Most of these questions -- and so many others -- will be answered Tuesday during the WNBA draft. All we can provide is a best guess, so here goes:
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FIRST-ROUND MOCK DRAFT
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(Pk.) Team
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Pick
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(1) Cleveland
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Edwina Brown, Texas '00. Brown is a complete package, the most complete player in the draft field, and can be an immediate help in the backcourt while Suzie McConnell-Serio continues to heal.
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(2) Washington
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Ann Wauters, Belgium. Wauters is a 6-foot-4 19-year-old who has tongues wagging all over the league. The Mystics said they want a post player and are prepared to select one early. The rumor mill says the Mystics flew to Belgium to see her play. Connect the dots.
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(3) Detroit
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Grace Daley, Tulane '00. Daley had a great camp. The Shock is going to need offense with Carla Porter and Jennifer Azzi gone.
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(4) Orlando
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Lynn Pride, Kansas '00. Pride's versatility makes her so valuable. She can handle the ball like a guard and also play in the post. The Miracle could use a good power forward and they are just about set.
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(5) Minnesota (from Phoenix)
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Tausha Mills, Alabama '98. Mills is a post player with professional experience who showed off well at the pre-draft camp. This team has no center. It would be a good fit.
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(6) Minnesota
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Maylana Martin, UCLA '00. Martin is another player with size and good offensive skills who could play a couple of positions. Her main issues are her strength and the health of her back, but she's good enough to take a chance.
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(7) Portland
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Tamicha Jackson, Louisiana Tech '00. The Fire would seem to have plenty of guards with Molly Goodenbour, Jamila Wideman and Sophia Witherspoon, but Jackson has starting potential because of her speed and defensive skills.
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(8) Detroit (from Miami via Utah)
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Betty Lennox, Louisiana Tech '00. Lennox can also come up with some points from the backcourt and is a great shooter. What
team couldn't use that?
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(9) Seattle
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Naomi Mulitauaopele, Stanford '98. Mulitauaopele has three things going for her. First, she's a Seattle native who also played for the ABL's Seattle Reign. Second, she's big. Third, she came to camp in great shape and made a good impression.
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(10) Minnesota (from Indiana via Miami)
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Summer Erb, North Carolina State '00. More size. At 6-6, Erb is the prototypical presence in the paint. What she lacks in up-and-down-the-court speed she makes up for in strength and physicality; also has great hands and good footwork. The only question is her
health after suffering three broken bones in her left foot, an injury that sidelined her for six weeks from February through mid-March.
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(11) Charlotte
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Shawnetta Stewart, Rutgers '00. The Sting is solid in the backcourt, but with Dawn Staley's health problems, Stewart would provide
some nice insurance as a backup point guard.
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(12) Utah
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Stacy Frese, Iowa State '00. Frese can put points on the board.
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(13) New York
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Andrea Garner, Penn State '00. The Liberty need an inside presence to replace Kym Hampton. Garner is the best pick at this spot.
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(14) Sacramento
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Milena Flores, Stanford '00. Flores has better WNBA skills than her predecessor Jamila Wideman. She's quick, a strong defender, has a nice move to the basket and can shoot. She would make a nice complement to Ticha Penicheiro in the backcourt.
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(15) Los Angeles
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Helen Darling, Penn State '00. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a great rookie point guard out there to push Ukari Figgs to greater
heights? Darling is a decent backup.
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(16) Houston
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Kamila Vodichkova, Czech Republic. Van Chancellor loves foreign talent. This 6-4 center qualifies on both counts.
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