With the NCAA women’s basketball tournament finally completed and the UCONN Huskies bringing home the title, we can now set our sights on the upcoming WNBA draft. This year’s draft is filled with incredible storylines, such as Paige Bueckers being the consensus number-one overall pick and former Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles forgoing the draft to enter the transfer portal.
One player gaining a lot of buzz is TCU superstar Hailey Van Lith. The 5’9 Big 12 Player of the Year took the Horned Frogs to the Elite 8, coming up just short of a Final Four bid in their loss to the University of Texas.
Sparks Predicted To Add Hailey Van Lith in PFSN’s WNBA Mock Draft
The fifth-year senior has had an illustrious college career, holding the record for most career games played and being the first player to lead three different schools to at least the Sweet Sixteen. The question remains where Van Lith will end up in the draft, and mock drafts predict the scoring guard will be selected by the Los Angeles Sparks with the 9th overall pick.
The Sparks are a dark horse candidate for a WNBA Finals run with second-year center Cameron Brink returning from a knee injury, the acquisition of sharpshooter Kelsey Plum, and the incredible play of second-year forward Rickea Jackson. L.A. is also anchored with veteran all-star Dearica Hemby, who is coming off an incredible all-star campaign.
The Sparks need a point guard, and Van Lith might fit this role perfectly. Coming off a season where she averaged nearly 18 points per game on an efficient 45% from the field could benefit L.A. as they need more scoring.
Last season, the Sparks were in the bottom three as a team in points per game, field goal percentage, and three-point field goal percentage. Granted, injuries plagued their season, but the presence of Van Lith would surely elevate these numbers.
It is also important to note that a Van Lith-Plum backcourt would be a matchup nightmare for most opponents. Plum is coming off an all-star season in which she averaged nearly 18 points and dished out four assists for the Las Vegas Aces.
Her game is similar to Van Lith’s as they are both aggressive scorers who can easily get to the basket and generate contact. Plum would also provide Van Lith with incredible veteran wisdom as she tries to set her own path in the WNBA.
