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South Carolina women's basketball: Destanni Henderson will learn her WNBA future tonight

On3 imageby:Chris Wellbaum•04/11/22•

ChrisWellbaum

On3 image
Destanni Henderson before the Elite Eight game against Creighton (Photo by Katie Dugan)

South Carolina Women’s Basketball: News • Recruiting • Schedule • Roster • Stats • SEC • Polls • Scholarships

South Carolina point guard Destanni Henderson is expected to be picked in the WNBA Draft Monday night. The draft will be televised on ESPN beginning at 7:00 pm.

Henderson is one of 12 players invited to attend the draft in person and is widely expected to go in the middle of the first round.

Henderson finished her Gamecock career averaging 9.5 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 37.9% from three. Her averages improved to 11.8 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds while hitting 96-237 (40.5%) from three.

Primarily a reserve during her first two seasons, Henderson took over the starting point guard role her junior season and posted career-highs with 12.2 points, an SEC-leading 5.1 assists, and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 41.4% from three. Her numbers dipped in her senior season as the Gamecocks played a slower, defense-oriented pace. She averaged 11.5 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.1 assists this season, but turned in her two signature performances. 

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After missing three games with a leg injury, Henderson returned against defending champion Stanford. After a slow start, South Carolina trailed by as much as 18 before Henderson took over. She nearly had a triple-double with 17 points, seven assists, and seven steals, and her one-woman press took the Cardinal completely out of rhythm. Stanford had no answer for her quickness on offense either, and Henderson led South Carolina to a come-from-behind win.

But Henderson saved her best for last. She always played well in the postseason, making the SEC All-Tournament team three times and being named to the Greensboro all-regional team, but she cemented her place in Gamecock lore by playing the best game of her career in the national championship game. Henderson scored 26 points, along with four assists and three steals, becoming the first player in at least 20 years to set a new career-high in the championship game. She also locked down Paige Bueckers, using her speed and quickness to make up for a size disadvantage.

Henderson is generously listed as 5-7 and will be undersized in the WNBA too, but she reaffirmed in the championship game she can make up for her lack of height. She also reaffirmed her ability to balance running a team and looking for her own shot during the Gamecocks’ championship run.

Mock Drafts

There are 12 first-round picks, and most mock drafts have Henderson going in the middle of the round. (Sunday afternoon, Las Vegas acquired picks #8 and #13 in the 2022 WNBA Draft from Minnesota in return for their first- and second-round selections in 2023. Not every mock draft has been updated to include the trade.)

  • W Basketball Blog: #6 to Indiana
  • Just Women’s Sports: #6 to Indiana
  • Swish Appeal: #7 to Dallas
  • SB Nation: #7 to Dallas
  • CBS: #8 to Las Vegas
  • FanSided: #9 to Los Angeles
  • ESPN: #10 to Indiana
  • Yahoo: Late first round
  • The Athletic: Not picked in the first round.

Gamecock Central will have coverage of the WNBA Draft Monday night. You can follow along with the draft on The Insiders Forum.

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