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1. Atlanta Dream- Angel McCoughtry, Forward, Louisville Cardinals

McCoughtry will give the Dream another great all-around ball player to fit with second year forward Tamara Young. I believe the Dream chose McCoughtry because they are set at the guard position with Ivory Latta and Nikki Teasley and are also set at the post with newly acquired centers Michelle Snow and Chantelle Anderson.

2. Washington Mystics- Marissa Coleman, Forward, Maryland Terrapins

Coleman is great pick for the Mystics. She reminds me somewhat of her new Mystics teammate Alana Beard. She and Beard on the floor at the same time would be great but she will have to fight for playing time with Monique Currie, Bernice Mosby and Kristen Mann.

3. Chicago Sky- Kristi Toliver, Guard, Maryland Terrapins

For some reason I thought Renee Montgomery may have been selected in this spot, but the Sky proved me wrong by choosing Toliver. I had her behind Montgomery on my draft board but there’s really not that much of a difference in talent between the two. I believe Toliver will end up starting for the Sky because she has a very high basketball IQ and lots of experience. I can see coach Key drawing up plays for Toliver and Sylvia Fowles right. The Sky look dangerous with forward Candice Dupree, guard Armintie Price and the newly acquired Shyra Ely.

4. Minnesota Lynx- Renee Montgomery, Guard, UConn Huskies

The Montgomery pick fills the vacant point guard position left by Lindsey Harding. The Lynx will have a killer guard combo with Montgomery and last year’s #1 pick Candice Wiggins.  I believe Montgomery will be great player for the Lynx but may be overshadowed by Wiggins and all-star forward Seimone Augustus.

5. Phoenix Mercury- DeWanna Bonner, Guard, Auburn Tigers

At 6’4, Bonner should be playing center the WNBA, but she’s a very athletic, tall guard that would fit well with Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter. Bonner will be a great guard/forward for the Mercury and should be a very nice contributor but like Montgomery will be overshadowed by all-stars on the Mercury roster.

6. Indiana Fever- Briann January, Guard, Arizona State Sun Devils

The Fever got exactly what they needed, a point guard. January fits perfectly in Indiana because she has the ability to run an offense affectively and be able to feed players like Tamika Catchings and Tammy Sutton-Brown.

7. Sacramento Monarchs- Courtney Paris, Center, Oklahoma Sooners

Paris was the #1 player on my board but because of team needs, she slipped to #7 overall. Paris and future WNBA star Maya Moore, in my opinion, were the two best players in women’s college basketball this year. But this is a new world for Ms. Paris, she will have to bring her A game every night in this league. Paris was used to dominating and physically overmatching players in the Big 12 and in college basketball, now she will be facing women that are just as good if not better than she is. I kind of question Paris’ toughness, she has alot to prove to me, especially since I named her #1 overall in this draft.

8. New York Liberty- Kia Vaughn, Center, Rutgers Scarlet Knights

I’ve been watching Vaughn for a while now and feel like she will be a star in the WNBA. My favorite women’s college basketball coach is C. Vivian Stringer and I always watch her teams every year so I’ve alot of Vaughn over the years. Unlike Paris, Vaughn is a Bronx native that will bring toughness to the Liberty lineup. Vaughn will also be reunited with ex-Rutgers teammate Essence Carson. She will definetly be fighting for playing time with a crowded front court that includes Janel McCarville, Jessica Davenport and Erlana Larkins.

9. Minnesota Lynx- Quanitra Hollingsworth, Center, Virginia Commonwealth Rams

The surprise pick of the first round for me, Hollingsworth was clearly a depth pick for the Lynx but if I were going for a center, I would have gone with Duke’s Chante Black, she was the next best center on my board. With ex-Tennessee Volunteer Nicky Anosike being the only center on the roster, this pick had to be made. Hollingsworth should play immediately for the Lynx, she will take the place of the departed ex-Florida Gator Vanessa Hayden.

10. Connecticut Sun- Chante Black, Center, Duke Blue Devils

This was the perfect situation for the Sun. They are full at every other position except for center and Black fell right in their laps at the #10 spot. She will play early and will be the air apparent to an aging Tamika Whitmore. I thought Black should have gone a sport earlier, but this was a much better fit for her and the Sun.

11. Detroit Shock- Shavonte Zellous, Guard, Pittsburgh Panthers

Another depth pick here as the Shock go for a nice scoring guard to go with Deanna Nolan and Alexis Hornbuckle. I will personally be rooting for Zellous because she’s from Florida just like myself. I do believe Zellous will be playing alot more than people think this year and will be a contributor to the Shock roster. She’s another that will be overshadowed by all-star caliber players on her team.

12. Seattle Storm- Ashley Walker, Forward, Arizona State Sun Devils

This was what I call a “roster safe” pick for the Storm. Two-time MVP Lauren Jackson is trying to decided between the Storm and the Mercury right now as an unrestricted free agent. Depending upon where she goes, Walker will either be depth for the Storm or get alot more playing time after the possible departure of Jackson. Walker should team up quite nicely with Sue Bird and Swin Cash if the Storm have to go without Jackson.

13. Los Angeles Sparks- Lindsey Wisdom-Hylton, Forward, Purdue Boilermakers

I believe Wisdom-Hylton could no doubt contribute for the Sparks, but I just don’t see where as yet. She will be fighting for playing time on the most talent-laden team in the WNBA. Stands in her way are DeLisha Milton- Jones, the super talented Candace Parker and newly acquired WNBA legend Tina Thompson. Wisdom-Hylton will take over and team up with Parker after Thompson and Lisa Leslie retire.

How do you think WNBA draft went? Winners? Losers?

Here is the rest of the draft:

2009 WNBA DRAFT, ROUND 2

14     San Antonio Silver Stars | Megan Frazee | Liberty
15     Minnesota Lynx | Rashanda McCants | North Carolina
16     Chicago Sky | Danielle Gant | Texas A&M
17     Connecticut Sun | Lyndra Littles | Virginia
18     Detroit | Britany Miller | Florida State
19     Indiana Fever | Christina Wirth | Vanderbilt
20     Sacramento Monarchs | Whitney Boddie | Auburn
21     New York Liberty | Abby Waner | Duke
22     Los Angeles Sparks | Ashley Paris | Oklahoma
23     Washington Mystics | Camille LeNoir | USC
24     Washington Mystics | Jelena Milovanovic | MKB Euroleasing
25     Atlanta Dream | Shalee Lehning | Kansas State
26     San Antonio Silver Stars | Sonja Petrovic | Belgrade, Serbia

2009 WNBA DRAFT, ROUND 3

27     Atlanta Dream | Jessica Morrow | Baylor
28     Washington Mystics | Josephine Owino | Union (Tenn.)
29     Chicago Sky | Jennifer Risper | Baylor
30     Minnesota Lynx | Emily Fox | Minnesota
31     Phoenix Mercury | Sha Brooks | Florida
32     Indiana Fever | Danielle Campbell | Purdue
33     Sacramento Monarchs | Morgan Warburton | Utah
34     Phoenix Mercury | Jessica Adair | George Washington
35     Los Angeles Sparks | Britney Jordan | Texas A&M-Commerce
36     Connecticut Sun | Alba Torrens | Real Club Celta Indepo
37     Detroit Shock | Tanae Davis-Cain | Florida State
38     Seattle Storm | Mara Freshour | Florida State
39     San Antonio Silver Stars | Candyce Bingham | Louisville