Seattle wins the 2015 WNBA draft lottery

The odds played out to perfection as the Seattle Storm won the 2015 draft lottery and will have the No. 1 pick in next spring’s draft. Team odds were based on the cumulative records of the lottery teams over the two most recent regular seasons.

The Storm has won the first pick for the second year in a row. Last year they selected the Jewell Loyd, the 2015 Rookie of the Year. The last time the franchise had back-to-back number one overall selections, the team drafted three-time WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson in 2001 and nine-time WNBA All-Star Sue Bird in 2002. Jackson and Bird helped lead Seattle to two WNBA Championships.

“Today is an exciting day for our franchise, fans and city,” said Storm president and general manager Alisha Valavanis. “Back-to-back number one draft picks propel our efforts to rebuild and return championship caliber basketball to Seattle.”

The Storm came into the draft lottery with a combined record of 22-46, giving the franchise the most chances to land the top pick (442).  The San Antonio Stars, which went 24-44 over that same period, had the next most chances (276).

San Antonio’s second overall pick marks the highest since the team selected Kayla McBride with the third overall selection in the 2014 draft. McBride led the Stars in scoring that year, and was a unanimous choice to the WNBA All-Rookie Team.

The Connecticut Sun had 178 chances after posting a combined record of 28-40.

“You would always like to think there is a chance that you can move up, but this is a very deep draft so it is difficult to be disappointed,” said Connecticut Sun vice president and general manager Chris Sienko said. “We are going to get an impact player that we can add to an already-talented young roster, and I am excited about what we will be bringing to the court next year.”

The Atlanta Dream had 104 chances after compiling a 34-34 mark.

“We obviously need some help in the rebounding area but we just need an athlete, someone that can come in and flat out ball and can put the ball in the basket,” said Atlanta head coach Michael Cooper. “Someone that plays well with what we have and compliments the other players we currently have on the roster.”

University of Connecticut senior Breanna Stewart is expected to be the top pick in next year’s draft.

2016 Draft Order

	Team	Record
1.	Seattle Storm	22-46
2.	San Antonio Stars	24-44
3.	Connecticut Sun	28-40
4.	Atlanta Dream	34-34
5.	Los Angeles Sparks	14-20
6.	Tulsa	18-16
7.	Washington	18-16
8.	Phoenix	20-14
9.	Indiana	20-14
10.	Chicago	21-13
11.	Atlanta from Minnesota (3-way trade of Sylvia Fowles, Erika de Souza, Damiris Dantas, Reshanda Gray on 7/26/15	22-12
12.	New York	23-11