Baylor’s NaLyssa Smith No. 1 Overall Pick in WNBA Mock Draft
Baylor forward NaLyssa Smith was the No. 1 overall pick in ESPN’s most recent 2022 WNBA Mock Draft, released on Thursday.
Smith’s teammate, Queen Egbo, also made it into the first round of the mock draft.
Smith, a 6-4 forward, is one of a handful of players that is averaging a double-double this season, scoring 21.2 points and grabbing 11.2 rebounds per game. The reigning Wade Trophy winner is up for that award once again, along with every other player of the year award this season. The Bears are tied for first place in the Big 12 with Iowa State.
Smith and Egbo are playing for a coach in Nicki Collen who recently led the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, and Collen is quoted in the mock as saying that Washington, which holds the No. 1 pick, would be a great place for Smith to land. That would allow Smith to play with WNBA All-Star Elena Delle Donne, who missed most of last season.
Egbo, a 6-3 center, averages 10.9 points and 8.6 rebounds plays more like a traditional post than Smith, who can play inside or outside. Egbo ended up selected at No. 10 by the Indiana Fever.
There are other Big 12 players that could be selected in the WNBA Draft, including Iowa State guard/forward Ashley Joens, who has popped up in previous mock draft and recently became Iowa State’s all-time leading scorer.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
