WNBA Draft 2017: Minnesota Lynx draft order, team needs, mock drafts

The Lynx can turn to the WNBA Draft for an infusion of youth for an aging roster.

By STAFF REPORT

April 10, 2017 at 10:12PM
Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore (23) and forward Rebekkah Brunson (32) high fived over guard Seimone Augustus (33) as they headed to the bench for a late fourth quarter timeout. ] JEFF WHEELER ï jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Lynx outlasted the Los Angeles Sparks 85-79 in a crucial Game 4 of their WNBA Finals series Sunday evening, October 16, 2016 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The 2017 WNBA Draft is April 13, and the Minnesota Lynx get another shot to build on their success. (PHOTO Jeff Wheeler) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Minnesota Lynx, coming off a breathless runner-up finish last season, now prepare to press the reset button in the 2017 WNBA Draft.

By virtue of having the league's best record in 2016 at 28-6, the Lynx are picking last in the three-round draft. But that also means they have less to build on.

The team's biggest and most obvious needs heading into the draft are getting younger overall and deeper in the post.

Last year they drafted guard Jazmon Gwathmey with the 14th pick, then traded her to San Antonio for 34-year-old guard Jia Perkins. Seimone Augustus is 32; Lindsay Whalen is 34.

These players remain productive, but an infusion of youth could not hurt. Maya Moore, 27, is still elevating her game, which is saying a lot for someone of her immense ability. But the Lynx average age is 30.8 years old and that skews older for key contributors.

Here's what you need to know about the 2017 WNBA Draft:

When is the WNBA Draft?

The draft is Thursday, April 13 in New York

How can I watch the WNBA Draft?

First-round picks and analysis will be televised on ESPN2 beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The second and third rounds will switch over to ESPNU, starting at 8 p.m. ET. You can also livestream the draft on WatchESPN and on the ESPN app.

When do the Lynx make their draft selections?

The Lynx make the 12th pick in each of the three rounds.

What is the draft order?

First Round

1. San Antonio (7-27)

2. Chicago from Washington (13-21)

3. Dallas (11-23)

4. Dallas from Connecticut (14-20)

5. San Antonio from Phoenix (16-18)

6. Washington from Seattle (16-18)

7. Atlanta (17-17)

8. Connecticut from Indiana (17-17)

9. Chicago (18-16)

10. Dallas from New York (21-13)

11. Los Angeles from Los Angeles (26-8)

12. Minnesota (28-6)

Second Round

1. Connecticut from San Antonio

2. New York from Dallas

3. Seattle from Washington

4. Connecticut

5. Indiana from Phoenix

6. Washington from Seattle

7. Atlanta

8. Indiana

9. Chicago

10. Indiana from New York

11. Dallas from Los Angeles

12. Minnesota

Third Round

1. San Antonio

2. Dallas

3. Washington

4. Connecticut

5. Phoenix

6. Seattle

7. Atlanta

8. Indiana

9. Chicago

10. New York

11. Los Angeles

12. Minnesota

What do the mock drafts project for the Lynx in the first round?:

CBSSports.com: Tori Jankoska, guard, MIchigan State

Draftsite.com: Erica McCall, center, Stanford

Excellesports.com: Chantel Osahor, center, Washington

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