The Dream moved up to the No. 1 overall spot and selected Kentucky guard Rhyne Howard, who averaged 20.5 points, 7.4 points and 3.3 assists per game during her senior season. She helped lead the Wildcats to a victory over eventual national champion South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game during her final collegiate season.
With Howard off the board, the Fever took NaLyssa Smith with the second pick. She averaged 22.1 points and 11.5 rebounds per game and was named the National Player of the Year during the 2021-22 season. She ranked top 10 in points and rebounds per game last season.
That left the Mystics positioned to land Shakira Austin with the third overall pick, as Howard, Smith and Austin were widely expected to be the top three players selected on Monday night. Austin averaged 15.2 points and 9 rebounds per game during her final season at Ole Miss. At 6-5, she will join Elena Della Donne as the tallest player on the Mystics.
The Fever set a WNBA record by making four, first-round picks. They selected Smith, Emily Engstler, Lexie Hull and Queen Egbo in an effort to revamp their roster.
The Sporting News is tracking all picks from the 2022 WNBA Draft in real time. Check out all of the selections as they are made:
WNBA Draft picks 2022: Results from Rounds 1-3
First-round picks
Second-round picks
Third-round picks
