Kelsey Plum was selected No. 1 overall in the 2017 WNBA Draft. (Elaine Thompson, STF)

The WNBA Draft moved south to NYC ahead of the 2017 season. Last year prior to the 20th season, the league took on Mohegan Sun, with the Connecticut Huskies having three players selected as the top three. What a difference a year makes. The Huskies enter the 2017 draft with only one prospect, and without a national title.

It is Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks that enter the draft on top. Staley was on hand at Samsung 837, along with three Gamecocks prospects. Alisha Gray, Alaina Coates and Kaela Davis saw their stock rise after taking home a national title on April 2. However, it would be Kelsey Plum of Washington that took the number one spot.

Here is a breakdown of the first round:

1. Kelsey Plum (Washington) to San Antonio Stars

2. Alaina Coates (South Carolina) to Chicago Sky

3. Evelyn Akhator (Kentucky) to Dallas Wings

4. Allisha Gray (South Carolina) to Dallas Wings

5. Nia Coffey (Northwestern) to  San Antonio Stars

6. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (Maryland) to Washington Mystics

7. Brittany Sykes (Syracuse) to Atlanta Dream

8. Brionna Jones (Maryland) to Connecticut Sun

9. Tori Jankoska (Michigan State) to Chicago Sky

10. Kaela Davis (South Carolina) to Dallas Wings 

11. Sydney Weise (Oregon State) to Los Angeles Sparks 

12. Alexis Jones (Baylor) to Minnesota Lynx

Things picked up for the local teams in the second round.  The Connecticut Sun took Shayla Cooper from Ohio State, while the 3rd place finishing New York Liberty made their first select on the night, opting to take Lindsay Allen from the University of Notre Dame. Here is a breakdown of the second round:

1.Shayla Cooper (Ohio State University) to Connecticut Sun

2. Lindsay Allen (Notre Dame) to New York

3. Alexis Peterson (Syracuse) to Seattle Storm

4. Leticia Romero (Florida) to Connecticut Sun

5. Erica McCall (Stanford) to Indiana Fever

6. Jennie Sims (Old Dominion) to Washington Mystics

7. Jordan Reynolds (Tennessee) to Atlanta Dream

8. Feyonda Fitzgerald (Temple University) to Indiana Fever

9. Chantel Osahor (Washington) to Chicago Sky

10. Ronni Williams (Florida) to Indiana Fever

11. Breanna Lewis (Kansas State) to Dallas Wings

12. Lisa Berkani (France) to Minnesota Lynx

In the final round of the 20th WNBA draft, the Stars again had the first selection. Shaquilla Nunn from Tennessee was the 25th overall pick of the night. The Connecticut Sun added Jessica January from DePaul (28th overall pick), while the New York Liberty selected Kai James as  the 34th pick. 

1. Schaquilla Nunn (Tennessee) to San Antonio Stars

2. Saniya Chong (Connecticut) to Dallas Wings

3. Mehryn Kraker (Wisconsin-Green Bay) to Washington Mystics

4. Jessica January (DePaul) to Connecticut Sun

5. Alexis Prince (Baylor) to Phoenix Mercury

6. Lanay Montgomery (West Virginia) to Seattle Storm

7. Oderah Chidom (Duke) to Atlanta Dream

8. Adrienne Motley (Miami) to Indiana Fever

9. Makayla Epps (Kentucky) to Chicago Sky

10.Kai James (Florida State) to New York Liberty

11. Saicha Grant-Allen (Dayton) to Los Angeles Lakers

12. Tahlia Tupaea (Australia) to Minnesota Lynx

Overall thoughts:

It was a draft that saw no trades (although there is still time for that).  Plum was the definite belle of the ball, followed by the South Carolina four; Alaina Coates, Allisha Gray, Kaela Davis and Coach Dawn Staley herself!  The SEC had eight players drafted, with four in the first round. The west coast also had a solid draft, with four players selected in the top-25 picks.  Now the 2017 draft class will have a month to complete college and get ready for their first assignment as professionals; training camp!