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Let Hoops 101, and Coach Williams, provide you with some answers below!
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Dreyon, Mt. Pleasant, MI
Williams: We are not looking to fill any one specific position with the second overall pick. But with our four second-round picks, we will look to fill several different positions. Our opinion of the top six college seniors, in alphabetical order: Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Stacey Dales, Sheila Lambert, Michelle Snow and Nikki Teasley. Tawana McDonald will probably be selected somewhere in the top 10.
Who do you think you'll be picking for your #2 draft pick?
Ali, Williams, IA
Williams: One of the top six players listed in the previous question.
How are college seniors invited to the camp? Do you have to be the star of your college team, or are there nominations, or how?
Pam, Folsom, CA
Williams: I am assuming you are talking about the pre-draft camp in Chicago this weekend. WNBA Director of Player Personnel Renee Brown and her assistant Angela Taylor select the college seniors to participate in the pre-draft camp. Players can be recommended by college coaches or WNBA coaches.
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What are you thoughts on point guard Alayne Ingram from Michigan? What are her chances of being picked up by a WNBA team this year?
Sundance, Ann Arbor, MI
Williams: Alayne is a solid all-around point-guard who had an excellent college career for the Wolverines. She could greatly enhance her draft potential by having an outstanding pre-draft camp April 11-12 in Chicago.
Last year the team seemed to struggle with both defensive and offensive
consistency. Players seemed to be unsure of their role, especially on
the offensive end. Everyone wanted to be the scorer. Granted you have
a young and talented team with capable scorers, however shot selection
was a huge problem. Does your offensive scheme for 2002 address these
issues, and better utilize your teams skills? Also what can we expect
from the Shock defense this year, especially in the post? I'm looking
forward to a great year and am extremly pleased that the team
decided to renew your contract. Good luck, coach.
Rich, Troy, MI
Williams: Every year we try to develop our offensive scheme to best utilize our individual players strengths. Nearly every player on our team was the leading scorer on their college team, which could possibly reflect in your evaluation that everyone wanted to be the scorer. We believe in a team concept with balanced scoring and try to create scoring opportunities at every position. We felt our shot selection was greatly improved after the All-Star break, as evidenced by the fact the Shock finished 10th overall in field-goal percentage when at the All-Star break we were 16th.
We acknowledge we need to continue to improve defensively, but last year's team gave up five fewer points per game than the 2000 team (75.8 to 70.9). If we can approach that same improvement this year, we will be among the league leaders. We are one of the smallest teams in the league in the post, resulting in us being last in blocked shots in both the 2001 and 2000 seasons and are hopeful to address this need in the draft. I don't like to use cliches, but remember Rome wasn't built in a day, so please be patient with us. I, too, along with my wife, are extremely pleased my contract was renewed! Thank you for your support and encouragement.
In which round do you see each of the four Connecticut seniors being selected?
Alan, Columbia, SC
Williams: It would be a big surprise if UConn does not become the first collegiate program to have four first round draft picks in the same draft.
Most people are saying that this is a very talented draft, but I think that there are only about five players that will really help their team in the long run. Can you compare this draft to the last draft? Thank you for taking the time and consideration to answer my question. P.S. Who is the #1 draft pick in your opinion?
Amanda, Crown Point, IN
Williams: The 2002 WNBA Draft probably does not have the immediate impact players we saw the 2001 draft produce. But overall it is a deep draft with the potential for every team to add two or even three players to their roster.
Regarding who will be #1 overall pick, Lin Dunn of the Seattle Storm has the only opinion that matters!
P.S. I love Jackie Stiles' game also.
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Do any of the University of Hawaii Wahine have a chance? Did Janka
Gabrielova and Karena Greeny enter the draft?
Lisa, Honolulu, HI
Williams: I can understand why Lindsey is one of your favorite players because she plays the game with great enthusiasm and intelligence. Look for her to go no later than the second round, so you should be able to continue to follow her career in the WNBA.
Janka and Karena will not participate in the pre-draft camp in Chicago this weekend, but could possibly be invited to someone's training camp as free agents.
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Jim, Alpena, MI
Williams: In order to improve the play of the Shock, we are dependant upon our young players returning to training camp in top physical condition and having improved their individual games in the offseason. Wendy Palmer had an outstanding season in France and we would like nothing better than return to the playoffs as you so desire.
How much do you think injuries will effect the draft status of potential impact players susch as Deanna Jackson (UAB) and Sheila
Lambert (Baylor)? Also how important are players that have the talent to contribute to a team but have kind of fell off the national radar
because of new roles, playing time, or injury such as Tawana McDonald (Georgia),Takeisha Lewis (LaTech), and Teresa Geter (South Carolina)?
Christopher, St. Louis, MO
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The three players you mentioned (McDonald, Lewis, Geter) might have fallen off the national radar, but did not fall off any of the 16 WNBA team's radars. They all have size and talent, which each WNBA team seeks.
