BROOKLYN -- The New York Liberty secured the top overall selection in the 2021 WNBA Draft, as determined by the WNBA Draft Lottery 2021 presented by State Farm®, which took place earlier Friday evening. This is the second time in franchise history that the team has secured the No. 1 pick (Sabrina Ionescu, 2020).
“This is an exciting night for the Liberty franchise and for our fans,” said general manager Jonathan Kolb. “Securing the top selection in the 2021 draft ensures that we will have the opportunity to add a high-character, elite-level player to our core group as we continue our efforts to build a championship-caliber team in Brooklyn.”
The Liberty join the Seattle Storm and Las Vegas Aces as the only clubs to have received the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft in consecutive years.
Lottery odds are based on the cumulative records of the two most recent regular seasons (2019 and 2020). With a cumulative record of 12-44, New York had the best odds to land the top pick (442 out of 1,000) and was guaranteed at least the third pick.
The 2021 Draft Lottery Order
- New York Liberty
- Dallas Wings
- Atlanta Dream
- Indiana Fever
New York also owns the 17th, 25th, and 29th overall picks. The 17th and 29th selections were acquired via trade in a three-way deal with the Mystics and Wings.
The WNBA has not yet announced a date for the 2021 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm®.