Las Vegas Aces take Notre Dame G Jackie Young first overall in 2019 WNBA draft

With the first pick of the 2019 WNBA draft on Wednesday, the Las Vegas Aces used the latest of their three straight first overall picks to take Notre Dame star Jackie Young.

Young, the only junior available in the draft, averaged 14.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and a team-leading 5.1 assists for a Fighting Irish team that won the ACC and made it to the national championship game before losing to Baylor.

She’ll join an Aces team that went 14-20 last year and features A’Ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, the first overall picks of the last two drafts, and All-Star Kayla McBride. The 6-foot Young will likely slide in at small forward with Plum and McBride already occupying the top spots in the backcourt.

The first overall pick was likely a choice between Young and Louisville guard Asia Durr, who ended up going second overall to the New York Liberty. Durr averaged 21.2 points per game for the Cardinals and was arguably the more pro-ready prospect, but Young’s youth and all-around game won out.

The entire draft was upended when Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu, the presumptive first-overall pick, opted to stay for her senior season with the Ducks. A triple-double machine in college, Ionescu might have been a better fit for the Aces’ lineup, but the team has little to complain about with Young.

Here’s how the rest of the draft ended up shaking out, with the entire Notre Dame starting five being selected in the first two rounds:

WNBA draft first-round selections

1. Las Vegas Aces: Jackie Young G, Notre Dame

2. New York Liberty: Asia Durr G, Louisville

3. Indiana Fever: Teaira McCowan C, Mississippi State

4. Chicago Sky: Katie Lou Samuelson G, UConn

5. Dallas Wings: Arike Ogunbowale G, Notre Dame

6. Minnesota Lynx: Napheesa Collier F, UConn

7. Los Angeles Sparks: Kalani Brown C, Baylor

8. Phoenix Mercury: Alanna Smith F, Stanford

9. Connecticut Sun: Kristine Anigwe C, California

10. Washington Mystics: Kiara Leslie G, North Carolina State

11. Atlanta Dream: Brianna Turner F, Notre Dame

12. Seattle Storm: Ezi Magbegor F, Australia

Second Round

1. Phoenix: Sophie Cunningham G, Missouri

2. New York: Han Xu C, China

3. Chicago: Chloe Jackson G, Baylor

4. Minnesota: Jessica Shepard G, Notre Dame

5. Dallas: Megan Gustafson F, Iowa

6. Minnesota: Natisha Hiedeman G, Marquette

7. Los Angeles: Marina Mabrey G, Notre Dame

8. Minnesota: Cierra Dillard G, Buffalo

9. Connecticut: Bridget Carleton G, Iowa State

10. Dallas: Kennedy Burke G, UCLA

11. Atlanta: Maite Cazorla G, Oregon

12. Seattle: Anriel Howard F, Mississippi State

Third Round

1. Indiana: Paris Key G, North Carolina

2. New York: Megan Huff F, Utah

3. Chicago: Maria Conde F, Spain

4. Indiana: Caliya Robinson F, Georgia

5. Dallas: Morgan Bertsch F, UC Davis

6. Minnesota: Kenisha Bell G, Minnesota

7. Los Angeles: Angela Salvadores G, Spain

8. Phoenix: Arica Carter G, Louisville

9. Connecticut: Regan Magarity F, Virginia Tech

10. Washington: Sam Fuehring F, Louisville

11. Atlanta: Li Yueru C, China

12. Seattle: Macy Miller G, South Dakota State

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