With the 11th pick in Monday’s WNBA draft, the Washington Mystics will select their first player later than ever before.
In six of their previous 13 drafts, the Mystics have held the first, second or third picks.
Their lowest top pick before this season was No. 9, when they drafted Coco Miller in 2001.
That makes predicting who the Mystics will take particularly difficult this year.
General Manager and Coach Trudi Lacey has run through countless scenarios, trying to figure out who will be left on the board when it finally comes time to choose.
But her guesses are only conjecture.
Don’t be surprised if Washington moves up in the draft, perhaps packaging point guard Lindsey Harding — who has expressed a desire to play elsewhere — in a deal for a top pick.
“If we could move up, we’d like to do that,” Lacey said. “We’re reviewing all options there. . . If that doesn’t play out, then we’re at the 11th spot where . . . we’ll take the best player available.”
Washington shored up its front court Saturday, sending its first-round choice in 2012 to Minnesota for all-star center Nicky Anosike.
So the team may not seek a post player with its first pick this year, when most of the better post players are likely to be gone.
Elizabeth Cambage, the 6-foot-8, 19-year-old Australian national team member, likely will be chosen second by Tulsa after Minnesota selects Connecticut standout Maya Moore with the overall first pick.
Xavier’s 6-5 Amber Harris and 6-6 Ta’Shia Phillips, Stanford’s 6-4 Kayla Pedersen, Ohio State’s 6-4 Jantel Lavender and North Carolina’s 6-3 Jessica Breland are likely to be taken before the Mystics take their turn.
Texas A&M’s Danielle Adams, the outstanding player of the NCAA championship, could still be available, but the 6-1 center doesn’t fit the profile of the type of player Lacey covets.
“I like players with length, athleticism and versatility,” she said.
Instead of a post player, the Mystics may select someone to fill the void left by forward Monique Currie, who is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
“Obviously, with the injury to Monique . . . if we could find a three-four, like a small forward-power forward combination-type player, we may do that as well to help replace [Currie],” Lacey said.
Or Washington may choose a player with local ties such as Duke guard Jasmine Thomas, the 2007 All-Met Player of the Year from Oakton High who was this season’s ACC tournament MVP.
No players from any of the local colleges are expected to be drafted.
ESPN will broadcast the first round starting at 3 p.m. The second and third rounds will be shown on ESPNU and NBA TV.
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