In just a few weeks, the 2022 WNBA season will be underway. Teams across the league are preparing for the year, making trades and transactions ahead of the upcoming draft.
With the 2022 WNBA Draft just days away, the Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics engaged in a blockbuster trade. In the deal, the Dream acquired the first overall pick in exchange for the team's third and 14th picks.
ESPN's WNBA reporter Mechelle Voepel tweeted the news Wednesday afternoon.
Breaking @WNBA news: @AtlantaDream trade to get No. 1 pick from @WashMystics today. Mystics now have No. 3 and No. 14. WNBA Draft is Monday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Time to adjust those mock drafts again.😊
— M.A. Voepel (@MAVoepel) April 6, 2022
Now, the Dream has the first opportunity to capitalize on the young talent in the 2022 WNBA draft class. According to ESPN, NaLyssa Smith and Rhyne Howard are the two favorites to go first overall.
Smith is a 6'2 forward out of Baylor University. The senior averaged 22.1 points, 1.1 assists, and 11.5 rebounds during her last year with the Bears. Meanwhile, Howard is a 6'2 guard from the University of Kentucky. Also a senior, Howard averaged 20.5 points, 3.3 assists, and 7.4 rebounds this season.
Most teams like the Dream and Mystics are looking forward to the upcoming season, which kicks off in May. However, the Phoenix Mercury are struggling to get their star player, Brittney Griner, back in the United States. The longtime WNBA star was arrested in Moscow for traveling with vape cartridges with cannabis oil in them back in February.
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