2022 WNBA Draft (April 11, 2022)
Prior the 2022 Draft, Las Vegas acquired Minnesota’s first (No. 8) and second (No. 13) round picks in exchange for the Aces’ first and second round selections in 2023. Las Vegas’ own picks were the 11th selection in each round, giving the Aces five total for the draft.
With the eighth pick, Las Vegas selected Colorado forward Mya Hollingshed. A three-time All-Pac-12 performer, Hollingshed led Colorado in scoring in each of her final three seasons. She drained 39.6 percent of her 3-point field goal attempts as a senior while leading the team in rebounding (7.4). The Aces waived Hollingshed prior to the start of the regular season.
With the 11th selection, the Aces chose Florida Gulf Coast guard and two-time winner of the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award Kierstan Bell. Heading into the 2024 season, Bell has played in 57 games for Las Vegas, averaging 2.8 points and 1.3 rebounds as a reserve. She was a member of the Aces 2022 and 2023 WNBA Championship teams.
Las Vegas selected LSU guard Khayla Pointer with the 13th pick. A three-time All-SEC selection and 2022 AP All-American, Pointer ranked second in the SEC as a senior in both scoring and assists per game, and became the only LSU player in school history, male or female, to score 1500+ points, grab 500+ rebounds and hand out 500+ assists in a career.
Las Vegas waived her on May 2, 2022, prior to the start of the regular season. Later that season, Pointer signed with the Indiana Fever, for whom she played 10 games, and averaged 2.2 points. The Fever inked her to a training camp contract in 2023, but waived her prior to the start of camp.
With the 23rd pick, the Aces selected Virginia Tech guard Aisha Sheppard. Sheppard finished her career as the Hokies all-time leading scorer, and in possession of the ACC career record for made 3-pointers. “Shep” was a reserve on the Aces 2022 WNBA Championship team, where she averaged 1.5 points over 23 games. Las Vegas waived her in training camp the following season.
The Aces chose LSU center Faustine Aifuwa with the 35th pick in the draft. Aifuwa finished 15th in the SEC in rebounding and 7th in blocked shots as a senior. Las Vegas waived her on April 19, 2022.