SECAUCUS, N.J. -- The Charlotte Sting, who narrowly missed the WNBA playoffs last season, will get the first pick in the 2005 draft.
Charlotte (16-18) won the draft lottery Wednesday night, beating out the five other non-playoff teams. The Indiana Fever (15-19) will pick second, followed by the Phoenix Mercury (17-17), San Antonio Silver Stars (9-25), and Houston Comets (13-21).
Unlike last year, when former Connecticut star Diana Taurasi was widely considered an easy choice for the Mercury, there is no clear-cut No. 1 pick.
Heading the list of players available will be preseason All-America selections Janel McCarville of Minnesota, Kansas State's Kendra Wecker, Tennessee's Shyra Ely and Notre Dame's Jacqueline Batteast.
The draft lottery established the order of selection for the first round. The order for the second and third rounds is based on team records.
The league's fourth draft lottery was conducted by WNBA officials and representatives from the accounting firm of Ernst & Young at the NBA Entertainment studios.
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