakugan” every time. Balogun fits the exact mold of player I look for: good defensive metrics, decent positional size and shooting that pops. Balogun averaged 1.9 stocks per game and shot 51.2% from the field as a 6-foot-1 guard. Color me interested.
Balogun interests me too because of her ability and keenness to play in varying systems. Balogun was able to stick in the ACC every year and put up impressive stats for a decent Georgia Tech squad and two great Louisville teams before coming to Duke. I would select Balogun in this draft.
Robyn Benton, guard, Kentucky
There isn’t a ton to say about Benton in terms of shooting percentages, but she really pops on the defensive end. 2.6 stocks per game are rare for a guard of her size (5-foot-9). Benton is a great on-ball presence and took over some of the scoring chops in the wake of the void left behind by Rhyne Howard.
Sidney Cooks, forward/center, Seton Hall
Cooks doesn’t provide as much on the defensive end as I would like which is somewhat disappointing considering her size. Despite this, I still believe in Cooks because of the fact that she can really snipe from downtown.
Cooks hit 53 threes last season for Seton Hall and averaged 15.4 points per game at 6-foot-4.
Emily Kiser, forward, Michigan
Leigha Brown stole draft cycle spotlights out of Michigan, but I don’t think the gap between her and Kiser is all that significant. I would feel comfortable drafting Kiser. Kiser averaged 15.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and two stocks per game, hitting an impressive 54.6% of her shots.
I like the fact that Kiser showed a tendency to hit outside shots this year, connecting on 34.9% of her 43 attempts this season. Kiser is a modern big who should receive a training camp invite if nothing else.
Other names I like
As I said at the beginning of this article, I haven’t been able to write about every player in this class that I’m higher on than consensus. But I want to give you a list of players who aren’t really sleepers that I’m high on making an impact at some point at the next level.
Maddy Siegrist, forward, Villanova
Stephanie Soares, center, Iowa State
Maia Hirsch, center, Villeneuve
Zia Cooke, guard, South Carolina
Brea Beal, wing, South Carolina
Lou Lopez Senechal, guard, UConn
Laeticia Amihere, forward, South Carolina
Dorka Juhasz, center, UConn
Taylor Robertson, guard, Oklahoma
Destiny Harden, forward, Miami
Ashley Joens, wing, Iowa State