John Raoux/Associated Press

Jackie Young to Aces: Twitter Reacts as Guard Is Selected in 2019 WNBA Draft

Joseph Zucker

The Las Vegas Aces selected Notre Dame guard Jackie Young with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 WNBA draft, adding another guard to their backcourt-heavy roster.

With Sabrina Ionescu confirming last week she was returning to Oregon for her senior season, many wondered in which direction the Aces would go with the top selection. Ionescu would've been the clear choice, and the field leveled off a bit with her out of the equation.

Young quickly emerged as the likeliest candidate for Las Vegas.

The Fighting Irish star averaged Young averaged 14.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 38 games as a junior. She's the second Notre Dame junior selected first overall, joining Jewell Loyd.

With Kelsey Plum, Moriah Jefferson and Kayla McBride already on the squad, Young will have to fight for playing time on the Aces. Beyond the depth of options available to head coach Bill Laimbeer, Las Vegas will also have playoff ambitions in 2019 after a ninth-place finish in 2018.

Young addresses some obvious needs for the team.

According to WNBA.com, Las Vegas finished ninth in defensive rating (104.7) and fifth in total rebounding rate (50.9 percent). The 6-foot Young should help the Aces' defending on the perimeter, and her presence will strengthen their ability to crash the glass.

While not a high-volume three-point shooter, Young shot 36.4 percent from beyond the arc in three years at Notre Dame. The Aces got a league-low 13.5 percent of their total scoring from three-pointers, per WNBA.com. Opposing defenses will have to respect the threat Young poses from deep, even if she's not taking a lot of three-pointers.

Laimbeer will be disappointed Ionescu wasn't on the board, but Young is an excellent consolation prize for an Aces franchise heading in the right direction.

   

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