2009 WNBA Draft Lottery News and Notes
NEW YORK, Dec. 5 -- When the WNBA conducts its annual draft in 2009, it will mark the eighth year that the team receiving the top pick in the WNBA Draft has been decided by lottery. Prior to that, the top pick went to the team with the worst record from the previous season.
During the first two seasons with the lottery system in effect, the team with the worst record from the previous season, and thus the best chance of earning the first pick, did not win the lottery. However, in the 2004 Draft Lottery, the Phoenix Mercury finally saw the odds fall in their favor. But once again in 2005, 2006 and 2007, form did not hold true and Charlotte, Minnesota and Phoenix defied the odds and respectively nabbed the top picks. The numbers came through again in 2008, helping Candace Parker land in Los Angeles. If one thing is clear, it's that you never know how the balls will bounce.
Who will have the honors next April?
2008: Sparks Strike Gold, Win Candace Parker
Lottery
Candace Parker |
Order Prior to Lottery: Los Angeles, Minnesota,
Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, Washington Order After Lottery: Los Angeles, Chicago,
Minnesota, Atlanta, Houston, Washington Despite their storied past which includes two straight
titles in 2001-02, the Los Angeles Sparks stumbled to a 10-24 mark in 2007 without
legendary center Lisa Leslie. L.A. tied for the worst record in the league
and had the best chance to earn the top pick in the 2008 Draft Lottery. And win
it they did, securing the top spot, which enabled them to go after highly touted
prospect Candace Parker from Tennessee.
And Parker didn't disappoint. The F/C/G averaged 18.5 points (4th in the league), 9.5 rebounds (1st) and 2.3 blocks per game (2nd), helped the Sparks into the Western Conference Finals and earned both the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards.
But Parker wasn't the only rookie of note. No. 2 overall pick Sylvia Fowles
of LSU was snatched up by the Chicago Sky and also had a tremendous freshman
campaign despite missing time due to injury. Third pick Candice Wiggins
from Stanford was so impressive for the Minnesota Lynx that she earned the league's
Sixth Woman of the Year award. Joining those three players on the All-Rookie
Team were Nicky Anosike from Minnesota, Houston's Matee Ajavon
and the Sun's Amber Holt.
2007: Mercury Win Lottery, Parlay it Into
Title
 Tangela
Smith |
Order Prior to Lottery: Chicago, Minnesota,
New York, San Antonio, Phoenix Order After Lottery: Phoenix, San Antonio,
Chicago, Minnesota, New York The Phoenix Mercury were the least likely team to
come away with the No. 1 pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft, but luck was on their
side during the lottery as they overcame overwhelming odds to win the top selection.
On draft day, though many suggested the Mercury would benefit from a young post
player, they nabbed Duke guard Lindsey Harding with the top pick. But moments
later, they traded the rights to Harding to the Minnesota Lynx for veteran center
Tangela Smith, who the Lynx had picked up in the Charlotte Dispersal Draft.
(Smith went on to help the Mercury to their first ever WNBA title.)
And that wasn't the only deal on draft day. With the second pick, the San Antonio Silver Stars selected Ohio State center Jessica Davenport, but soon after traded her rights and a 2008 pick to the New York Liberty for All-Star guard Becky Hammon. Though neither of the top two picks stuck with the teams that originally drafted them, they both had solid seasons and have bright futures ahead of them.
But it was No. 3 pick Armintie Price out of Mississippi who took home the Rookie
of the Year honor. The Chicago Sky snapped up the athletic guard, and despite
being only 5-9, Price led all rookies in rebounding and nearly helped the second-year
Sky to the playoffs. Joining Price on the WNBA All-Rookie Team were Harding,
Camille Little of San Antonio and the Sparks' Sidney Spencer and Marta Fernandez.
2006: Lynx Win the Lottery, Hit the Jackpot
Seimone Augustus |
Order
Prior to Lottery: Charlotte, San Antonio, Minnesota, Phoenix, Washington Order After Lottery: Minnesota, Phoenix, Charlotte,
San Antonio, Washington The Minnesota Lynx
were not favored to win the top spot in the Lottery, but when they did, they made
the most of their luck and chose L.S.U. guard Seimone
Augustus with the first overall pick. Augustus did not disappoint, becoming
the first rookie to score more than 20 ppg and earned Rookie of the Year honors.
She was selected to the All-Star Team and chosen to represent the United States
in the World Championships. Augustus was pushed all season both in the scoring
race and ultimately for Rookie of the Year by the second overall pick, Mercury
guard Cappie Pondexter,
who also had a tremendous season in the desert.2005:
Sting Sneak In To Win Top Pick
 Janel McCarville
|
Order Prior to Lottery:
San Antonio, Houston, Indiana, Charlotte, Phoenix
Order After Lottery: Charlotte, Indiana, Phoenix, San Antonio, Houston The Charlotte Sting defied the odds and came away
with the top pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft Lottery. With that pick, they selected
a center from the University of Minnesota, Janel
McCarville. However McCarville was unable to stay healthy and enjoy the
success that previous top selections had in their rookie years. With the second
pick, the Indiana Fever selected guard Tan
White, who had a great season and had many of the league's top plays on
the highlight reels 
Diana Taurasi |
Order Prior
to Lottery: Phoenix, Washington, San Antonio, New York, Indiana, Seattle Order After Lottery: Phoenix, Washington, Indiana,
San Antonio, New York, Seattle After winning
the 2004 WNBA Draft Lottery, the Phoenix Mercury selected Diana
Taurasi with the top pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft. Living up to all of
the hype, she went on to have one of the best seasons for a rookie in the history
of the WNBA en route to winning the Rookie of the Year Award. averaged 17.0 points
and 4.4 rebounds per game to help the Mercury improve from 8-26 in 2003 to 17-17
in 2004. But Taurasi was not the only rookie
to make a big impact in 2004. The Washington Mystics added Alana
Beard to the team, and Beard added her team to the Eastern Conference
playoffs. The rookie frontcourt tandem of Nicole
Ohlde and Vanessa Hayden
also went to the playoffs with the Minnesota Lynx while the fourth pick, Lindsay
Whalen, took the Connecticut Sun to the WNBA Finals. 
LaToya Thomas |
Order Prior
to Lottery: Detroit, Cleveland, Phoenix, Sacramento
Order After Lottery: Cleveland, Sacramento, Detroit, Phoenix
After winning the 2003 WNBA Draft Lottery, the Cleveland Rockers selected LaToya
Thomas with the top pick in the 2003 WNBA Draft. Thomas averaged 10.8
points and 5.1 rebounds per game to help the Rockers improve from 10-22 in 2002
to 17-17 in 2003. Rookie of the Year honors
went to Cheryl Ford, whom
the Detroit Shock selected with the third overall pick. Ford averaged 10.8 points
and 10.4 rebounds per game to help the Shock go from worst to first and capture
the 2003 WNBA championship.  Sue
Bird |
Order Prior to Lottery:
Washington, Detroit, Seattle Order After Lottery:
Seattle, Detroit, Washington After winning
the 2002 WNBA Draft Lottery to earn the number one pick for the second year in
a row, the Seattle Storm selected Sue
Bird with the top pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft. Bird averaged 14.4 points
and 6.0 assists per game to help the Storm improve from 10-22 in 2001 to 17-15
in 2002. Rookie of the Year honors went to
Tamika Catchings,
the third overall pick in the 2001 WNBA Draft, who missed the 2001 season with
an ACL injury. Catchings averaged 18.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in 2002.
The Draft Order was not determined by a Lottery until the 2002 season.
2001:
Seattle Selects Lauren Jackson
 Lauren
Jackson |
With the top pick in
the 2001 WNBA Draft, the Seattle Storm selected Australia's Lauren
Jackson. Jackson averaged 15.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in 2001
to help the Storm improve from 6-26 in 2000 to 10-22 in 2001.
Rookie of the Year honors went to Jackie
Stiles of the Portland Fire. The fourth overall pick in the 2001 WNBA
Draft, Stiles averaged 14.9 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in her rookie season.
Ann Wauters |
With the top pick
in the 2000 WNBA Draft, the Cleveland Rockers selected Ann
Wauters from Belgium. Wauters averaged 6.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per
game in 2000 to help the Rockers improve from 7-25 in 1999 to 17-15 in 2000. Rookie of the Year honors went to Betty
Lennox of the Minnesota Lynx. The sixth overall pick in the 2000 WNBA
Draft, Lennox averaged 16.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for the Lynx. 
C. Holdsclaw |
With the top
pick in the 1999 WNBA Draft, the Washington Mystics selected Chamique
Holdsclaw from Tennessee. Holdsclaw averaged 16.9 points and 7.9 rebounds
per game in 1999 to help the Mystics improve from 3-27 in 1998 to 12-20 in 1999. Rookie of the Year honors went to Holdsclaw, marking
the only time in WNBA history that a number one draft pick has won Rookie of the
Year. 
Margo Dydek |
With the top pick
in the 1998 WNBA Draft, the Utah Starzz selected Poland's Margo
Dydek. The 7-2 Dydek averaged 12.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in
1998 to help the Starzz improve from 7-21 in 1997 to 8-22 in 1998.
Rookie of the Year honors went to Tracy
Reid of the Charlotte Sting. The seventh overall pick of the 1998 WNBA
Draft, Reid averaged 13.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. 
Tina Thompson |
With the top
pick in the 1997 WNBA Draft, the Houston Comets selected Tina
Thompson. Thompson averaged 13.2 points
and 6.6 rebounds per game in the league's first season, helping the Comets capture
the inaugural WNBA championship.