WNBA Mock Draft 2.0: Diamond Miller or Haley Jones at No. 2?

The 2023 WNBA Draft is tonight. Aliyah Boston is viewed as the number one pick, but the field is wide open beyond that. Our latest WNBA mock draft tries to figure it out.

The 2023 WNBA Draft is tonight at 7:00 p.m. EST on ESPN. Intrigue for tonight’s draft has been growing among a slew of draft-eligible prospects opting to return to college for another season. With so many players returning, draft projections have been made even more difficult than usual.

Despite the changes, there is still plenty to watch for. Three teams – Indiana, Atlanta, and Minnesota – have multiple first-round picks. Dallas, Indiana and Minnesota each have five picks in the draft as a whole. Seattle and Minnesota are likely at the start of their rebuilding stage after dynasty runs over the last 10+ seasons.

Here is our final 2023 first-round WNBA mock draft:

1. Indiana Fever: Aliyah Boston, C, South Carolina

The inevitable has finally arrived. Aliyah Boston has been viewed as this year’s number-one overall pick since her sophomore season in Columbia.

Boston will thrive in the WNBA for many reasons. On offense, teams will not be able to defend her how they did in college, which will open things up for her to showcase her elite offensive game. Her combination of size, strength, footwork, and soft touch inside will be a great addition to the Fever offense, and she’s a sound enough passer out of the post to make the right reads when needed. The Fever’s shooters will thrive with how much space Boston can help create for them with her gravity on the block.

Boston looks every bit of an elite defensive anchor. She has excellent timing and length and is always under control which keeps her foul numbers low. She is also a fierce rebounder who will rarely give up second chances while grabbing plenty of her own. Her offensive contributions from put-backs alone will be huge for Indiana. Boston, NaLyssa Smith, Emily Engstler, and Queen Egbo might be the best-rebounding foursome in the league.

Boston still has room for improvement, too, which is a terrifying thought for the league. On offense, she has shown comfort in taking a 3-point shot here and there, which could add a spacing element to her game. She also needs to improve as a defender in space, but that should be a natural development with time.

2. Minnesota Lynx: Haley Jones, G/F, Stanford

Many mocks believe Haley Jones could slip as low as sixth overall. Not this one.

Jones is by far the best passer in the class, routinely making the incredible look easy. She regularly creates windows where other players might not even see them because of her incredible court awareness. Jones is also an elite finisher, using her strength, size, and sneaky quickness to create easy angles inside. She is not afraid of contact and can overwhelm smaller guards that may be matched up against her. Her size easily creates mismatches in pick-and-roll sets, and a creative coach like Cheryl Reeve could explore using Jones herself as a screener to really throw a wrinkle into the Lynx offense.

Jones is a smart and sound defender, who moves her feet well and uses her length to disrupt her matchup anywhere on the court. She has quick hands and can generate deflections that often lead to turnovers. Jones’ transition play is among the best in the class, too, and she often initiates fast breaks after grabbing defensive rebounds.

The main source of concern for Jones is her outside shot. This year, she shot just 9.4 percent from 3, and looked hesitant to shoot at times. That said, there is a precedent that shows that Jones can be a capable shooter. She shoots the ball well at the free throw line, and her form is sound. A slight tweak to the lower portion of her form could solve the problem.

3. Dallas Wings: Diamond Miller, G/F, Maryland

Perhaps the most WNBA-ready athlete in the draft, Diamond Miller is an explosive player who can make an impact immediately.

Miller is a walking mismatch on offense. At 6-foot-3, she can legitimately play positions 1 through 4 on both ends, and each position will strain the opponents in different ways. Put a smaller guard on her, and Miller is getting in the paint and going over the top. Put a bigger forward, and she’s exploding right past them. She will be a headache from day one.

On defense, Miller can blow up sets with her seemingly endless length. Miller can legitimately guard 1 through 4, making her a switching nightmare for opposing offenses. She is smart on and off the ball. Miller is a blur in transition, and often initiates the break after a steal or rebound.

Similar to Jones, Miller’s main concern is her outside shot, but she also has a precedent of success. She shot just 22 percent in her final year at Maryland, but it was by far her worst, and on her second-lowest volume. Over her first three seasons, she shot 33 percent on three attempts per game.

4. Washington Mystics: Maddy Siegrist, F, Villanova

No team needs Maddy Siegrist’s offensive infusion more than the Washington Mystics, and she should be available at No. 4.

The nation’s leading scorer this year, Siegrist’s offensive game is exceptional. She can score efficiently from anywhere on the floor. Siegrist is exceptionally comfortable in the mid-range, especially around the free-throw line. She is also a great shooter from deep, knocking down 35 percent of her 3s during her career at Villanova.

Defensively, Siegrist has a few question marks. She played power forward a lot in college, but she will have to be a small forward in the WNBA. She has decent length, but her athleticism is a concern. Still, she projects to be a smart defender, even if she won’t be the most dynamic. She averaged two or more stocks per game each year at Villanova.

Siegrist’s path to success is a bit murkier than some other prospects in this draft, but her ceiling is incredibly high. If she proves capable of playing the wing effectively, it will open things up significantly for her. Siegrist will also need to improve her off-the-dribble game, because it is unlikely she will be able to generate the same shots she did in college, particularly in the mid-range.

5. Dallas Wings: Jordan Horston, F, Tennessee

Jordan Horston is a fascinating wing prospect whose play style fits well with the Dallas Wings’ philosophy.

Horston is a dynamic athlete who is capable of impacting the game in many, many ways. She led Tennessee in rebounds and assists this year, and was second on the team in scoring. She thrived as a play-initiating forward and displayed the ability to create her own shot, get to the rim, and set up her teammates at a high level.

Horston’s length and athleticism also made her a menace on defense, which the Wings could use. She averaged just under three stocks per game in her final year. Horston is capable of defending multiple positions, and her activity on that end stands out.

The Wings have long valued higher-usage players, and Horston could become one of their most dynamic picks that fit that description. She could help anchor their questionable bench unit, especially as her outside shot develops.

6. Atlanta Dream: Lou Lopez Sénéchal, F, UConn

The best shooting forward in this class, Lopez Sénéchal has a wide range of projections in this draft.

Sénéchal’s shooting alone makes her appealing for every team. She shot a scorching 44 percent from 3 this year and was a key part in keeping UConn afloat. She is capable of shooting in a variety of scenarios, whether it be pull-ups, catch-and-shoots, or off-the-dribble. Sénéchal is also a crafty finisher inside, especially as a cutter, but doesn’t get there consistently as a driver.

Sénéchal’s defense leaves a lot to be desired, especially for a player of her size. She does not defend well in screen actions and does not move her feet well at any level. She does not generate stocks and is generally a poor help defender.

If there is any team with a first-round pick that can account for Sénéchal’s weaknesses, it is Atlanta. They feature other capable defenders that can help hide Sénéchal on defense, and they need her shooting on offense.

7. Indiana Fever: Grace Berger, G, Indiana

Grace Berger is every team’s dream: an excellent reserve point guard (which is a lot rarer in the WNBA than some might think).

Berger is an excellent offensive player, capable of contributing in a variety of ways. She is excellent at using screens to create scoring opportunities for herself and others. Berger shines as a mid-range shooter in these scenarios, but also gets to the rim fairly well against smaller defenders.

Berger is also a great defender thanks to her combination of skills and smarts. She is capable of defending 1 through 3, and navigates screens very well. She has a knack for making the correct read off the ball as well, often mucking up these movements before they happen.

Berger’s biggest question mark is her outside shot, which she says she is actively working on. She shot 40 percent as a senior, but on very low volume. Still, that may be a sign of what could come for her.

8. Atlanta Dream: Zia Cooke, G, South Carolina

A bona fide bucket, Zia Cooke is somehow underrated in this draft.

Cooke improved dramatically from her freshman year. Her efficiency was often questioned, largely because she rarely got an open shot due to South Carolina’s offensive scheme. Cooke was often the Gamecocks’ sole perimeter creator. Still, she excelled in the role and showcased the ability to score at all three levels.

Cooke’s defense gets underrated as well and often gets incorrectly credited to other players in the system. She is a rugged on-ball defender and she can capably guard either guard spot. Cooke’s strength makes her a hard defender to catch on a screen, too.

Similar to teammate Aliyah Boston, Cooke should thrive with more spacing at the pro level. Her biggest question mark will likely be her decision-making as her role changes.

9. Seattle Storm: Laeticia Amihere, F, South Carolina

The most unique player in the draft, Laeticia Amihere is legitimately capable of playing 1 through 5.

Amihere’s offensive game is largely predicated on getting to the rim, which she is more than capably of doing effectively in transition and the halfcourt. She can get there as a cutter or off-the-dribble, both of which will be easier for her in a WNBA offense.

Amihere’s defensive potential might be the highest in this class. Her timing combined with an incredible 6-foot-10 wingspan makes her capable of defending anyone, anytime, at any spot on the court. Amihere has great timing on blocks and contests, and she comes up with multiple steals a game.

The glaring question for Amihere is her shot, where there is very little precedent to go off of. She never averaged higher than half an attempt a game in college.

10. Los Angeles Sparks: Maia Hirsch, C, Villanueve

One of the most intriguing international prospects on the board, Maia Hirsch has future WNBA potential.

On offense, Hirsch looks every bit like a “unicorn.” She has a very quick release for a big and can knock down shots from anywhere on the floor. She moves well along the baseline, too, and is a timely cutter. Her offensive ceiling is tough to gauge given her role on her team, but it feels very high.

Hirsch is an advanced defender for her age. She does not struggle in space as many 6-foot-5 players do and moves her feet better than most. She moves very well on switches, closeouts, hedges, and help rotations.

Hirsch has a few bad habits to work out, though. She will need to improve as a screener, adjust her defensive positioning in certain scenarios, and stay engaged when off the ball.

11. Dallas Wings: Stephanie Soares, C, Iowa State

Despite just 13 games at the D1 level, Stephanie Soares is a legitimate WNBA prospect if healthy.

Soares shooting ability looks legit, despite a lackluster percentage. Her form needs a minor tweak, but the starting point is decent enough to warrant some belief. Soares is an excellent passer for a big and has shown the ability to set up teammates in a variety of situations.

Soares is limited as a defender outside of the paint, largely due to poor footwork on that end. She is somewhat raw in terms of overall feel, particularly in pick-and-roll situations. She will likely struggle with the speed of the WNBA game, at least for a bit.

On the other hand, Soares has some glaring deficiencies as well. Despite her 6-foot-6 frame, her post-up finishing leaves much to be desired. She’s a liability defending in space — a vital skill in today’s WNBA. On top of that, she’s rehabbing her second major knee injury in recent memory, essentially making her a draft-and-stash project.

12. Minnesota Lynx: Elena Tsineke, G, USF

Elena Tsineke posted career highs across the board while posting her most efficient season as a senior.

Tsineke may be the best pick-and-roll guard in this class. Her craftiness is unmatched. She excels at using her body to prevent defenders from cutting her off as she drives to the rim, where she is a versatile finisher. When defenders manage to cut her off, Tsineke is able to open things back up with an array of crafty dribbles, sound footwork, and elite screen navigation. While she is primarily scoring-minded, her gravity in those situations often opens things up for her teammates, too.

Defensively, Tsineke is limited as an on-ball defender and struggles with screens. Her size is a question mark for the next level, and average athleticism won’t help. She does have a bit of value off-ball, though.

Tsineke struggles as a playmaker when faced with increased defensive pressure, which limits her prospects at the point guard spot. If she continues improving, though, Tsineke could be the steal of this draft when all is said and done.

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