Now that the WNBA draft has taken place, and is possibly the greatest ever in terms of the talent pool, what can fans expect from this year in the WNBA?
It is finally over with...Candace Parker has been selected as the #1 draft pick and is headed to LA (as if everyone didn't already know that was going to happen...). With the return of Lisa Leslie, and the recent addition of Delisha Milton-Jones, the LA Sparks are an obvious contender for a WNBA title. Parker will fit right into Michael Cooper's system, and probably average a double-double her first season in the league. She's already proven that she can hang with the women of the WNBA, proving it with her amazing and poised play for USA Basketball. What remains to be seen is what the rest of this talented draft class will do in 2008. Here are the top five big impact rookies for the 2008 WNBA season:
1. Candace Parker
She set the tone for the Lady Vols in 2008, led them to a National Championship with an ailing shoulder, and still went #1 in the draft. Also remember UT took her with a torn ACL as a freshman. That alone shows what kind of talent Parker possesses. She will be a focal point in the Sparks offense, and prepare to take over as the face of the franchise for Lisa Leslie. Not to mention she already has major endorsement deals with Adidas and Gatorade.
2. Sylvia Fowles
Always seeming to come #2 to Candace Parker, the draft was no different. When she won SEC Player of the Year over Parker, that gave Fowles some attention and her skill set did not disappoint. She's less versatile than Parker, and can let her mental game affect her physical game, but she has tons of potential and will be a great help to Candice Dupree in Chicago.
3. Candice Wiggins
Wiggins finally got some recognition after being burried on the west coast under the east coast talent, and she finally took Stanford out of it's National Championship drought. She can score in a hurry and hit big shots when necessary, and she will carry that mentality with her to the Minnesota Lynx. The only thing she needs to worry about is the physicality of the pros. Other than that, she's the total package: leadership included.
4. Essence Carson
Always a silent leader at Rutgers, Carson will be going to the Big Apple to play this summer. Her leadership and excellent defensive skills will carry her into the starting lineup. New York hasn't seen defense like this since Teresa Weatherspoon.
5. Nicky Anosike
Anosike wasn't the marquee name at Tennessee, but she always did the dirty work. That is what will make her successful in the WNBA. She's willing to do the little things to get the team a win. Anosike will be a Dennis Rodman type of player without the antics. With some work on her jumper, she could become a player for years in the league.
