2014 WNBA draft
The 2014 WNBA Draft was the 18th annual player selection meeting for the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), conducted on April 14, 2014, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.[1] The Connecticut Sun chose Stanford forward Chiney Ogwumike as the No. 1 overall pick, marking the first time siblings had been selected first overall in WNBA history, as her sister Nneka had gone No. 1 to the Los Angeles Sparks in 2012.[2] The draft featured three rounds with 36 selections, though only the first two rounds were televised on ESPN2, emphasizing college standouts transitioning to professional play.[3] Notable top selections included Baylor guard Odyssey Sims (No. 2, Tulsa Shock), Notre Dame guard Kayla McBride (No. 3, San Antonio Stars), and Maryland forward Alyssa Thomas (No. 4, New York Liberty), who went on to have successful WNBA careers, including multiple All-Star selections for McBride and Thomas, and a 2019 All-Star nod for Sims.[4] The first round also highlighted UConn products like center Stefanie Dolson (No. 6, Washington Mystics) and guard Bria Hartley (No. 7, originally Seattle Storm), underscoring the program's pipeline to the league.[5] Key trades shaped the event's legacy, including the Sun's blockbuster deal sending 2012 MVP Tina Charles to the New York Liberty in exchange for Thomas, forward Kelsey Bone, and a 2015 first-round pick, aiming to rebuild around Ogwumike.[6] The Mystics further strengthened their roster by acquiring Hartley from the Storm in a swap involving center Crystal Langhorne, reuniting her with Dolson from their UConn championship teams.[7] Other standout draftees, such as Florida State forward Natasha Howard (No. 5, Indiana Fever) and Louisville guard Shoni Schimmel (No. 8, Atlanta Dream), brought dynamic scoring and Native American representation, respectively, influencing the league's diversity and style.[4] The Tulsa Shock won the draft lottery for the second overall pick. For reference, the full first-round selections were as follows:Background
Overview and Eligibility
The 2014 WNBA Draft was held on April 14, 2014, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.[8] The event marked the league's annual player selection process, with coverage of the first round airing at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2, followed by the second and third rounds on ESPNU from 9 to 10:30 p.m. ET.[8] This primetime broadcast format continued the league's effort to increase visibility for the draft, building on the previous year's approach.[8] Player eligibility for the 2014 draft was governed by the WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) effective from 2014 to 2021, requiring participants to be women who met specific age and status criteria.[9] U.S. players needed to be at least 22 years old during the draft year, with no remaining intercollegiate eligibility or having formally renounced it at least 10 days prior to the draft; this included college seniors, recent graduates (or those graduating within three months after the draft), and those who had declared early after their junior year while maintaining amateur status.[9] International players were eligible if at least 20 years old in the draft year and holding FIBA eligibility, also requiring renunciation of any applicable amateur status.[9] NCAA players could renounce eligibility within 24 hours of their final postseason game but no later than three hours before the draft began, and all entrants had the option to withdraw by submitting written notice to the league five days prior.[9] The draft consisted of 36 picks across three rounds, with each of the league's 12 teams allocated three selections unless rights were traded beforehand.[10] As the 18th annual WNBA Draft, it followed the 2013 event—which had introduced talents like Brittney Griner[11]—and served as the primary mechanism for roster building ahead of the 2014 regular season starting in May. This structure ensured a balanced influx of domestic and international talent while adhering to the CBA's provisions for expansion or special circumstances, though none applied that year.[9]Pre-Draft Transactions
Several notable trades occurred during the 2014 WNBA offseason, primarily in March 2014, as teams positioned themselves for the upcoming draft by exchanging players and draft assets. These transactions allowed teams to acquire immediate roster help while adjusting their draft positions to target specific prospects. The moves reshaped the late first-round pick order and influenced selections for teams like the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun. On March 11, 2014, the Phoenix Mercury traded forward Lynetta Kizer and their ninth overall pick in the 2014 draft to the Indiana Fever in exchange for guard Erin Phillips. This deal gave the Fever an additional first-round selection, which they used to draft forward Natalie Achonwa from Notre Dame, bolstering their frontcourt depth.[12] Later that month, on March 31, 2014, the Los Angeles Sparks traded their eleventh overall pick in the 2014 draft and a second-round pick in the 2015 draft to the Connecticut Sun for forward Sandrine Gruda. The acquisition of the eleventh pick enabled the Sun to select guard Chelsea Gray from Duke, adding a promising backcourt option despite Gray's ongoing recovery from a knee injury. This trade shifted the Sun's draft strategy toward building around versatile guards and forwards.[13] These transactions highlighted the strategic maneuvering in the lead-up to the April 14, 2014, draft, with teams like the Fever and Sun gaining key assets to address roster needs without relying solely on their original lottery positions.| Date | Teams Involved | Assets Exchanged |
|---|---|---|
| March 11, 2014 | Phoenix Mercury to Indiana Fever | Lynetta Kizer and 2014 1st-round pick (No. 9, Natalie Achonwa) for Erin Phillips |
| March 31, 2014 | Los Angeles Sparks to Connecticut Sun | 2014 1st-round pick (No. 11, Chelsea Gray) and 2015 2nd-round pick for Sandrine Gruda |
Draft Lottery
Procedure and Odds
The 2014 WNBA Draft Lottery took place on December 10, 2013, at the league's headquarters in Secaucus, New Jersey, and was broadcast live on ESPN's SportsCenter. The event was overseen by WNBA officials and representatives from Ernst & Young to ensure integrity.[14][15] The lottery utilized a ping-pong ball drawing system akin to the NBA's, involving 14 balls numbered 1 through 14 placed in a lottery machine; four balls were drawn sequentially to generate a four-digit combination from the 1,000 possible valid outcomes (excluding the 11-12-13-14 combination, which is discarded). Each combination was pre-assigned to one of the four participating teams—the non-playoff squads with the worst 2013 records—based on weighted probabilities. The process was repeated three times to assign the first, second, and third overall picks to the corresponding teams; the undrawn team received the fourth pick. The remaining draft positions followed the inverse order of the 2013 regular-season standings.[16][14] Odds were determined by the reverse order of the 2013 standings, favoring teams with poorer records to promote competitive balance, with a total of 1,000 combinations distributed exclusively among the four eligible teams. The Connecticut Sun (10-24 record) received 442 combinations, yielding a 44.2% chance at the No. 1 pick; the tied Tulsa Shock and New York Liberty (both 11-23) split their allotment equally at 227 combinations each (22.7%); and the San Antonio Silver Stars (12-22) got 104 combinations (10.4%). Playoff teams had no lottery participation, defaulting to later positions.[14][15] Tied records, such as those of the Shock and Liberty, resulted in equal odds allocation and initial ordering via standard tiebreakers like head-to-head results, intraconference record, or division record; if unresolved, a coin flip was used. Traded picks could include protections (e.g., top-3 protected, reverting to the original team if the position fell within that range), but pre-draft transactions in 2014 did not alter lottery eligibility for the top selections among the four teams.[17][10]Results
The 2014 WNBA Draft Lottery took place on December 10, 2013, in Secaucus, New Jersey, and was broadcast on ESPN's SportsCenter. The Connecticut Sun, who entered with the league's worst 10-24 record from the 2013 season and a 44.2% probability of winning the top selection, emerged victorious to claim the first overall pick.[14] The lottery drawing, overseen by WNBA league officials and verified by the accounting firm Ernst & Young, proceeded without any redraws or irregularities. Following the Sun's win, the second overall pick was awarded to the Tulsa Shock (11-23 record, 22.7% odds), while the third pick went to the San Antonio Silver Stars (12-22 record, 10.4% odds); the New York Liberty (11-23 record, 22.7% odds) received the fourth position.[14] The remaining draft order for picks 5 through 12 was determined by reverse 2013 regular-season records, unaffected by the lottery.[14] This result represented a significant milestone for the Sun, marking their first-ever victory in the WNBA Draft Lottery and securing only their second No. 1 overall pick in franchise history—the previous coming in 2010 via a trade with the Minnesota Lynx to select Tina Charles. The top selection positioned the Sun to target elite prospects in the upcoming draft, notably setting the stage for them to choose Stanford forward Chiney Ogwumike, a two-time Wooden Award winner widely regarded as the class of the 2014 rookie pool.[10]Pre-Draft Preparations
Player Invitations
On April 10, 2014, the WNBA announced the list of 12 prospects invited to attend the draft in person at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.[18] These invitations were extended to top collegiate talents based on scouting evaluations, exceptional on-court performances, and potential for professional impact, including considerations of international experience. The group showcased a diverse pool of players, predominantly from leading U.S. universities but also featuring international standouts like Canadian forward Natalie Achonwa from Notre Dame. The invitees included a mix of guards, forwards, and posts, reflecting the league's emphasis on versatile prospects. Below is the complete list:| Name | College | Position | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natalie Achonwa | Notre Dame | Post | 6'3" |
| Stefanie Dolson | Connecticut | Post | 6'5" |
| Markeisha Gatling | N.C. State | Post | 6'5" |
| Chelsea Gray | Duke | PG | 5'11" |
| Bria Hartley | Connecticut | G | 5'8" |
| Natasha Howard | Florida State | Post | 6'3" |
| Kayla McBride | Notre Dame | G | 5'11" |
| Chiney Ogwumike | Stanford | Post | 6'4" |
| Shoni Schimmel | Louisville | G | 5'9" |
| Meighan Simmons | Tennessee | G | 5'9" |
| Odyssey Sims | Baylor | G | 5'8" |
| Alyssa Thomas | Maryland | F | 6'2" |
Notable Prospects
The 2014 WNBA draft featured a deep pool of prospects beyond those officially invited to the event, including domestic college standouts and international talents who garnered attention from scouts for their unique skills. Bria Hartley, a combo guard from UConn, emerged as a versatile scoring threat with strong playmaking abilities, highlighted in pre-draft evaluations for her ability to create off the dribble and contribute in transition. Similarly, Inga Orekhova, a Russian sharpshooter playing for USF, stood out as an international prospect not among the invitees, praised for her three-point shooting percentage of 36.7% during her senior season, which positioned her as a potential perimeter specialist despite limited exposure in major tournaments.[22][23] Scouting reports from outlets like Swish Appeal emphasized the class's strengths in forward positions, with players such as Chiney Ogwumike from Stanford noted for her dominant post presence and rebounding prowess, averaging double-doubles in her final college year, and Alyssa Thomas from Maryland lauded for her all-around wing versatility, including elite passing and defensive instincts that made her a fit for multiple roles. Odyssey Sims from Baylor was frequently ranked highly as a combo guard for her scoring efficiency and ability to run an offense, while lower-ranked but intriguing prospects like Jennifer Hamson from BYU drew interest for her shot-blocking ability, recording 4.2 blocks per game as the WCC Player of the Year. The forward-heavy talent pool was seen as a step up from recent years, providing teams with options to bolster frontcourts amid roster expansion under the new collective bargaining agreement.[22][24][25] Among undrafted prospects who signed as free agents post-draft, several showed pre-draft promise that translated to training camp opportunities. Valencia McFarland from Mississippi was viewed as an overlooked point guard gem, with scouts citing her high-level playmaking despite her team's struggles, evidenced by her assists leadership in the SEC. Haley Peters from Duke impressed with her high basketball IQ and stretch-four potential, shooting nearly 40% from three over her career, while Aaryn Ellenberg from Oklahoma was noted for her quickness and deep off-dribble scoring, having exploded for 36 points in a key NCAA Tournament game. These players exemplified the expanded prospect depth, offering teams low-risk additions with specialized skills like perimeter shooting and facilitation.[26][22]The Draft
Draft Format and Key
The 2014 WNBA Draft was structured in three rounds, comprising a total of 36 picks across the league's 12 teams.[4] The selection order followed a snake format, starting with the teams determined by the pre-draft lottery and prior-season record for Round 1, then reversing direction for Round 2 (with the last team in Round 1 picking first), and reversing again for Round 3.[27] This format aimed to balance opportunities for teams with varying draft positions across rounds. The event was conducted live on April 14, 2014, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, where WNBA President Laurel J. Richie announced each selection on stage.[28][29] Coverage aired on ESPN2 for the first round and ESPNU for the second and third rounds, with the proceedings unfolding sequentially over approximately two hours, including brief intervals between rounds for analysis and trade discussions.[30] Following the final pick, any eligible players not selected became unrestricted free agents, free to negotiate and sign contracts with any WNBA team immediately after the event.[27] To aid interpretation of the draft selections in subsequent sections, the following symbols are used in the tables:-
- Indicates the winner of the WNBA Rookie of the Year award.
- † Marks a player who was drafted but never appeared in a regular-season WNBA game.
Round 1
The first round of the 2014 WNBA Draft, held on April 14 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, saw teams select 12 players from a pool of elite college prospects, with the order determined by the prior season's standings and lottery results. The Connecticut Sun, holding the top pick after winning the draft lottery, initiated the round by selecting Stanford forward Chiney Ogwumike, marking the first time siblings Chiney and her sister Nneka (already in the league) were both top picks in their respective drafts. Two significant draft-day trades occurred: the New York Liberty selected Maryland forward Alyssa Thomas at No. 4 before trading her rights to the Sun in exchange for center Tina Charles, forward Kelsey Bone, and the Liberty's 2015 first-round pick; additionally, the Seattle Storm selected UConn guard Bria Hartley at No. 7 and immediately traded her to the Washington Mystics along with forward Tianna Hawkins for center Crystal Langhorne.[10][31][32] These selections highlighted a draft class rich in versatile guards and forwards, with teams prioritizing athleticism and shooting to address roster needs; for instance, Ogwumike was viewed as an immediate impact player capable of contributing on both ends of the court due to her scoring and rebounding prowess from Stanford, while Sims was expected to bolster Tulsa's backcourt alongside Skylar Diggins as a dynamic point guard.[10][33]| Pick | Selecting Team | Player | Position | Height | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut Sun | Chiney Ogwumike | Forward | 6-3 | Stanford | Top lottery pick; no trade.[10] |
| 2 | Tulsa Shock | Odyssey Sims | Guard | 5-8 | Baylor | Selected to pair with Skylar Diggins; no trade.[10] |
| 3 | San Antonio Stars | Kayla McBride | Guard | 5-10 | Notre Dame | Sharpshooter addition; no trade.[10] |
| 4 | New York Liberty (traded to Connecticut Sun) | Alyssa Thomas | Forward | 6-2 | Maryland | Traded to Sun for Tina Charles, Kelsey Bone, and 2015 1st-round pick.[10][31] |
| 5 | Indiana Fever | Natasha Howard | Forward | 6-2 | Florida State | Athletic rebounder; no trade.[10] |
| 6 | Washington Mystics | Stefanie Dolson | Center | 6-5 | Connecticut | Passing big; no trade.[10] |
| 7 | Seattle Storm (traded to Washington Mystics) | Bria Hartley | Guard | 5-8 | Connecticut | Traded to Mystics along with Tianna Hawkins in exchange for Crystal Langhorne.[10][32] |
| 8 | Atlanta Dream | Shoni Schimmel | Guard | 5-9 | Louisville | Tempo-pushing guard; no trade.[10] |
| 9 | Indiana Fever | Natalie Achonwa | Forward | 6-3 | Notre Dame | Versatile forward; no trade.[10] |
| 10 | Chicago Sky | Markeisha Gatling | Forward | 6-3 | North Carolina State | Post presence; no trade.[10] |
| 11 | Connecticut Sun | Chelsea Gray | Guard | 5-11 | Duke | Injury recovery prospect; no trade.[10] |
| 12 | Minnesota Lynx | Tricia Liston | Guard | 6-1 | Duke | Shooter; no trade.[10] |
Round 2
The second round of the 2014 WNBA Draft, held on April 14, 2014, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, saw teams select players to fill mid-tier roster needs, often focusing on versatile forwards for rebounding and guards for perimeter play.[10]| Pick | Team | Player | School/Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Tulsa Shock | Jordan Hooper | Nebraska |
| 14 | New York Liberty | Tyaunna Marshall | Georgia Tech |
| 15 | Minnesota Lynx | Asya Bussie | West Virginia |
| 16 | San Antonio Stars | Astou Ndour | Gran Canaria (Spain) |
| 17 | Phoenix Mercury | Tiffany Bias | Oklahoma State |
| 18 | Atlanta Dream | Inga Orekhova | South Florida |
| 19 | Seattle Storm | Michelle Plouffe | Utah |
| 20 | Atlanta Dream | Cassie Harberts | USC |
| 21 | Phoenix Mercury | Maggie Lucas | Penn State |
| 22 | Chicago Sky | Gennifer Brandon | California |
| 23 | Los Angeles Sparks | Jennifer Hamson | BYU |
| 24 | Minnesota Lynx | Christina Foggie | Vanderbilt |
Round 3
The third round of the 2014 WNBA Draft, consisting of picks 25 through 36, primarily featured players projected as developmental prospects, including post players, guards, and one international selection, with teams seeking depth for training camps.[5] No trades were reported during this round, allowing teams to retain their original draft order as established prior to the event.[5] The selections are detailed in the following table:| Pick | Team | Player | Position | School/Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Connecticut Sun | DeNesha Stallworth | C | Kentucky |
| 26 | New York Liberty | Meighan Simmons | G | Tennessee |
| 27 | Tulsa Shock | Theresa Plaisance | F | LSU |
| 28 | San Antonio Stars | Bri Kulas | G | Missouri |
| 29 | Indiana Fever | Haiden Palmer | G | Gonzaga |
| 30 | Washington Mystics | Carley Mijovic | F | Australia |
| 31 | Seattle Storm | Mikaela Ruef | F | Stanford |
| 32 | Washington Mystics | Kody Burke | F | NC State |
| 33 | Phoenix Mercury | Stephanie Talbot | F | Australia |
| 34 | Chicago Sky | Jamierra Faulkner | G | Southern Miss |
| 35 | Los Angeles Sparks | Antonita Slaughter | G/F | Louisville |
| 36 | Minnesota Lynx | Asia Taylor | F | Louisville |