2020 WNBA draft
2020 WNBA draft
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2020 WNBA draft

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2020 WNBA Draft
General information
SportBasketball
DateApril 17, 2020
LocationVirtually
NetworksUSA: ESPN
Canada: TSN2/SN1
Overview
LeagueWNBA
Teams12
First selectionSabrina Ionescu
New York Liberty
← 2019
2021 →

The 2020 WNBA draft was the league's draft for the 2020 WNBA season. A draft lottery was held on September 17, 2019 and the New York Liberty were awarded the first overall pick in the draft.[1][2] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the draft was held virtually without players, guests, and the media on-site. The draft was televised as planned;[3] it was the most-watched WNBA draft in 16 years and the second most-watched in ESPN's history.[4]

Draft lottery

[edit]

The lottery selection to determine the order of the top four picks in the 2020 draft took place during halftime of the Connecticut Sun's semifinal game against the Los Angeles Sparks on September 17, 2019 and was televised on ESPN2. Four non-playoff teams qualified for the lottery drawing: Indiana Fever, Dallas Wings, New York Liberty, and Atlanta Dream.[1]

The lottery odds were based on combined records from the 2018 and 2019 WNBA seasons. In the drawing, 14 balls numbered 1–14 are placed in a lottery machine and mixed. Four balls are drawn to determine a four-digit combination (only 11–12–13–14 is ignored & redrawn). The team assigned that four-ball combination receives the No. 1 pick. The four balls are then placed back into the machine and the process is repeated to determine the second pick. The two teams whose numerical combinations do not come up in the lottery will select in the inverse order of their two-year cumulative record. Ernst & Young knows the discreet results before they're announced.[1]

The order of selection for the remainder of the first round as well as the second and third rounds was determined by inverse order of the teams' respective regular-season records from 2019.[1]

Lottery chances

[edit]

The lottery was won by the New York Liberty, who had the best chance to win the lottery. The Dallas Wings were awarded the second pick, followed by the Indiana Fever and finally the Atlanta Dream.[2]

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

Team Combined 2018–19 Record Lottery Chances Result
New York Liberty 17–51 44.2% 1st pick
Indiana Fever 19–49 27.6% 3rd pick
Dallas Wings 25–43 17.8% 2nd pick
Atlanta Dream 31–37 10.4% 4th pick

Eligibility

[edit]

Under the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the WNBA and its players union, draft eligibility for players not defined as "international" requires the following to be true:[5]

  • The player's 22nd birthday falls during the calendar year of the draft. For this draft, the cutoff birth date is December 31, 1998.
  • She has either:
    • completed her college eligibility;
    • received a bachelor's degree, or is scheduled to receive such in the 3 months following the draft; or
    • is at least 4 years removed from high school graduation.

A player who is scheduled to receive her bachelor's degree within 3 months of the draft date, and is younger than the cutoff age, is only eligible if the calendar year of the draft is no earlier than the fourth after her high school graduation.

Players with remaining college eligibility who meet the cutoff age must notify the WNBA headquarters of their intent to enter the draft no later than 10 days before the draft date, and must renounce any remaining college eligibility to do so. A separate notification timetable is provided for players involved in postseason tournaments (most notably the NCAA Division I tournament); those players must declare for the draft within 24 hours of their final game. The latter timetable proved to be moot due to the coronavirus-induced cancellation of the 2020 NCAA tournament.

"International players" are defined as those for whom all of the following is true:

  • Born and currently residing outside the U.S.
  • Never "exercised intercollegiate basketball eligibility" in the U.S.

For "international players", the eligibility age is 20, also measured on December 31 of the year of the draft.

Three players with remaining college eligibility, all of whom were juniors in the 2019–20 college season, declared for the draft. All three were drafted in the first round:

Draft

[edit]
Sabrina Ionescu was selected 1st overall by the New York Liberty.
Satou Sabally was selected 2nd overall by the Dallas Wings.
Chennedy Carter was selected 4th overall by the Atlanta Dream.
Tyasha Harris was selected 7th overall by the Dallas Wings.
Crystal Dangerfield was selected 16th overall by the Minnesota Lynx. She became the first second-round pick to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award.
Leonie Fiebich was selected 22nd overall by the Los Angeles Sparks.
* Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game and All-WNBA Team
+ Denotes player who has been selected for at least one All-Star Game
# Denotes player who never played in the WNBA regular season or playoffs
Bold Denotes player who won Rookie of the Year

Honorary picks

[edit]

The WNBA honored Alyssa Altobelli, Payton Chester, and Gianna Bryant, daughter of Hall of Fame basketball player Kobe Bryant, who all died in the 2020 Calabasas helicopter crash, with honorary draft picks.[9]

First round

[edit]
Pick Player Position Nationality Team School / club team
1 Sabrina Ionescu * G  United States New York Liberty Oregon
2 Satou Sabally * F  Germany Dallas Wings Oregon
3 Lauren Cox F/C  United States Indiana Fever Baylor
4 Chennedy Carter G  United States Atlanta Dream Texas A&M
5 Bella Alarie F  United States Dallas Wings (from Phoenix)[a] Princeton
6 Mikiah Herbert Harrigan F  United Kingdom Minnesota Lynx South Carolina
7 Tyasha Harris G  United States Dallas Wings (from Seattle via Connecticut and Phoenix)[a][b][c] South Carolina
8 Ruthy Hebard F  United States Chicago Sky Oregon
9 Megan Walker F  United States New York Liberty (from Las Vegas via Dallas)[d][e] UConn
10 Jocelyn Willoughby F/G  United States Phoenix Mercury (from Los Angeles via Connecticut)[c][f] Virginia
11 Kitija Laksa F  Latvia Seattle Storm (from Connecticut)[b] South Florida/TTT Riga (Latvia)
12 Jazmine Jones G  United States New York Liberty (from Washington)[e] Louisville

Second round

[edit]
Pick Player Position Nationality Team School / club team
13 Kylee Shook F  United States New York Liberty (from Atlanta)[g] Louisville
14 Kathleen Doyle G  United States Indiana Fever (from New York via Minnesota)[h][i] Iowa
15 Leaonna Odom F  United States New York Liberty (from Dallas)[e] Duke
16 Crystal Dangerfield G  United States Minnesota Lynx (from Indiana)[i] UConn
17 Brittany Brewer F  United States Atlanta Dream (from Phoenix)[j] Texas Tech
18 Te'a Cooper G  United States Phoenix Mercury (from Minnesota)[k] Baylor
19 Joyner Holmes F  United States Seattle Storm Texas
20 Beatrice Mompremier F  United States Los Angeles Sparks (from Chicago)[l] Miami (FL)
21 Luisa Geiselsöder C  Germany Dallas Wings (from Las Vegas)[d] Donau-Ries (Germany)
22 Leonie Fiebich F  Germany Los Angeles Sparks Wasserburg (Germany)
23 Kaila Charles G  United States Connecticut Sun Maryland
24 Jaylyn Agnew F  United States Washington Mystics Creighton

Third round

[edit]
Pick Player Position Nationality Team School / club team
25 Mikayla Pivec# G  United States Atlanta Dream Oregon State
26 Erica Ogwumike# G  United States New York Liberty Rice
27 Kobi Thornton# F  United States Atlanta Dream (from Dallas)[m] Clemson
28 Kamiah Smalls G  United States Indiana Fever James Madison
29 Stella Johnson G  United States Phoenix Mercury Rider
30 Japreece Dean# G  United States Chicago Sky (from Minnesota)[n] UCLA
31 Haley Gorecki G  United States Seattle Storm Duke
32 Kiah Gillespie# F  United States Chicago Sky Florida State
33 Lauren Manis# F  United States Las Vegas Aces Holy Cross
34 Tynice Martin# G  United States Los Angeles Sparks West Virginia
35 Juicy Landrum# G  United States Connecticut Sun Baylor
36 Sug Sutton G  United States Washington Mystics Texas

Footnotes

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

2020 WNBA draft

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from Grokipedia
The 2020 WNBA Draft was the Women's National Basketball Association's (WNBA) annual player selection meeting, held virtually on April 17, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, where the league's 12 teams selected eligible players from colleges and international leagues across three rounds totaling 36 picks.[1][2] The draft lottery, conducted on September 17, 2019, awarded the New York Liberty the first overall pick, their first No. 1 selection in franchise history, while the Dallas Wings secured the second pick and the Indiana Fever the third.[3][1] The event, presented by State Farm and broadcast on ESPN, featured Sabrina Ionescu from Oregon as the unanimous top choice by the Liberty, a guard renowned for her versatility and record-breaking college career, including becoming the only player in NCAA history—male or female—to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists.[1][2][1] Subsequent top selections highlighted a talent-rich class, with the Wings drafting forward Satou Sabally second overall from Oregon and the Fever selecting Baylor forward Lauren Cox third; the Atlanta Dream followed with Texas A&M guard Chennedy Carter at fourth, noted for her explosive scoring ability.[4][2] The first round saw the Wings make three picks, including Princeton forward Bella Alarie fifth and South Carolina guard Tyasha Harris seventh, while Oregon's influence was evident with forward Ruthy Hebard going eighth to the Chicago Sky, forming a notable trio of Ducks in the lottery positions.[2][4] A poignant highlight was the league's honorary selections of Alyssa Altobelli, Gianna Bryant, and Payton Chester—victims of the January 2020 helicopter crash that claimed Kobe Bryant's life—as symbolic draftees to honor their basketball aspirations, accompanied by the introduction of the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award to recognize contributions to women's basketball.[1] The draft class, graded highly by analysts with A+ marks for several teams like the Wings and Minnesota Lynx for addressing roster needs, went on to contribute significantly to the league amid its pandemic-shortened 2020 season.[5][2]

Event Overview

Date and Format

The 2020 WNBA Draft was held on April 17, 2020, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.[6] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event adopted a virtual format, with team commissioners announcing selections remotely while WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert conducted the proceedings remotely from her home.[7][8] The draft consisted of three rounds, with each of the league's 12 teams receiving one pick per round, resulting in a total of 36 selections.[4] The order of picks in the first round was determined by a pre-draft lottery for the top four selections, followed by the reverse order of the 2019 regular-season standings for picks 5 through 12; subsequent rounds followed the reverse standings order as well.[9] This sequence was subject to adjustments based on prior trades of draft rights among teams.[9]

Broadcast and Viewership

The 2020 WNBA Draft was broadcast live on ESPN, marking a shift from an initial plan to air it on ESPN2 following fan backlash over channel placement.[10][11] The event, held virtually on April 17 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, averaged 387,000 viewers, representing a 123% increase from the 2019 draft and the highest viewership for a WNBA Draft in 16 years, as well as the second-most-watched in ESPN's history.[12][13] ESPN's coverage originated from the network's Bristol, Connecticut, studios and included streaming availability on the ESPN app, ensuring broad accessibility during the remote format.[11] Host Ryan Ruocco led the broadcast alongside analysts Rebecca Lobo, a Hall of Famer and former WNBA player, and Chiney Ogwumike, a current WNBA star and college basketball commentator, providing expert insights throughout the event.[11][14] Pre-draft programming featured a week-long, multi-platform buildup with player interviews, scouting reports, and analytical segments to build anticipation for the selections.[11] The virtual production incorporated innovative elements, such as live video conference reactions from draftees at their homes and emotional tributes, including honorary picks honoring victims of the January 2020 helicopter crash involving Kobe Bryant.[15][16] These features highlighted the draft's adaptability and emotional resonance amid the unprecedented circumstances.

Draft Lottery

Procedure

The 2020 WNBA Draft Lottery was held on September 17, 2019, at the league's headquarters in Secaucus, New Jersey.[17][18] The lottery employed a weighted probability system, where selection odds were assigned to eligible teams in reverse order of their cumulative records over the 2018 and 2019 regular seasons, granting non-playoff teams progressively higher chances of securing the top picks, with the worst-performing team receiving the highest odds.[19] This structure ensured that only the four teams that did not qualify for the 2019 playoffs participated in the drawing for the first four overall selections.[19] The drawing process mirrored the NBA's lottery format, utilizing a machine containing 14 ping-pong balls numbered 1 through 14.[17] Four balls were drawn at a time to form a four-digit combination, with each participating team pre-assigned multiple such combinations proportional to their odds; the team matching the drawn combination received the corresponding pick, and the process was repeated sequentially for the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 selections.[17][19] The remaining draft positions were then determined by the inverse order of the 2019 standings, subject to any prior trades of pick rights.[19] This lottery mechanism served to foster competitive balance across the league by providing underperforming teams with enhanced opportunities to acquire premier talent, thereby incentivizing broader parity in future seasons.[20]

Results and Odds

The 2020 WNBA Draft Lottery, held on September 17, 2019, determined the order of the first four picks based on the four teams with the worst cumulative records over the 2018 and 2019 seasons.[21] The New York Liberty, with a two-year record of 17–51, secured the No. 1 overall pick after entering with the highest probability of landing it.[21] This marked the Liberty's first time winning the top selection in franchise history.[21] The full lottery results assigned the top four picks as follows: No. 1 to the New York Liberty, No. 2 to the Dallas Wings (two-year record of 25–43), No. 3 to the Indiana Fever (19–49), and No. 4 to the Atlanta Dream (31–37).[21] The remaining first-round picks (Nos. 5–12) were allocated in inverse order of the 2019 regular-season standings among the non-lottery teams, subject to trades: No. 5 to the Phoenix Mercury, No. 6 to the Minnesota Lynx, No. 7 to the Dallas Wings (via Seattle Storm), No. 8 to the Chicago Sky, No. 9 to the Dallas Wings (via Las Vegas Aces), No. 10 to the Connecticut Sun (via Los Angeles Sparks), No. 11 to the Connecticut Sun, and No. 12 to the Washington Mystics.[21] The lottery odds for the No. 1 pick were weighted heavily toward the teams with poorer two-year performances, using a total of 1,000 possible combinations drawn from a pool of numbered balls.[21] The Liberty held 442 combinations (44.2%), the Fever 276 (27.6%), the Wings 178 (17.8%), and the Dream 104 (10.4%); the other eight teams had 0% odds for the top pick, as their selections were fixed outside the lottery.[21]
TeamTwo-Year Record (2018–2019)Combinations (out of 1,000)Odds for No. 1 Pick
New York Liberty17–5144244.2%
Indiana Fever19–4927627.6%
Dallas Wings25–4317817.8%
Atlanta Dream31–3710410.4%
The outcome preserved the lottery's design to limit dramatic shifts, with no team improving or dropping more than one position from their projected order based on two-year records (Liberty projected No. 1, Fever No. 2, Wings No. 3, Dream No. 4).[21] The Wings moved up one spot to No. 2, while the Fever slid to No. 3, ensuring relative stability while providing opportunity for the worst-performing teams.[21]

Eligibility

College Players

The eligibility criteria for college players in the 2020 WNBA Draft applied to domestic athletes competing in NCAA programs, requiring them to satisfy age or academic milestones to enter the league. A player was eligible if she had completed her college eligibility; had received a bachelor's degree or was scheduled to receive it within three months following the draft; or would be at least 22 years old during the 2020 calendar year (i.e., born on or before December 31, 1998) and renounced any remaining college eligibility.[22][19] These rules ensured that participants had sufficient maturity and development, distinguishing domestic prospects from international ones who faced a lower age threshold of 20.[22] Graduating seniors, having exhausted their four years of NCAA eligibility, were automatically eligible without a formal declaration process, provided they had exhausted their college eligibility, typically as graduating seniors who had received or were scheduled to receive their degree within three months following the draft date of April 17, 2020.[19] Underclassmen—such as juniors or sophomores—could only enter if they formally renounced any remaining college eligibility in writing by the league's deadline (typically early April) and met the age requirement of 22 during the draft year.[23] This renunciation was irrevocable, committing the player to professional basketball and forfeiting amateur status.[19] Prominent examples included Sabrina Ionescu, a senior guard at the University of Oregon, who met the criteria by completing her fifth year of eligibility and earning her degree in communications, making her automatically eligible despite turning 23 during 2020.[24] Similarly, underclass opt-ins like Chennedy Carter, a junior at Texas A&M who turned 22 in 2020, demonstrated the pathway for younger players by renouncing her final year of eligibility to declare.[25] These cases highlighted how the rules balanced player development with opportunities for top talents to transition professionally.

International Players

International players for the 2020 WNBA draft followed eligibility rules separate from those for U.S. college athletes, focusing primarily on age and non-U.S. residency rather than academic milestones. These players were required to be at least 20 years old by December 31, 2020, enabling entry into the league based on maturity and experience without the need for a college degree.[23] Eligibility for international players stemmed from their status as athletes born and residing outside the United States, who participated in basketball either as amateurs or professionals abroad.[26] Unlike domestic prospects, international players were not required to submit a formal declaration to the WNBA ahead of the draft; they were automatically eligible upon meeting the age and residency criteria, allowing teams to select them directly from overseas leagues or other non-collegiate paths.[19] This process facilitated access for global talent, as seen in prior drafts with players like Spain's Marie Gülich, who entered as the fourth overall pick in 2018 after professional play in Europe, bypassing U.S. college requirements. Players of international origin who had utilized U.S. intercollegiate eligibility, however, were subject to domestic rules instead.[26] The WNBA maintained an international player pool to track and evaluate such prospects, ensuring teams had access to scouting information on eligible candidates worldwide.[19]

Draft Picks

Honorary Picks

During the 2020 WNBA Draft held on April 17, 2020, the league announced three honorary selections at the conclusion of the first round: Alyssa Altobelli, Gianna Bryant, and Payton Chester.[16] These symbolic picks carried no contractual obligations or playing rights, serving instead as a poignant gesture of remembrance by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to honor the young athletes' passion for basketball.[27] The announcement, featuring their names called alongside jerseys displayed on stage, elicited an emotional response during the televised broadcast, underscoring the league's commitment to celebrating emerging talent beyond competition.[28] The honorary draftees were victims of the January 26, 2020, helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, that also claimed the lives of Kobe Bryant and six others.[29] Altobelli (14), Bryant (13), and Chester (13) were aspiring basketball players and teammates on the Mamba Sports Academy AAU team, which Kobe Bryant coached.[30] Altobelli, an eighth-grader at Ensign Intermediate School in Newport Beach, excelled as a point guard and aspired to play for the University of Oregon.[31] Chester, also an eighth-grader at St. Margaret's Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, led her middle school team and was known for her kindness and skill on the court.[32] Bryant, a student at Harbor Day School in Newport Beach, played for both her school team and the Mamba Academy, idolizing UConn and dreaming of a professional career.[33] This tribute highlighted the WNBA's role in fostering youth basketball and provided a moment of collective mourning, connecting the league to the broader basketball community affected by the tragedy.[34]

First Round

The first round of the 2020 WNBA draft featured a concentration of high-profile college talent, with three players from the University of Oregon selected in the top eight picks, underscoring the program's dominant run to the 2019 NCAA championship game. The Dallas Wings capitalized on pre-draft trades to secure three selections (picks 2, 5, and 7), allowing them to address multiple roster needs in a single round, while the New York Liberty prioritized playmaking and spacing around their top pick. Several immediate trades reshaped the distribution of later selections, with the Liberty acquiring two players via deals during the draft.[4][35] The following table lists the 12 first-round picks, including the selecting team, player, position, college or country, and any immediate trade notes.
PickTeamPlayerPositionCollege/CountryNotes
1New York LibertySabrina IonescuGOregonFranchise cornerstone for offensive leadership and marketing appeal.
2Dallas WingsSatou SaballyFOregonVersatile scorer to pair with backcourt talent like Arike Ogunbowale.[4]
3Indiana FeverLauren CoxFBaylorDefensive specialist to bolster frontcourt alongside Tierra Ruffin-Pratt.[35]
4Atlanta DreamChennedy CarterGTexas A&MDynamic scorer to elevate perimeter offense.[4]
5Dallas WingsBella AlarieFPrincetonPost presence and rebounder to add frontcourt depth.[36]
6Minnesota LynxMikiah Herbert HarriganFSouth CarolinaStretch forward to complement veteran Sylvia Fowles.[35]
7Dallas WingsTyasha HarrisGSouth CarolinaPass-first guard to facilitate and support scoring options.
8Chicago SkyRuthy HebardFOregonEfficient interior finisher for pick-and-roll sets with Courtney Vandersloot.
9New York LibertyMegan WalkerFUConnWing shooter for spacing in rebuild offense; traded to Los Angeles Sparks post-selection.[35][37]
10Phoenix MercuryJocelyn WilloughbyFVirginiaMulti-dimensional scorer; traded to New York Liberty immediately after selection.[35][38]
11Seattle StormKitija LaksaG/FLatvia (South Florida)Sharpshooting wing; traded to New York Liberty immediately after selection.[35][38]
12New York LibertyJazmine JonesGLouisvilleAthletic defender with improved shooting; selected from overseas contract.[35]
The round highlighted strategic pre-draft maneuvering, as the Wings' acquisition of picks 5 and 7 from other teams (originally belonging to Minnesota and Connecticut, respectively) enabled a talent infusion aimed at accelerating their rebuild. The Lynx focused on frontcourt reinforcement with picks 6 and the original pick 8 (traded to Chicago prior), emphasizing defensive versatility around their championship core. Meanwhile, the Liberty's multiple acquisitions via trades in picks 9-12 demonstrated a focus on depth and shooting to support Ionescu's playmaking.[39]

Second Round

The second round of the 2020 WNBA Draft, consisting of picks 13 through 24, focused on selecting versatile role players and depth contributors to bolster team benches, with several picks acquired through pre-draft trades that reshuffled selections among contenders and rebuilding squads.[40] Teams like the New York Liberty, who entered with multiple traded picks, prioritized forwards to add frontcourt versatility following their first-round selections.[40] International prospects and college standouts capable of immediate rotation minutes were common themes, reflecting teams' needs for cost-controlled talent amid salary cap constraints.[35] The following table lists all second-round selections, including the drafting team (noting trade origins where applicable), player details, and positions:
PickTeam (Trade Origin)PlayerPositionCollege/Country
13New York Liberty (from Atlanta Dream)Kylee ShookFLouisville
14Indiana Fever (from New York Liberty via Minnesota Lynx)Kathleen DoyleGIowa
15New York Liberty (from Dallas Wings)Leaonna OdomFDuke
16Minnesota Lynx (from Indiana Fever)Crystal DangerfieldGUConn
17Atlanta Dream (from Phoenix Mercury)Brittany BrewerCTexas Tech
18Phoenix Mercury (from Minnesota Lynx)Te'a CooperGBaylor
19Seattle StormJoyner HolmesFTexas
20Los Angeles Sparks (from Chicago Sky)Beatrice MompremierFMiami (FL)
21Dallas Wings (from Las Vegas Aces)Luisa GeiselsöderCGermany
22Los Angeles SparksLeonie FiebichFGermany
23Connecticut SunKaila CharlesGMaryland
24Washington MysticsJalyn AgnewFCreighton
Trades were prominent, with eight of the 12 picks originating from other teams, enabling squads like the Liberty and Sparks to accumulate assets for rebuilding while contenders such as the Storm and Sun targeted specific fits for playoff depth.[40] For instance, the Dallas Wings, fresh off drafting Satou Sabally in the first round, used a traded pick to select international center Luisa Geiselsöder for post presence and rebounding support.[40] Overall, the round underscored the draft's role in addressing roster gaps with high-upside but non-star talents expected to contribute in limited roles.[35]

Third Round

The third round of the 2020 WNBA draft, held on April 17, 2020, featured picks 25 through 36, primarily targeting developmental prospects, camp invitees, and lesser-known college talents who were seen as high-risk additions to rosters with limited guaranteed contracts.[35] Unlike earlier rounds, these selections often served as depth options or training camp experiments, with many players ultimately not securing spots on active WNBA rosters. Several picks involved teams acquiring rights through prior trades, reflecting ongoing roster maneuvering ahead of the season. The following table lists all third-round selections, including the drafting team, player, position, college, and career WNBA games played (as of the end of the 2025 season) to illustrate outcomes:
PickTeamPlayerPositionCollegeWNBA Games Played
25Atlanta DreamMikayla PivecFOregon State0
26New York Liberty (rights traded to Minnesota Lynx post-draft)Erica OgwumikeGRice0
27Atlanta Dream (from Dallas Wings)Kobi ThorntonFClemson0
28Indiana FeverKamiah SmallsGJames Madison13
29Phoenix MercuryStella JohnsonGRider15
30Chicago Sky (from Minnesota Lynx)Japreece DeanGUCLA0
31Seattle StormHaley GoreckiG/FDuke3
32Chicago SkyKiah GillespieFFlorida State0
33Las Vegas AcesLauren ManisFHoly Cross0
34Los Angeles SparksTynice MartinGWest Virginia0
35Connecticut SunJuicy LandrumGBaylor0
36Washington MysticsSug SuttonGTexas124
Data compiled from official draft records and player statistics.[35] Of the 12 players selected, eight never appeared in a regular-season WNBA game, underscoring the round's role in scouting potential rather than immediate contributors.[35] For instance, picks like Mikayla Pivec and Kobi Thornton pursued overseas opportunities instead of WNBA contracts, while others, such as Erica Ogwumike and Japreece Dean, attended training camps but were waived before the season. Among those who did play, Sug Sutton stands out as the most successful, evolving into a reliable reserve guard with averages of 6.0 points and 3.5 assists per game over four seasons, including stints with multiple teams after her initial selection.[41] Kamiah Smalls and Stella Johnson contributed in limited roles during their brief WNBA tenures, primarily as perimeter defenders off the bench; in 2025, Smalls appeared in 3 games for the Atlanta Dream on short-term contracts.[42] Haley Gorecki appeared in just three games for the champion Seattle Storm in 2020 before transitioning to international play. Overall, the third round exemplified the draft's depth, providing teams with low-cost options amid the league's expansion and the challenges of the COVID-19 shortened season.

References

  1. New York selects Sabrina Ionescu with first overall pick in WNBA ...
  2. 2020 WNBA Draft Tracker: Complete results, grades as Sabrina ...
  3. Wings Awarded No. 2 Pick in 2020 WNBA Draft - Dallas Wings
  4. WNBA Draft 2020
  5. WNBA draft grades: Wings, Lynx score highest marks - ESPN
  6. W.N.B.A. Will Hold 'Virtual' Draft in April - The New York Times
  7. WNBATogether Joins Forces with ESPN's #oneteam
  8. 2020 WNBA Draft order: Four things to know with New York Liberty ...
  9. WNBA Draft to Air on ESPN After Backlash From Fans Over ESPN2 ...
  10. WNBA Draft Presented by State Farm to Air Live on ESPN, Friday ...
  11. WNBA delivers most-watched Draft in 16 years - NBA.com
  12. WNBA draft 2020 sets record viewership on ESPN with Ionescu
  13. ESPN Preps for Telecast of Virtual 2020 WNBA Draft
  14. 2020 WNBA Draft Live Stream: Watch Online, TV Channel, Start Time
  15. Gianna Bryant, Alyssa Altobelli, Payton Chester selected as ... - ESPN
  16. 2020 WNBA Draft Lottery Date Announced - Indiana Fever
  17. WNBA Draft Lottery 2020 presented by State Farm to take place ...
  18. WNBA CBA Explained: The Draft - The Her Hoop Stats Newsletter
  19. WNBA Announces Rules Changes to Draft Lottery Format
  20. New York Liberty Win Top Pick In WNBA Draft 2020 Presented By ...
  21. Frequently Asked Questions - WNBA
  22. Who is eligible to enter the WNBA draft? Rules to know - ESPN
  23. New York Selects Sabrina Ionescu With First Overall Pick In WNBA ...
  24. 2020 WNBA Draft Prospects: Five Things To Know About Chennedy ...
  25. 2025 WNBA Draft: Explaining the current eligibility rules for domestic ...
  26. Gianna Bryant, Alyssa Altobelli, Payton Chester selected as ...
  27. WNBA names Gianna Bryant, Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester ...
  28. Gianna Bryant: Young basketball talent killed alongside father - BBC
  29. Kobe Bryant taught Gianna to play basketball here
  30. Helicopter crash victim Alyssa Altobelli is remembered with vigil and ...
  31. St. Margaret's Student and Mother, Payton and Sarah Chester, Die ...
  32. Gigi played on two basketball teams. She played for her school team ...
  33. WNBA Honors Gigi Bryant, Alyssa Altobelli, and Payton Chester at ...
  34. 2020 WNBA Draft | Basketball-Reference.com
  35. Bella Alarie drafted by Dallas Wings, joining father as 1st-round pick
  36. 2020 WNBA Draft: Megan Walker selected No. 9 overall by New ...
  37. 2020 WNBA Draft Results: Complete Round-by-Round Selections ...
  38. Instant grades for every 2020 WNBA Draft first-round pick | SB Nation
  39. WNBA Draft results 2020: Complete list of picks for Rounds 1-3 as ...
  40. Sug Sutton WNBA Stats | Basketball-Reference.com
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