2019 WNBA Draft (April 10, 2019)
The Aces just missed out on a playoff berth in their first session in Las Vegas with a 14-20 record, but they came up big in the WNBA Draft Lottery, winning the first overall pick for the third consecutive season.
Due to a February 2, 2018, trade that sent the Aces’ second and third round picks to Phoenix in exchange for Kelsey Bone, that No. 1 selection was the only pick the Aces had in the draft, and they used it on Notre Dame junior guard Jackie Young.
Unlike the previous year when A’ja Wilson was the consensus No. 1 pick, the decision to draft Young wasn’t made until 48 hours before the draft. That was because as a draft-eligible junior, Young had to officially declare herself eligible for the draft. She didn’t have to make that announcement until 24 hours after her senior season ended, and Notre Dame made it all the way to the NCAA Championship game, dropping a one-point decision to Baylor a mere three days before the draft.
Young was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team in 2019, earned All-Star nods in 2022 and 2023, was named the 2022 WNBA Most Improved Player and to the 2023 All-WNBA Second Team, while helping the Aces to WNBA Championships in 2022 and 2023.
Bone played in 32 games for the Aces, primarily as a reserve, averaging 2.8 points and 2.2 rebounds while making 50.0 percent of her field goal attempts. Las Vegas bought out her contract prior to the 2019 season, and the five-year veteran has not played in the WNBA since.