More than anything, this tournament showed that UCLA, a dormant program for decades, can win and develop talent. Now, several Bruins are poised to earn spots in the WNBA and, thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement, make much more money than any previous rookie class. Now, with the WNBA draft less than a week away, take one last look at how the NCAA Tournament’s draft-eligible stars fared and how their recent performances might have affected their draft stock.
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Lauren Betts, UCLA
Winning a national title and being named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four could be the start of a very memorable April for Lauren Betts, as she is expected to become a top draft pick next week. She is one of those rare players who has great potential for the right WNBA team to develop, and the size and skill to play right away when drafted. South Carolina’s players even commented on their growth since the Final Four last season, showing that their ceiling can still rise.
“She’s 6-7. She’s improved from last year. She’s patient. I mean, she had four seniors around her. She’s a senior herself. Experience helps a lot,” Gamecocks star Raven Johnson said after Sunday’s loss.
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He finished his senior season averaging nearly a double-double: 20.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. However, during the Final Four, Betts showed that he is much more than statistics. She is a leader who can make her teammates shine. What WNBA team doesn’t need that?
Kiki Rice, UCLA
Like Betts, Kiki Rice showed in the tournament that she can be an asset to one of the WNBA draft lottery teams. What stood out about her play during the tournament was how good she is at setting up goals for the big guys on the court with her. Playing with Betts (6-7) and Angela Dugalic (6-4), Rice showed that she is a playmaker who can get the ball in the post and is well positioned to score.
Raven Johnson, South Carolina
Not many things went right for Raven Johnson and her teammates in the national finals. As Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley said, “They beat us up.” Interestingly, based on the score, it appeared that Johnson’s performances against UConn and UCLA were nearly identical. He had 3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal against the Bruins, and 2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block against the Huskies.
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But there was a big difference in their play in the national semifinal. Against UConn, Johnson was a defensive marvel. No matter who she was assigned to, Johnson looked for opportunities to disrupt Connecticut’s offense. Both Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd were hindered by Johnson. In the third quarter, he had a steal and layup that sparked the Gamecocks. Scouts will be looking at the entirety of Johnson’s South Carolina career, and not just one bad game against a really good team, so it’s unlikely his draft stock took a big hit after last weekend.
Azzi Fudd, University of Connecticut
There’s no way around it: Azzi Fudd’s last game in a UConn uniform was awful. She scored eight points as South Carolina’s defense stifled her for every minute she was on the court. Someone who’s never seen her play before might wonder why she projects so well in mock drafts. But one game doesn’t define a career as successful as Fudd’s. He averaged 17.3 points and 2.5 steals per game in his final season in Storrs. Fudd can score and, throughout his years at UConn, has shown that he can complement his teammates well. Her ability to make an immediate impact was evident throughout the tournament and should ensure she remains a top-five pick in the WNBA.
Olivia Miles, TCU
The Horned Frogs were eliminated from the tournament with a loss to South Carolina in the Elite Eight, so Olivia Miles did not play during Final Four weekend. However, he made a mark in his Sweet 16 and Elite Eight appearances. Miles scored 28 points in the win over Virginia, shooting an incredible 11-14 from the field. Even in the loss to South Carolina, with much of the Gamecocks’ defensive attention focused on her, Miles scored 18 points. She is one of the best point guards available in the draft and her tournament run showed that she can be a special player in the WNBA. Expect her to be selected high in the first round.
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Flau’jae Johnson, LSU
It’s hard to imagine LSU basketball without Flau’jae Johnson, as he has been the heart and soul of the Tigers since he arrived on campus. She won a national title and was named All-American twice during her time in Baton Rouge. His last game in an LSU uniform was a loss to Duke in the Sweet 16, where he scored 13 points. Johnson’s production was much better in the first two games of the tournament (scoring 24 and 25 points), putting his inconsistency issues front and center. The right WNBA team will be able to tap into Johnson’s incredible potential and help her contribute in every game. But his draft wasn’t helped by the fact that his up-and-down play was on display in just three tournament games.