Oklahoma pitcher Alex Storako was selected first overall in the Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) draft on Monday night.
The draft, taking place ahead of the WPF’s second summer season, was held in Oklahoma City. The league’s four teams all took part in a 24-pick draft.
New teams OKC Spark and Texas Smoke joined second-year franchise Smash-It Sports Vipers and the long-standing pro squad USSSA Pride in a traditional draft; the Spark held the #1 overall pick, followed in order by the Smoke, Vipers, and Pride. The same order of selection was in place for every round of the draft, interrupted only by trades when applicable.
THE SELECTIONS
Storako, a former Big 10 Pitcher of the Year at Michigan and now a graduate senior at Oklahoma, led off the first round of selections. In their own inaugural draft choice, the Smoke selected Washington infielder Baylee Klingler. Tennessee pitcher Ashley Rogers and UCLA pitcher Megan Faraimo finished out the first round, drafted by the Vipers and Pride, respectively.
Oklahoma State infielder Rachel Becker, Florida State pitcher Kathryn Sandercock, Alabama catcher Ally Shipman, and Kentucky catcher Kayla Kowalik were the second round selections. The Smash-It Sports Vipers chose both Becker and Shipman; the Vipers held the pick that originally belonged to the Spark by virtue of an offseason trade.
In the third round, Arkansas pitcher Chenise Delce, Minnesota pitcher Autumn Pease, Oklahoma State infielder Kiley Naomi, and UCLA pitcher Brooke Yanez heard their names called.
Oklahoma slugger Haley Lee led off the back half of the draft, the 13th overall selection and the third player picked by the OKC Spark. Florida third baseman Charla Echols, Cal super-utility standout Makena Smith, and Oregon infielder Allee Bunker rounded out the 4th round of picks.
South Carolina pitcher Donnie Gobourne, Florida State pitcher/utility player Mack Leonard, Louisiana pitcher/utility player Karly Heath, and Clemson outfielder Caroline Jacobsen were selected in round #5.
The final four players selected on Monday night were Pittsburgh outfielder Yvonne Whaley, Oklahoma shortstop Grace Lyons, Alabama pitcher Montana Fouts, and Northwestern catcher Jordyn Rudd.
BY THE NUMBERS
Oklahoma led the way with three players selected in the draft. Oklahoma State, UCLA, Florida State, and Alabama each had two players chosen.
Among conferences, the SEC led with seven total players selected, while the Big 12 and PAC-12 were each represented with five selections. The ACC (4), Big 10 (2), and Sun Belt (1) were the other NCAA leagues represented.
Eleven pitchers were selected on Monday, including two players classified pitcher/utility players. Five catchers, six infielders, and two outfielders rounded out the positional breakdown of the draftees.
TAKEAWAYS
There is no way to accurately predict a team’s needs in this current iteration of the WPF… two teams are brand new and the other two teams have starkly-different rosters than they did during the barnstorming tour that was the 2022 summer season.
That said, there was a clear emphasis placed on pitching on Monday night. The Vipers chose three pitchers among their seven total picks, for instance. The 1st, 3rd, and 5th rounds of the draft were dominated by pitchers (three arms picked in each round).
Superstars like Montana Fouts, Grace Lyons, and Jordyn Rudd being selected with the final three picks of the draft stood out as an anomaly, though it could be easily explainable: Not every player chosen on Monday night will choose to play in the WPF. Some may play professionally, but for Athletes Unlimited, while others may choose to forego any kind of professional career. Selecting such big-name All-Americans late in the draft could be an indication that teams were less sure of a player’s commitment to playing this summer, but that exclusive rights to that player were too good to pass up.
Only one player, Louisiana’s Karly Heath, was selected from a non-Power 5 program.
Notable players who did not hear their names called on Monday included Wichita State shortstop Sydney McKinney, Utah utility player Ellessa Bonstrom, and Northwestern fifth-year pitcher Danielle Williams.
