WNBA Draft Friday, April 9, 2021 Greg Bibb Cheryl Reeve Marianne Stanley Have in College and What Kind of Success You Have
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WNBA Draft Friday, April 9, 2021 Greg Bibb Cheryl Reeve Marianne Stanley have in college and what kind of success you have. It's James Wade less than 140 players each year in terms of total in the league, and there are very few roster spots. I also think any time you have the opportunity to kind of sit THE MODERATOR: We have joining us from the Dallas back and watch and learn, that's a lot easier to do than to Wings, president Greg Bibb. From the Minnesota Lynx, learn on the fly. general manager and head coach Cheryl Reeve; from the Chicago Sky general manager and head coach James In terms of her size, obviously size is always a Wade; and from the Indiana Fever, head coach Marianne consideration in the game of basketball, but I don't think it Stanley. Welcome, everybody. is ultimately a negative factor that is going to determine the outcome of someone's career. I think Cheryl [Reeve] in Q. I'm curious, what are you guys' thoughts on Minnesota proved that with Crystal Dangerfield this past Louisville guard Dana Evans, just her as a draft year. Crystal played unbelievably well and was named prospect? Could she be potentially a top five pick, and Rookie of the Year. did her shooting slump during the month of March and through part of the postseason have any impact on her Q. Either Greg or Marianne, do you see Rennia Davis draft stock or what you guys think of her? as a top five pick or would you be surprised if she dropped out of the top five? What do you like about MARIANNE STANLEY: I think Dana has had a very good her game and what are some things you think she career at Louisville. She's shown a lot of versatility playing might need to improve upon at the next level? both the point guard and the two-guard positions. She's had a lot on her shoulders, and I think she's someone MARIANNE STANLEY: Yeah, I think Rennia handled her who's demonstrated that she's not afraid of a big shot or a college career really well in the sense of there was a big moment, and that's something that all the very good coaching change and she stayed with the University of players have in their arsenal. They rise to the occasion. Tennessee and showed her ability to adapt, which is a real plus in any situation. So I think from that standpoint she's done a really good job. She's one of the better guards in the draft. Quality guard All these college seniors are now faced with coming into a for sure. whole new environment, new team, new coaches, new schemes, and I think one of the things that's interesting Q. About Aari McDonald, how much is her size a about Rennia is she can do that already and done it concern at the next level? And do you think she'd be successfully. better behind an experienced point guard or on a really young team? I think her role changed a little bit, and it was interesting to see that, as well. GREG BIBB: Sure, I think Aari McDonald is an exceptional player who has gotten better each year, and I think she's a She's someone who is really good at a lot of things, so player who has a knack for playing her best in the biggest she's someone that can add value in different places on games, and I think we saw that in the recently completed the court. NCAA Tournament. I think in terms of whether she'd be better served playing on a good team or a young team, first Obviously having the length that she does is something of all, as a young team, I hope those aren't mutually that's desirable, as well, so I think she's got very good draft exclusive adjectives, but I think the league is a hard league stock. to transition into no matter what kinds of backgrounds you 106573-2-1043 2021-04-09 20:19:00 GMT Page 1 of 6 Q. I'm curious, I know scouting is something that you guys do over several years. This isn't the first year Q. Has Arella Guirantes separated herself as the best you've seen any of these players. But through the lens guard in this class, and does she project to be a future of knowing what these college athletes did over the starter in the coming years? past year, do you view their performances differently in any way? JAMES WADE: I don't know if she's separated herself. I think when you talk about big guards, you can mention CHERYL REEVE: I think from our experience of being in Davis in the same breath. I think it's more of what you're the bubble, the challenges that went with that in terms of looking for and how they kind of fit into your team and the not being able to see families except over an extended players that you have. period of time, you had to come differently. You had a lot of mental challenges I think through this, and so I think it I do think that she is a high-quality guard because of all the was even harder for college teams. things that she can do, her strength, the fact that she can create her own shot. And so I think that in terms of performances, I think all of us -- certainly if a player in the draft has a great junior year I think she has certain qualities that separate her from the and not as good of a senior year, you certainly could bunch, but at the same time it depends on what you're understand why. looking for, versatility defensively or versatility offensively, which I think she has a lot of offensively. But then your comment that we have seen them, so I know that probably most of us view kind of the complete package But it's going to be an adaptation for everybody, so I think through the course of the time that they entered college all she's a top-end draft prospect. Like I think she'll be in the the way through to the end. top half of the first round. If you call that separation, then I guess you could say that. I give them a lot of credit, because as we know from our WNBA season, it was really challenging. Q. Two things: Do you think Charli Collier's draft stock has slipped with her production in the NCAA Q. My question is primarily to Greg. I was wondering Tournament, and then also in the Big 12 Tournament? what your thoughts might be on Awak Kuier. She's And what's the likelihood of the No. 1 pick going to an obviously a bit younger. Would that put you off sort of international player? using one of your top picks on her? Or would that be more of a benefit because there's more room to grow GREG BIBB: Yeah, I don't put a lot of value on specific in a professional setting? slotting of players. I think that's a really hard thing to do. I think it's more about the response, kind of groupings of GREG BIBB: I think the thing about any draft is there's not players, and I think Charli Collier has been in that top an exact science. There's always a little bit of unknown group of players and continues to be in that top group of and you're always hedging your bets on some level or players. degree of potential. I think the younger the player, certainly the larger that bet. I think obviously there were some games this past year that I would assume would be disappointing to her in terms Awak is 19 years old playing in her first professional of her performance, but you have to remember, too, there season in Italy. Obviously anyone can look at her and are always multiple aspects to performance, it's not just the watch her play and can imagine what her potential could individual output. lead her to in our league or any league in the world. There's aspects relative to the opponents, there are I think the size is a given. I think her ability to handle the aspects relative to the game plan, there are aspects basketball for her size is exceptional for her age. I think relative to the matchups. So I don't really look at a her ability to shoot the basketball is above average for her particular player sliding from one specific spot to another. I size and age. look at them in terms of groupings, and for me she is in that top group. Obviously I think she's going to have to get stronger to become a contributing member of a WNBA team, but the Q. This question is for Coach Stanley. You may not potential with her is off the charts. It's just a matter of what be able to kind of mention a specific player, but in that potential turns out to be in terms of reality down the terms of what you're looking to add, is there a specific road. attribute or skill set you'd like to add through the 106573-2-1043 2021-04-09 20:19:00 GMT Page 2 of 6 draft? And would you like that player to come in and work in most instances, but certainly you can get a little make an immediate impact or do you want to kind of more excited when it's on the biggest stage and a player ease that player into a specific role? really rises up.