The 2017 WNBA draft was the league's draft for the 2017 WNBA season. On March 30, the WNBA announced that the draft would take place on April 13 in New York at Samsung 837.[1]
The lottery selection to determine the order of the top four picks in the 2017 draft occurred on September 28, 2016. The winner of the lottery, the San Antonio Stars, picked first.[2]
This is the fourth time that the lottery was won by the team that had the highest odds. The lottery odds were based on combined records from the 2015 and 2016 WNBA seasons. The San Antonio Stars, with the worst two-year record, were guaranteed no worse than the third pick.
On April 6, 2017, the WNBA released the names of the players who would be invited to be in attendance at the draft through their @WNBA Twitter account:[12]
^The Mystics received this pick from the Seattle Storm as part of a three-way trade involving the New York Liberty; Washington received the 6th and 18th picks from Seattle, Seattle received Carolyn Swords from New York and the 15th Pick from Washington, New York received Kia Vaughn and Bria Hartley from Washington.[6]
^The Wings received this pick from the New York Liberty in exchange for Amanda Zahui B. The Liberty also received the Wings' 2nd Round Pick (#14) in the 2017 Draft.[8]
^The Sparks received this pick from the Wings. See Note B. The Wings originally received this pick, Erin Phillips, and the 5th pick in the 2016 Draft from the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for Riquna Williams and the 6th pick in the 2016 Draft.[9]
^The Storm received this pick from Washington. See Note D.
^The Fever received this pick from Phoenix. See Note E.
^The Mystics received this pick from Seattle. See Note D.