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2016 WNBA draft
2016 WNBA draft
from Wikipedia

2016 WNBA draft
General information
SportBasketball
DateApril 14, 2016
LocationMohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut
NetworksESPN2 (first round)
ESPNU (second and third rounds)
Overview
LeagueWNBA
First selectionBreanna Stewart
Seattle Storm
← 2015
2017 →

The 2016 WNBA draft is the league's draft for the 2016 WNBA season. It was held on April 14 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.[1]

The draft was most notable for Connecticut producing the top three picks, with #1 pick Breanna Stewart followed by Moriah Jefferson and Morgan Tuck.[2] This is the first time in history that the top three draft picks came from the same school.[3]

Draft lottery

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The lottery selection to determine the order of the top four picks in the 2016 draft occurred on September 24, 2015.[4] For the first year, team's lottery chances were based on combined records from the 2014 and 2015 WNBA seasons.[5]

Lottery chances

[edit]

The 2016 lottery was held on September 24, 2015.[6]

The Seattle Storm won the lottery for the second straight year. This was the third time that the lottery was won by the team that had the highest odds. Seattle Storm held the worst two-year record and was guaranteed at least the third pick for the 2015 draft.

Note: Team selected for the No. 1 pick noted in bold text.

Team Combined 2014–15 record Lottery chances Result
Seattle Storm 22–46 44.2% 1st pick
San Antonio Stars 24–44 27.6% 2nd pick
Connecticut Sun 28–40 17.8% 3rd pick
Atlanta Dream 34–34 10.4% 4th pick

Notable prospects

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On September 24, 2015, WNBA.com posted notable prospects for the draft. The list included:[7]

Draft invitees

[edit]

The WNBA also selected twelve players to be in attendance at the draft. Those twelve were:[8]

  • United States Rachel Banham, Minnesota
  • United States Imani Boyette, Texas
  • United States Kahleah Copper, Rutgers
  • United States Moriah Jefferson, Connecticut
  • The Bahamas Jonquel Jones, George Washington
  • United States Tiffany Mitchell, South Carolina
  • United States Aerial Powers, Michigan State
  • United States Breanna Stewart, Connecticut
  • United States Morgan Tuck, Connecticut
  • United States Courtney Walker, Texas A&M
  • United States Talia Walton, Washington
  • United States Courtney Williams, South Florida

Key

[edit]

Draft

[edit]
Breanna Stewart was selected 1st overall by the Seattle Storm.
Moriah Jefferson was selected 2nd overall by the San Antonio Stars.
Aerial Powers was selected 5th overall by the Dallas Wings.
Jonquel Jones was selected 6th overall by the Connecticut Sun.
Kahleah Copper was selected 7th overall by the Washington Mystics.
Courtney Williams was selected 8th overall by the Phoenix Mercury.

Round 1

[edit]
Pick Player Nationality Team School / club team
1 Breanna Stewart *  United States Seattle Storm Connecticut
2 Moriah Jefferson San Antonio Stars
3 Morgan Tuck Connecticut Sun
4 Rachel Banham Connecticut Sun (from Atlanta)[a] Minnesota
5 Aerial Powers Dallas Wings (from Los Angeles)[b] Michigan State
6 Jonquel Jones * (traded to Connecticut)[11]  Bahamas Los Angeles Sparks (from Dallas)[c] George Washington
7 Kahleah Copper *  United States Washington Mystics Rutgers
8 Courtney Williams + Phoenix Mercury South Florida
9 Tiffany Mitchell Indiana Fever South Carolina
10 Imani Boyette Chicago Sky Texas
11 Bria Holmes Atlanta Dream (from Minnesota)[d] West Virginia
12 Adut Bulgak  Canada New York Liberty Florida State

Round 2

[edit]
Pick Player Nationality Team School / club team
13 Rachel Hollivay  United States Atlanta Dream (from San Antonio)[e] Rutgers
14 Jazmon Gwathmey (traded to San Antonio)[12]  United States /
 Puerto Rico
Minnesota Lynx (from Seattle)[f] James Madison
15 Whitney Knight  United States Los Angeles Sparks (from Connecticut) Florida Gulf Coast
16 Courtney Walker # Atlanta Dream Texas A&M
17 Jamie Weisner[g]  Canada Connecticut Sun (from Los Angeles) Oregon State
18 Ruth Hamblin Dallas Wings
19 Lia Galdeira #  United States Washington Mystics Washington State
20 Jillian Alleyne Phoenix Mercury Oregon
21 Brene Moseley Indiana Fever Maryland
22 Bashaara Graves Minnesota Lynx (from Chicago)[h] Tennessee
23 Brianna Butler # Los Angeles Sparks (from Minnesota via Connecticut)[i] Syracuse
24 Ameryst Alston New York Liberty Ohio State

Round 3

[edit]
Pick Player Nationality Team School / club team
25 Brittney Martin #  United States San Antonio Stars Oklahoma State
26 Lexi Eaton Rydalch # Seattle Storm BYU
27 Aliyyah Handford # Connecticut Sun St. John's
28 Niya Johnson # Atlanta Dream Baylor
29 Talia Walton # Los Angeles Sparks Washington
30 Shakena Richardson # Dallas Wings Seton Hall
31 Danaejah Grant # Washington Mystics St. John's
32 Nirra Fields  Canada Phoenix Mercury UCLA
33 Julie Allemand  Belgium Indiana Fever Castors Braine (Belgium)
34 Jordan Jones #  United States Chicago Sky Texas A&M
35 Temi Fagbenle  United Kingdom Minnesota Lynx USC
36 Shacobia Barbee #  United States New York Liberty Georgia

Footnotes

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See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The 2016 WNBA Draft was the Women's National Basketball Association's (WNBA) annual event for the selection of eligible amateur and international players, held on April 14, 2016, at the in . The , who had secured the first overall pick via the draft lottery, selected forward from the , marking her entry into professional after a dominant college career that included four national championships. This draft was structured in three rounds, totaling 36 selections across the league's 12 teams (with 12 picks per round). A defining historical milestone of the draft was the unprecedented sweep of the top three picks by players from a single college: in addition to Stewart, guard went second to the , and forward was chosen third by the hometown , making the the first school to achieve this feat in WNBA history. The event also featured notable trades that reshaped rosters, including a deal between the and in which the Sparks acquired and future picks in exchange for the draft rights to forward (selected sixth overall) and other assets, adding backcourt experience to the Sparks. Another trade saw the send forward Jazmon Gwathmey to the for veteran guard Jia Perkins, facilitating immediate roster adjustments. Beyond the top selections, the draft introduced several impactful players who contributed to their teams' futures, such as guard (fourth overall, ), known for her record-setting college scoring, and guard (eighth overall, ), adding perimeter versatility. For rebuilding franchises like the and , the influx of young talent from this class—highlighted by UConn's dominance—signaled a new era of competition, with many draftees going on to earn honors and championships in subsequent years. The proceedings were broadcast live on , drawing attention to the league's growing talent pool and international prospects.

Event overview

Date, location, and format

The 2016 WNBA Draft took place on April 14, 2016, at in . The event followed a three-round format, in which each of the league's 12 teams held one pick per round, resulting in 36 total selections. The draft order was established primarily by the reverse order of the 2015 regular-season standings, with the top four picks among non-playoff teams determined by a pre-draft among (44.2% odds for No. 1), (27.6%), (17.8%), and (10.4%).

Broadcast and eligibility rules

The 2016 WNBA Draft was broadcast live on for the first round, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET on April 14, with coverage continuing on for the second and third rounds. Held at in , the event was open to the public, with free admission for season-ticket holders, fostering an energetic atmosphere highlighted by interactions with WNBA legends such as , , and . Pre-draft ceremonies featured a two-day player orientation in , where the 12 invitees networked, learned about professional basketball, and met pioneers including and Swoopes to mark the league's 20th anniversary. Eligibility for the draft required U.S. college players to be at least 22 years old during the calendar year or to have graduated from a four-year college program (or equivalent) by three months after the draft date. International players were eligible if they turned 20 during the calendar year and had not previously been selected in a WNBA draft. Players not selected during the three rounds became undrafted free agents, eligible to sign contracts with any WNBA team immediately following the event. The draft order incorporated rules updated in 2015 to discourage tanking, with lottery odds based on cumulative two-year records (2014–2015) among non-playoff teams, guaranteeing the team with the worst record at least the third pick.

Draft lottery

Process and participating teams

The 2016 WNBA Draft Lottery, the 15th annual event presented by , was held on September 24, 2015, at ESPN's headquarters in . The determines the order of the picks in the draft by randomly selecting among the four teams that did not qualify for the in the prior season. The process involves assigning each team a set of unique four-ball combinations from a pool of ping-pong balls numbered 1 through 14; the balls are drawn one at a time using a to identify the winning combination for the No. 1 pick, with subsequent draws assigning picks 2 through 4 to the remaining teams. The participating teams were the , who finished the 2015 season with the league-worst 8–26 record, the (10–24), and the and , both at 15–19. This lottery win would mark the third time in franchise history that the secured the No. 1 overall pick through the lottery process.

Odds and results

The odds for the 2016 WNBA draft lottery were determined by the four teams with the worst two-year records from the 2014 and 2015 seasons, assigned in reverse order of cumulative performance using a total of 1,000 ping-pong balls. The , with a combined 22–46 record, received 442 balls (44.2%); the , at 24–44, got 276 balls (27.6%); the , with 28–40, were allotted 178 balls (17.8%); and the , holding a 34–34 mark, had 104 balls (10.4%). The lottery drawing took place on September 24, 2015, in . The won the lottery, securing the No. 1 overall pick for the second consecutive year. With the top selection assigned, the remaining lottery teams retained their order based on two-year records: at No. 2, at No. 3, and at No. 4. The picks from No. 5 through No. 12 were then set in reverse order of the 2015 regular-season standings among the other teams. This outcome preserved the anticipated top-four draft positions without any shuffling, allowing the —already holding the worst two-year record—to select first as expected. It represented the third instance in WNBA lottery history where the team with the highest odds claimed the No. 1 pick, underscoring the system's tendency to favor the least successful franchises in that era. No significant controversies arose from the draw, though it drew attention for continuing Seattle's recent dominance amid the league's efforts to balance competition through the two-year record format.

Pre-draft analysis

Notable prospects

The 2016 WNBA draft class was headlined by a trio of standout players from the , marking the first time a single school produced the top three projected picks in league history. Pre-draft evaluations from and WNBA scouts emphasized UConn's dominance, with the Huskies' senior class having pursued a fourth consecutive . This group was seen as ready to translate their college success into immediate professional impact, blending elite scoring, playmaking, and versatility. Breanna Stewart, a 6-foot-4 forward from UConn, entered the draft as the consensus No. 1 prospect and the 2016 Naismith College Player of the Year, her third such award in four seasons. She led UConn to back-to-back undefeated national titles in 2015 and 2016, earning NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors each year while averaging 16.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game in her final season. Scouts praised Stewart's all-around game, drawing comparisons to NBA star for her scoring efficiency from multiple ranges and defensive prowess, positioning her as a franchise-altering talent. Moriah Jefferson, UConn's 5-foot-7 elite point guard, was projected as the No. 2 pick, renowned for her speed, vision, and defensive tenacity. She set UConn's all-time assists record with 659 over her career, including 204 in her senior year, while amassing over 100 steals in each of her final two seasons. Jefferson's ability to orchestrate offenses and disrupt opponents made her a coveted backcourt leader, with pre-draft analyses highlighting her potential to excel in transition and pick-and-roll situations. Rounding out UConn's top trio, , a 6-foot-2 forward, was eyed for her scoring versatility and IQ as the projected No. 3 selection. As part of the Huskies' championship core, she averaged 13.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in 2015-16, showcasing efficient mid-range shooting and rebounding instincts. Scouts valued Tuck's ability to score from the perimeter or in the post, anticipating her as a reliable secondary option on contending teams. Beyond the UConn stars, emerged as a key international prospect from , a 6-foot-6 from who led the nation in rebounding at 14.6 per game during the 2015-16 season. Her dominance on the boards (ranking fourth nationally in double-doubles with 20) and shot-blocking ability (2.3 per game) marked her as a projected lottery pick with rim-protecting potential. Kahleah Copper, a 6-foot-1 athletic wing from Rutgers, drew attention for her explosive scoring and rebounding, earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors in 2015-16 after averaging 17.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Pre-draft buzz centered on her transition play and defensive versatility, positioning her as a high-upside perimeter threat. Courtney Williams, a 5-foot-8 guard from the , rounded out notable names as a WBCA First Team All-American in 2016, leading the AAC in scoring with 23.6 points per game while guiding her team to the NCAA Tournament's second round. Her quickness, three-point shooting (40.2 percent), and rebounding prowess (8.9 per game) highlighted her as a dynamic prospect.

Draft invitees

The 2016 WNBA Draft featured 12 official invitees, all of whom were top collegiate prospects invited to attend the event in person and potentially walk across the stage during live selections broadcast on ESPN2. These players were selected by the league based on evaluations highlighting their elite skills, achievements, and projections as first-round draft candidates, allowing them to participate on-site at in . The invitee class was headlined by the trio of , , and , who had just led their team to an undefeated season and fourth consecutive NCAA championship. Other notable invitees included record-setting scorer from and versatile forward from Michigan State, representing a mix of guards, forwards, and one center from 11 different universities.
Player NamePositionHeightSchool
Rachel BanhamGuard5'9"
Imani BoyetteCenter6'7"
Kahleah CopperGuard6'1"Rutgers
Moriah JeffersonGuard5'7"
Jonquel JonesForward6'6"
Tiffany MitchellGuard5'9"
Aerial PowersForward6'0"Michigan State
Breanna StewartForward6'4"
Morgan TuckForward6'2"
Courtney WalkerGuard5'8"Texas A&M
Talia WaltonForward6'2"Washington
Courtney WilliamsGuard5'8"
In terms of positional breakdown, the group included six guards (Banham, Copper, Jefferson, Mitchell, Walker, and Williams), five forwards (Jones, Powers, Stewart, Tuck, and Walton), and one center (Boyette), reflecting the draft class's emphasis on perimeter and versatile frontcourt talent. No international players received invitations this year, with all invitees hailing from U.S. colleges; Connecticut dominated with three selections, while the remaining nine came from distinct programs. Among potential surprises, Courtney Walker stood out as an invitee due to her status as Texas A&M's all-time leading scorer, though she was projected as a mid-to-late first-rounder rather than a lottery lock. Conversely, some highly touted prospects did not receive invitations despite strong scouting buzz, underscoring the league's focus on a curated group of 12 for the on-stage experience.

Draft selections

First round

The first round of the 2016 WNBA Draft, held on April 14 at in , featured a historic sweep by the , with its players taken as the top three selections for the first time in league history. This opening round highlighted teams' efforts to bolster rosters with high-potential talent, including sharpshooting guards and versatile forwards, amid a lottery-determined order that rewarded rebuilding franchises like the . The emerged as a major beneficiary, acquiring three first-round picks through pre-draft maneuvers and an on-stage trade, signaling their aggressive rebuild strategy following a 7-27 season in 2015. The selections unfolded as follows: Seattle's selection of with the No. 1 pick, secured via the draft lottery, anchored a franchise reset after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006, pairing her versatile scoring and defense with emerging talent like . The , holding the No. 2 pick from their league-worst 2015 record, chose to inject speed and playmaking into a backcourt needing direction. Connecticut's No. 3 selection of forward completed the UConn trio, allowing the Sun to add a reliable scorer and rebounder projected as a top prospect in pre-draft evaluations. The Sun's haul intensified with the No. 4 pick, acquired in from in exchange for center Elizabeth Williams, where they drafted Minnesota's , the all-time NCAA leading scorer known for her long-range shooting. , leveraging a pre-draft with for the No. 5 pick (which also netted veteran guard ), selected forward to enhance their frontcourt depth alongside stars like . A pivotal moment came at No. 6, when picked George Washington's —a dominant rebounder and shot-blocker—before trading her immediately to for guard , the Sun's 2016 No. 15 pick, No. 23 pick, and a 2017 first-rounder; the deal, announced on stage by Commissioner Laurel Richie, drew cheers from the local crowd as Jones joined her new teammates. Subsequent picks reflected targeted needs: Washington's No. 7 choice of Rutgers' added athletic wing scoring to complement ; Phoenix took South Florida's at No. 8 for backcourt versatility behind ; Indiana's No. 9 selection of South Carolina's Tiffany Mitchell brought championship pedigree from her Final Four-winning college career; and Chicago's No. 10 pick of center Imani Boyette aimed to fortify interior defense. Atlanta, via a prior with , selected West Virginia's Bria Holmes at No. 11 for perimeter defense, while New York closed the round at No. 12 with Florida State's Adut Bulgak to deepen their post rotation. On stage, reactions were electric, with Stewart visibly emotional during her selection by Storm executive Alisha Valavanis, Jefferson and Tuck sharing hugs amid the UConn celebration, and Jones tearfully embracing the outcome, underscoring the draft's blend of anticipation and instant roster shifts.

Second round

The second round of the 2016 WNBA draft, comprising picks 13 through 24, saw teams prioritize depth additions, particularly in bench scoring, perimeter shooting, and interior defense, as franchises sought to complement their first-round selections with versatile role players. Several teams addressed specific positional gaps, such as backcourt shooting and post presence, while navigating trades to optimize roster fits. The following table lists the second-round selections: Notable value picks included Whitney Knight at No. 15, selected by the to enhance three-point shooting and marking the first draft pick from the . Similarly, Jillian Alleyne went to the at No. 20 as the first player ever drafted, though her immediate impact was limited by an ACL injury that sidelined her for the season. achieved a rare back-to-back selection with Jamie Weisner (No. 17, ), a guard valued for her shooting and defensive contributions, and Ruth Hamblin (No. 18, ), a center noted for her rebounding and shot-blocking to bolster team rotations. Team motivations often centered on international and athletic additions for bench roles; for instance, the used picks 13 and 16 to acquire 6-4 center Rachel Hollivay for shot-blocking depth and guard Courtney Walker for scoring punch off the bench. The targeted forward Bashaara Graves at No. 22 to compete for frontcourt minutes, leveraging her rebounding prowess from . Surprises included the immediate trade of Jazmon Gwathmey (No. 14) from the Lynx to the in exchange for veteran Jia Perkins, allowing San Antonio to gain a versatile 6-2 wing with strong interior scoring (20.7 points per game in college). Additionally, selecting the injured Alleyne represented a reach for long-term potential despite short-term unavailability.

Third round

The third round of the 2016 WNBA draft, encompassing picks 25 through 36, featured selections primarily from college programs and overlooked prospects, with teams seeking potential depth or developmental talent. This round highlighted players who often flew under the radar during scouting, including guards and forwards from conferences like the Big 12 and Big East. The selections were as follows:
PickTeamPlayerCollege/Origin
25Brittney MartinOklahoma State
26Lexi Eaton RydalchBYU
27Aliyyah HandfordSt. John's
28Niya JohnsonBaylor
29Talia WaltonWashington
30Shakena RichardsonSeton Hall
31Danaejah GrantSt. John's
32Nirra FieldsUCLA
33Castors Braine ()
34Jordan JonesTexas A&M
35USC
36Shacobia BarbeeGeorgia
Among these picks, international eligibility rules allowed for selections like Julie Allemand, a Belgian playing professionally in , marking one of the few overseas talents chosen in the later rounds. Overlooked college players dominated the round, such as Niya Johnson from Baylor, a defensive specialist who had been overshadowed by higher-profile guards in her conference, and Jordan Jones from Texas A&M, valued for her rebounding potential despite not being a top scorer. Third-round selections like these typically resulted in training camp invitations rather than guaranteed roster spots, with many competing directly against undrafted free agents for limited openings. Historically, third-round picks in the WNBA have shown a low success rate in securing long-term careers, with most failing to appear in regular-season games and only a fraction contributing meaningfully over multiple seasons. In the 2016 class, for instance, nine of the twelve picks recorded zero professional years in the league.

Post-draft transactions

Immediate trades

During the 2016 WNBA Draft held on April 14, 2016, two notable trades were executed immediately following selections, altering the initial distribution of draft rights and players among teams. These transactions occurred on draft night and focused on acquiring established talent or addressing specific roster needs in the frontcourt and backcourt. The selected forward with the sixth overall pick in the first round but promptly traded her draft rights, along with their own second-round pick (17th overall), to the . In exchange, the Sparks received guard , the Sun's two second-round picks (15th and 23rd overall), and the Sun's 2017 first-round pick. This deal allowed the Sun to bolster their frontcourt with Jones, a versatile 6-foot-6 forward from known for her rebounding prowess, while the Sparks prioritized backcourt depth with Gray, who was recovering from an injury but offered playmaking skills, and gained additional assets for future flexibility. The trade reshaped the Sun's roster by adding a high-upside rookie to complement their existing core, whereas the Sparks used the acquired picks to select players like Whitney Knight (15th overall) and Brianna Butler (23rd overall), enhancing immediate and long-term options. In the second round, the selected guard Jazmon Gwathmey with the 14th overall pick but traded her draft rights to the in exchange for veteran guard Jia Perkins. Perkins, a 34-year-old with extensive experience averaging 13.3 in the prior season, provided the defending champion with seasoned perimeter scoring and leadership to maintain their competitive edge. The , in return, acquired the younger Gwathmey, a guard from , to inject athleticism into their backcourt. This swap immediately strengthened the Lynx's veteran-laden rotation without expending higher assets, while redirecting the toward developmental talent.

Player signings and waivers

Following the 2016 WNBA Draft on April 14, teams across the league quickly moved to bolster their rosters by signing undrafted free agents and rookies to non-guaranteed contracts, aiming to evaluate additional talent amid the league's 12-player active roster limit per team. These signings provided opportunities for overlooked prospects to compete for spots, as teams could carry up to 16 players in camp before trimming to the final 12 by mid-May. The process emphasized versatility and immediate contributions, with many contracts lasting only through preseason. Notable undrafted rookies included Tina Roy, a guard from the , who signed a training camp contract with the on April 19; she was waived on April 29 after appearing in preseason activities. Similarly, Maggie Lyon, a guard from , joined the Chicago Sky's on April 21 but was released on April 28. Blake Dietrick, an undrafted guard from Princeton who had previously attended camp with other teams, signed with the on February 18 and earned a spot on the opening-day roster, appearing in 15 games during the season. These moves highlighted how undrafted players could secure roles through strong camp performances, often filling guard or wing positions. The waiver process intensified as training camps progressed, allowing teams to release players to meet roster requirements while opening spots for claims or further signings. For instance, the waived veteran forward Quanitra Hollingsworth on May 9, along with guards and Lexi Eaton Rydalch, and center Krystal Thomas on May 10, reducing their camp roster from 16 to 13 before final cuts. Such waivers, common in the immediate post-draft period, enabled competitive depth but underscored the high stakes for non-rostered players seeking WNBA entry. Overall, these transactions reflected the league's emphasis on rapid evaluation, with undrafted talent comprising a significant portion of initial camp invites to address roster gaps left by the draft's 36 selections.

References

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