Fans of a certain other New York City team are looking at the New York Liberty wishing they were as fortunate with draft lotteries as the Lib has been as of late.
The irony is that team used to share its Midtown Manhattan arena with the Liberty.
When this year’s draft lottery results were announced … at halftime of ESPN’s broadcast of DePaul vs. Louisville … the odds-on-favorite to land the top overall pick actually … well … won as New York will be choosing first in the WNBA draft for the second consecutive season.
It’s official! 🙌🗽
2021 season tickets are on sale now. Visit https://t.co/0wk4D1OluJ for info. pic.twitter.com/CSXwqCvJB0
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) December 5, 2020
The Brooklyn-bound Liberty had the first overall selection in last year’s draft – and with Sabrina Ionescu on the board, it was the worst kept secret that No. 20 would be wearing a different shade of green upon her stepping into the WNBA.
Unfortunately, she rolled her ankle in her third game she played which sidelined her for last season in the wubble.
It is somewhat fitting that the Liberty would be announced as having won the draft lottery during a telecast of a Louisville game since New York appears to have created a direct pipeline from the Yum Center to Barclays given the last two drafts.
Y’all should use 2, 5 & 7 in your lottery numbers like for real. pic.twitter.com/WAix4nYl0A
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) December 5, 2020
Word to the wise for Texas Lottery players.
After the Liberty select at No. 1, the Dallas Wings – also for another consecutive draft – will assume the second overall pick. The Wings struck gold in last year’s draft with its three first-round selections of Satou Sabally, Ty Harris and Bella Alarie. They have also reportedly agreed in principle with Las Vegas Aces assistant Vickie Johnson to become its new coach.
The previous draft, the Wings selected Arike Ogunbowale out of Notre Dame – and her performance in the wubble last season put her name in the MVP conversation.
The Dream will pick 3rd overall in the 2021 @WNBA Draft. #GoDream pic.twitter.com/6H9vOgkQsd
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) December 5, 2020
The Atlanta Dream move up one place from where they were in last year’s draft from fourth overall to third overall. Chris Sienko, Nicki Collen and the rest of the Dream brass have to hope that this year’s third overall is as much of a hit as last year’s fourth overall selection – Chennedy “Hollywood” Carter – turned out to be.
OFFICIAL: We will have the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 @WNBA Draft.#WNBADraftLottery pic.twitter.com/Kumwf7J0qC
— Indiana Fever ⛹️♀🏀 (@IndianaFever) December 5, 2020
Rounding out the 2021 draft lottery is the Indiana Fever, a team that has defined the term “rebuild” in the W since Tamika Catchings – the Fever’s current general manager – went from the court to the front office. The Fever will select fourth in the 2021 draft. Indiana knows plenty about selecting high in the draft – from Tiffany Mitchell to Kelsey Mitchell to Victoria Vivians to Teaira McCowan to last year’s selection of Lauren Cox.
