With the help of our resident expert, ESPN analyst Nancy Lieberman, here's a look at the top prospects and sleepers in the April 19 WNBA Draft (11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN2):
TOP DRAFT PROSPECTS
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2001-02 SEASON STATISTICS |
GM |
FG |
FT |
PTS |
AST |
STL |
39 |
50.5 |
94.2 |
14.4 |
5.9 |
2.5 |
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Honors: Wade Trophy winner; Kodak All-American; AP First-Team All-American; Conseco/Nancy Lieberman Step-Up Award.
Nancy Lieberman says: The ultimate point guard, Bird can score, pass, play under pressure, everything. She is as good as it gets, and is the point guard of the present and future. With veterans around her, Bird will raise her game to the next level rather quickly.
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2001-02 SEASON STATISTICS |
GM |
FG |
PTS |
REB |
AST |
MPG |
39 |
54.9 |
14.9 |
8.6 |
2.3 |
27.8 |
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Honors: Kodak All-American; AP First-Team All-American; led Big East in scoring and rebounding; ESPN The Magazine's Swing Forward of Year.
Nancy Lieberman says: Cash is a very difficult matchup for opponents. She can handle the ball, shoot, take you off the dribble and run the floor. She is a tremendous defender, has great hands and can score in a variety of ways.
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LaNeishea Caufield
Guard | 5-9
Oklahoma Sooners |
WNBA.com bio
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2001-02 SEASON STATISTICS |
GM |
FG |
PTS |
REB |
AST |
MPG |
36 |
46.0 |
17.4 |
5.0 |
2.6 |
32.8 |
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Honors: Holds career school records in steals (402) and free-throw percentage (83.9), and single-season school mark in steals (135), which she set in 2001 after leading the nation in thefts.
Nancy Lieberman says: She's from the Ruthie Bolton mold: strong, accurate and a hard worker. If a team needs a player who will get in the trenches, she's it. Caufield is very businesslike and doesn't seek the glory, but can shoot and pass and is one of the game's best defenders. |
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2001-02 SEASON STATISTICS |
GM |
FG |
PTS |
REB |
AST |
MPG |
33 |
51.2 |
17.7 |
9.1 |
1.1 |
29.3 |
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Honors: All-Big 12 First Team; AP All-America honorable mention; set single-season school records for rebounds (347), double-doubles (19).
Nancy Lieberman says: She wowed scouts at the WBCA All-Star game, putting any questions they might have had to rest (14 pts, 10 reb, 5-for-6 from field). She was marvelous, hitting shots on Lisa Leslie and Tari Phillips. She has range and versatility. A Dennis Rodman-type rebounder. |
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2001-02 SEASON STATISTICS |
GM |
FG |
PTS |
REB |
AST |
MPG |
36 |
47.6 |
17.0 |
5.0 |
4.9 |
31.2 |
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Honors: Two-time Kodak All-American, Big 12 Player of Year; AP All-American; Big 12 all-time career assist leader (764); Canada's leading scorer in 2000 Olympics.
Nancy Lieberman says: Although she played point at OU, Dales isn't a true point guard, but more of a point-forward, a player who can score, handle the ball or post you up. She's also very deceptive, and an excellent defender with those long arms. Dales has a Larry Bird-like intelligence and is a very good athlete. |
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Shaunzinski Gortman
Guard | 6-1
South Carolina Gamecocks |
WNBA.com bio
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2001-02 SEASON STATISTICS |
GM |
FG |
PTS |
REB |
AST |
MPG |
29 |
43.5 |
15.0 |
6.2 |
3.0 |
31.4 |
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Honors: All-SEC First Team; AP All-America honorable mention; WBCA All-Star.
Nancy Lieberman says: After playing very well and averaging nearly 16 points in four NCAA Tournament games, Gortman's stock is on the rise. She's long, with a very athletic body and good height. She can also play multiple positions, usually at the 2 or 3, but she can also play point for a couple possessions if she had to. |
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2001-02 SEASON STATISTICS |
GM |
FG |
PTS |
REB |
AST |
MPG |
11 |
53.3 |
26.2 |
12.3 |
4.7 |
34.0 |
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Honors: 2001 C-USA Player of Year was leading the nation in scoring (26.2 ppg) and rebounding (12.3 rpg) when she suffered a season-ending broken fibula on Dec. 29; AP All-America Third Team pick in 2001; holds school career records in rebounding (1,118) and blocks (125).
Nancy Lieberman says: A lot of people have fallen prone to the "out of sight, out of mind" philosophy, but Jackson is phenomenal. She's got an incredible game and is very versatile. |
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Asjha Jones
Forward/Center | 6-2
Connecticut Huskies |
WNBA.com bio
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2001-02 SEASON STATISTICS |
GM |
FG |
PTS |
REB |
AST |
MPG |
39 |
55.5 |
14.0 |
6.6 |
1.7 |
24.6 |
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Honors: Two-time Final Four All-Tournament team pick helped UConn win national championships in 2000, '02; AP All-America Third Team; All-Big East First Team; never missed a game during her four-year career; holds UConn all-time record for games played (144).
Nancy Lieberman says: Jones attacks the basket very well and her quickness really stands out. She has great hands and is a great passer with a solid work ethic and defensive mentality that's second to none. |
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2001-02 SEASON STATISTICS |
GM |
FG |
PTS |
REB |
AST |
MPG |
33 |
49.0 |
19.8 |
4.4 |
6.5 |
33.6 |
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Notable: Kodak All-American; suffered broken fibula and high ankle sprain in right leg in WBCA All-Star game; had pin inserted on April 9 to help fracture heal; expected to return to court in slightly less than three months.
Nancy Lieberman says: Not sure anyone's quicker off the dribble than Lambert. She plays like a guy, with the ability to go right or left. She's a good defender and can finish with either hand, and has a nice outside shot. |
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2001-02 SEASON STATISTICS |
GM |
FG |
PTS |
REB |
AST |
MPG |
33 |
36.7 |
15.2 |
4.4 |
5.7 |
32.2 |
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Honors: All-ACC First Team; AP All-America honorable mention; holds UNC's all-time assists record (728).
Nancy Lieberman says: I love everything about her game and like the person even more. Teasley is very intelligent, and matured beyond her wildest dreams after taking a year off (2000-01). She's got size, can pull up, is excellent off the dribble and can finish with her left or right hand. She finds passing angles that don't exist. |
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Ayana Walker
Forward | 6-3
Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters |
WNBA.com bio
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2001-02 SEASON STATISTICS |
GM |
FG |
PTS |
REB |
BLK |
MPG |
29 |
44.5 |
13.5 |
9.2 |
1.7 |
28.4 |
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Honors: AP All-America honorable mention; All-WAC First Team; WAC tournament MVP; led league in rebounding (9.2) and double-doubles (13); USA Basketball Female Athlete of Year in 2001.
Nancy Lieberman says: We're used to seeing great posts come out of La. Tech, and Walker's no different. She's very athletic, and her quickness will cause problems for opponents at the next level. |
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2001-02 SEASON STATISTICS |
GM |
FG |
PTS |
REB |
BLK |
MPG |
33 |
66.1 |
20.5 |
11.3 |
1.6 |
34.5 |
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Honors: AP All-America Second Team; in 2002, led nation in field-goal percentage (66.1) and Big 12 in scoring (20.5 ), rebounding (11.3); 20 double-doubles; holds several school records.
Nancy Lieberman says: At 6-4, Welle is a legit center and an intriguing pick. She has good footwork and good post moves. Welle also has an incredible shooting percentage and finishes, something coaches really like at this level. |
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Tamika Williams
Forward | 6-2
Connecticut Huskies |
WNBA.com bio
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2001-02 SEASON STATISTICS |
GM |
FG |
PTS |
REB |
AST |
MPG |
35 |
70.4 |
10.1 |
6.9 |
1.3 |
21.9 |
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Honors: AP All-America honorable mention; UConn's all-time leader in field-goal percentage (70.3).
Nancy Lieberman says: Williams is powerful, very explosive on the ball and has a beautiful jumper from the foul line and in. She knows how to be a post and take up space on the inside. And with her step-through and drop-step, she's got all the traditional post moves. |
SLEEPERS
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Lucienne Berthieu
Vitals: 6-2 center/forward, Old Dominion.
Nancy Lieberman says: She's big and strong, and gets down on the low block. She'll be better a year from now, but Berthieu still could be a late first-round pick.
WNBA.com bio
Zuzi Klimesova
Vitals: 6-2 forward, Vanderbilt.
Nancy Lieberman says: A first- or early second-round pick, Klimesova came up big in one of the best conferences out there. She can do a lot of things, from scoring on 17- or 18-footers to driving inside. She has a good passing game and guard skills, and while she can shoot over you, she can also get around a slower post. She'll be a matchup nightmare for some coaches and will take some 4s away from the basket.
WNBA.com bio | 20 Questions
Kelly Komara
Vitals: 5-7 guard, Purdue.
Nancy Lieberman says: Probably a solid second-round pick. She's got a great attitude and is very tenacious. She really got after it in the WBCA All-Star game. Komara is disciplined, a good leader, works hard on both ends and has a nice shot.
WNBA.com bio | 20 Questions
Hamchetou Maiga
Vitals: 6-1 forward/guard, Old Dominion.
Nancy Lieberman says: She has the same type of game as Mwadi Mabika, who wasn't a great shooter when she came into the league but made herself the player she is. Maiga has a lot of that same potential, and all of the athleticism.
WNBA.com bio
Brandi McCain
Vitals: 5-3 guard, Florida.
Nancy Lieberman says: Her lack of height works against her. At the WBCA All-Star game, even McCain's explosiveness couldn't offset it -- Shannon Johnson was there every step of the way and even Dawn Staley tried to post up McCain! But she didn't quit, and showed what a fighter she is. She was relentless, and somebody will invite her to camp as a free agent if her name isn't called.
WNBA.com bio
Tawana McDonald
Vitals: 6-4 center, Georgia.
Nancy Lieberman says: McDonald has great size, and at 6-4, can help out somebody in the paint.
WNBA.com bio
Michelle Snow
Vitals: 6-5 center, Tennessee.
Nancy Lieberman says: At this level, she's not going to be a star, but Snow can help out somebody in this league. She made it through four years at Tennessee, which says a lot about her character. She's a good kid who can create her own shot. She must work on rebounding, however.
WNBA.com bio
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WNBA.com's 2002 draft coverage
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