The WNBA Draft 2016 will be held on Thursday, April 14, 2016, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The Indiana Fever hold the ninth overall pick. To get you ready, here’s a look at our top 15 draft prospects. (Note: All players are listed alphabetically by last name.)
PHOTOS: WNBA Draft 2016 Prospects »»
Jillian Alleyne is a 6-3 forward from the University of Oregon. Alleyne started all 27 games, averaging a double-double with 19 points, 13.6 rebounds, two assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 31.7 minutes per game. She shot a remarkably accurate 59 percent from the field, and 61 percent from the free throw line.
Alleyne holds numerous Pac-12 records, including a double-double streak of 21 games (accomplished over her sophomore and junior seasons; third longest in NCAA history), single-season rebounding (519 as a sophomore), single-season double-doubles (29 as a sophomore), and single-game rebounds (27 as a freshman).
The Oregon Ducks reached the Final Four of the 2016 Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) before falling short to the eventual champion, South Dakota.
Ameryst Alston is a 5-9 guard from Ohio State University. Alston started 31 of the 32 games in which she appeared, averaging 18.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in 35.2 minutes per game. She connected on 45 percent of her field goal attempts, 36 percent of her shots from deep, and 82 percent of her foul shots.
Alston earned her third consecutive selection to the All-Big Ten first team this season after leading her team in scoring, assists, and minutes played.
Alston’s Ohio State Buckeyes reached the Sweet 16 of the 2016 NCAA women’s basketball tournament, before falling short to Tennessee.
Rachel Banham is a 5-9 senior guard at the University of Minnesota. In her final season, Banham started all 32 games, averaging an impressive 28.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and two steals in 33.9 minutes per game. She knocked down 46 percent of her field goals, 39 percent of her 3-pointers, and 86 percent of her free throws.
As of the completion of the Big Ten Tournament, Banham ranks tenth in the conference in career scoring (3,008 points). She tied the NCAA single-game scoring record with 60 points in a 112-106 double-overtime win over Northwestern on Feb. 8. She also holds Big Ten records for scoring (549 points; 30.5 per game) and 3-pointers made (75) in conference play. Banham was named Big Ten Player of the Year for the 2015-16 season, and selected to the All-Big Ten first team.
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers were eliminated by South Dakota in the second round of the 2016 WNIT.
Imani Boyette is a 6-7 center from the University of Texas. Starting all 34 games, Boyette averaged 11.3 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks per game. She made 50 percent of her field goal attempts, 33 percent of her 3-pointers (3-for-9), and 79 percent of her free throws.
Boyette was named first team All-Big 12 for the second season in a row, and co-Defensive Player of the Year in her conference.
Boyette’s Texas Longhorns reached the Elite 8 of the 2016 NCAA Tournament before being eliminated by the eventual champions, the University of Connecticut (UCONN).
Kahleah Copper is a 6-1 guard/forward from Rutgers University. Starting each of the 33 games she played, Copper averaged 17.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.5 steals in 34.4 minutes per game. She made 50 percent of her shots from the floor, 39 percent of her shots from deep, and 70 percent of her shots from the charity stripe.
Copper was named to the All-Big Ten second team for the 2015-16 season. She finished her career third on Rutgers’ all-time scoring list with 1,872 career points.
Rutgers was defeated by the University of Virginia in the second round of the 2016 WNIT.
Nirra Fields is a 5-9 guard from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Starting 31 of the 32 games in which she appeared, Fields posted averages of 15.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 2.2 steals. She shot 42 percent from the field, 34 percent from the 3-point line, and 63 percent from the free throw line.
Fields was named to the All-Pac-12 team for the third consecutive year this season.
UCLA was defeated by the University of Texas in the Sweet 16 of the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
Ruth Hamblin is a 6-6 center from Oregon State University. Starting all 34 games, Hamblin averaged just slightly under a double-double with 11.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks in 27.5 minutes per game. She knocked down an impressive 56 percent of her field goal attempts, and 61 percent of her free throws.
In addition to being named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row and the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Hamblin took home All-Pac-12 honors for the second consecutive year.
Oregon State reached the Final Four of the 2016 NCAA Tournament before being defeated by the eventual champions, UCONN.
Moriah Jefferson is a 5-7 guard from UCONN. Starting in 32 of the 33 games in which she played, Jefferson averaged 12.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 2.7 steals in 30.5 minutes per game. She connected on an outstanding 56 percent of her shot attempts, 43 percent of her 3-pointers, and 91 percent of her free throws.
Jefferson made the All-Conference first team in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) for the third consecutive season, and was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Year.
Jefferson’s UCONN Huskies won the 2016 NCAA Women’s Tournament with a win over Syracuse in the final game.
Niya Johnson is a 5-8 guard from Baylor University. Starting all 35 games, Johnson averaged 6.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 8.9 assists, and 1.7 steals in 33.3 minutes per game. She made 49 percent of her field goals, 22 percent of her long-range attempts, and 73 percent of her foul shots.
Johnson was selected as an All-Big 12 first team member for the third consecutive season, and was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive team.
The Baylor Bears reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Oregon State.
Jonquel Jones is a 6-6 forward from George Washington University. Starting 20 of the 23 games she played, Jones averaged a tremendous double-double of 16.2 points, 14.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 3.3 blocks, and a steal in 29.8 minutes per game. She knocked down 42 percent of her shots from the field, 31 percent of her 3-point attempts, and 75 percent of her free throws.
Jones was named to the All-Conference second team and the All-Defensive team in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
George Washington was eliminated in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament by Kansas State University.
Tiffany Mitchell is a 5-9 guard from the University of South Carolina. Starting in 33 of 34 games, Mitchell averaged 15.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 steals in 30.5 minutes per game. She shot 42 percent from the floor, 35 percent from deep, and 82 percent from the line.
Voted the SEC Player of the Year by conference coaches in her sophomore and junior seasons, Mitchell was named to the All-SEC first team for the third straight year as a senior.
The South Carolina Gamecocks were eliminated by Syracuse in the Sweet 16 of the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
Breanna Stewart is a 6-4 forward from UCONN. Starting in 32 of 33 games, Stewart amassed averages of 19.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, four assists, 3.5 blocks, and 1.8 steals in 28.5 minutes per game. She shot an efficient 53 percent from the field, 41 percent from the 3-point line, and 82 percent from the charity stripe.
The Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year for the past three seasons, Stewart was unanimously selected as the AAC Player of the Year and named to the All-Conference first team this year, each for the third consecutive season. She was also chosen as the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four for the fourth time in a row.
Stewart’s UCONN Huskies were crowned champions of the 2016 NCAA Tournament on Apr. 5.
Morgan Tuck is a 6-2 forward from UCONN. Starting in 28 of the 29 games she played in, Tuck averaged 12.8 points 5.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 26 minutes per game. She made 50 percent of her shots overall, 29 percent of her 3-pointers, and 76 percent from the foul line.
Tuck joined her teammates Jefferson and Stewart on the All-AAC first team, her second consecutive selection, and was named the AAC Women’s Basketball Sportsmanship Award winner.
Tuck was also a member of the 2016 NCAA Champion UCONN Huskies.
Courtney Walker is a 5-8 guard from Texas A&M University. Starting in all 24 games she played in, Walker averaged 18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 steals in 35.4 minutes per game. She made 50 percent of her total shots, 24 percent of her 3-point shots, and 86 percent of her foul shots.
Walker was named to the All-SEC first team for the third consecutive season.
The Texas A&M Aggies were vanquished by Florida State University in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
Courtney Williams is a 5-8 guard from the University of South Florida. Starting in 33 of her 34 games, Williams averaged 22.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 steals in 35.1 minutes per game. She knocked down her field goal attempts at a 43 percent clip, made 38 percent of her 3-point attempts, and connected on 70 percent of her free throws.
Williams won the conference scoring title for the second consecutive season and was named to the All-AAC first team for the third straight season. She was also selected as the AAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The South Florida Bulls were defeated by UCLA in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament.