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Friday, April 17, 2020

WNBA Draft Tonight -- FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


WHERE WILL JAZ AND KYLEE END UP?

The 2020 WNBA Draft takes place tonight at 7 p.m. Three rounds, 36 picks, all to be done without the usual attendees, sports broadcasters and analysts in one spot. 


Instead, ESPN will do it remotely, the players watching via laptop and PC...watching on their couches, with a cadre of fans, friends and relatives around them The same goes for the ESPN sports personalities, making the comments, analysis and guesses from their own "homemade studios". It could be interesting. 

If anything is uncertain, it is who will be selected after the first five picks. Neither Louisville's Jones nor Shook are listed by the four sources I have studied for their projections and analysis. I studied what ESPN, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports and BBall Index had to say in their projections. 

The "four" are solid in their top four picks. All four think Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon point guard, will be taken by the New York Liberty. 

Oregon strong forward Satou Sabally is a consensus second pick by all four sources also, and projected to go to Dallas. 

Lauren Cox, Baylor power forward, is the projected third choice from these sources and will join the Indiana Fever. 

All four sources agree that Chennedy Carter, a shooting guard out of Texas A&M will go fourth and be selected by the Atlanta Dream. 

We heard from Payton Verhulst, 2021 Louisville commit, earlier in the week and she mentioned to us that Carter was a player she played against early in her career, before all the hype developed around Carter, and thought that she might turn out to be someone very special back then.

Payton was correct.

For the fifth pick, ESPN and Bleacher Report agree on South Carolina PG Tyasha Harris. BBall Index indicates that they think Princeton guard Bella Alarie is the one...they have Harris as sixth. CBS Sports touts UConn forward Megan Walker, followed by Harris and Alaire.  

Where are the "experts" thinking Jazmine Jones and Kylee Shook will end up? For their thoughts, only ESPN, College Sports Madness and B Ball Index offered anything after the first round. 

Kylee's projections: 

ESPN -- Kylee is the 19th pick and goes to Seattle
College Sports Madness --  Kylee is the 24th pick and headed to Washington
B Ball Index -- Kylee is the 32nd pick and goes to Chicago.

Two second round and one third round projections for Kylee.

I'll agree with B Ball Index. Chicago looks like a good fit for Kylee.  Their 2020 projected roster shows just four players 6'4" or taller -- Stefanie Dolson, Azura Stevens, Jantel Lavender and Cheyenne Parker. I'm thinking Kylee could beat out one of these for a roster spot. 

Jaz's projections: 

ESPN -- Jones is the 22nd pick and goes to the LA Sparks
B Ball Index -- Jones is the 29th pick and goes to Phoenix
College Sports Madness -- this website only pick the top 24 (first two rounds) and Jaz Jones wasn't in their top 24 picks. 

So, one second round, one third round and one "don't know" here.

I like Jones's chances with Phoenix. After "sure-fire" starters Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins Smith, the Mercury list Sophie Cunningham, Olivia Epoupa, Bria Hartley and Yvonne Turner as guards. It's not hard to see Jaz beating out one of the "other four" for a roster spot. 


Will we get Deb on TV tonight, from her
'women cave'? 
Jaz indicates she's been in touch with five different WNBA programs.

We don't have any information on who Kylee has been contacted by. Cardinal Couple has put in a request to talk with Kylee, but, we understand she hasn't been feeling well lately and we haven't made that contact yet. 

Let's not forget that trades are always a part of the WNBA Draft. so, even the best projections are merely that -- guesses. Only the 12 WNBA GM's and their coaches know for sure who they are going after, and they all have "contingency" plans in place, if a selection isn't around when their time comes to pick. 

We wish both Kylee and Jaz the best of fortunes in the WNBA Draft. 

We'll know late tonight.   



paulie
xxxxx


4 comments:

  1. I hope both Kylee and Jaz end up with teams they want to be with. I feel confident both could be key players wherever they end up. That is, of course, if there is a season.

    Meanwhile, life goes on in the aisles. I appreciate all the restaurants who drop off food to us while we work. Y'all making me gain weight, but, I'm sure not hungry.

    Curtis "wasn't drafted. Spoke to no organizations" Franklin

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  2. Congratulations Jazz and Kyler. WNBA and New York coach definitely likes Jeff's style of play and the training playets get at Louisville.

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  3. My girl Jocelyn Willoughby, who I thought was the most valuable player in the ACC, was the first ACC player picked in the draft at #10 in the first round by NY Liberty. Willoughby will be the steal of the draft. Liberty gave up Walker-Kimbrough,a player coming into her own to get her.
    Congrats to Jaz Jones and Kylee. Got to be incredibly exciting for them to be chosen that high. Going to be crazy competition to make the team with SEVEN new faces acquired draft night - Ionescue, Walker, Willoughby, Jaz Jones, Shook, Odom, and Stephanie Talbot a shooter (acquired in trade with Lynx).
    I loved Willougby's reaction on camera when she was chosen. She was sitting alone and with an expression of total bewilderment and just said WOW! I thought it was great.

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  4. BTW, excellent write up Paulie.

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