Monday’s WNBA draft is poised to begin with Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark as the undisputed No. 1 pick, destined for the Indiana Fever. However, the intrigue escalates thereafter, particularly with the Los Angeles Sparks holding the Nos. 2 and 4 picks, which could significantly influence the draft’s trajectory.
Under coach Curt Miller and general manager Raegan Pebley, the Sparks are amidst a franchise overhaul, marked by the departure of star forward Nneka Ogwumike to the Seattle Storm. Their playoff drought since 2020, the franchise’s longest, underscores the significance of this draft for Los Angeles.
Pebley emphasized the importance of the two lottery picks, seeking players with immediate impact potential and long-term development prospects. Following Clark, a group of post players including Cameron Brink (Stanford), Kamilla Cardoso (South Carolina), Rickea Jackson (Tennessee), and Aaliyah Edwards (UConn) emerge as top prospects, with the Sparks needing to prioritize among them for their selections.
Cardoso, distinguished by her imposing 6-foot-7 stature and defensive prowess, stands out in the post player cohort. Brink and Jackson offer versatility on offense, while Edwards brings the esteemed UConn pedigree, renowned for producing WNBA stars.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Sky and Dallas Wings also wield considerable draft influence with multiple first-round picks. Chicago, led by new head coach Teresa Weatherspoon and GM Jeff Pagliocca, aims to rebuild, while Dallas seeks to ascend from a top-four team to championship contention.
Dallas president and CEO Greg Bibb highlighted the team’s evolving draft strategy, emphasizing targeted acquisitions to address specific needs and propel the team to higher standings.
As the draft unfolds, Clark’s exceptional season and off-court accolades underscore her anticipated impact in the WNBA. For the subsequent picks, a mix of international talent and collegiate standouts promises to shape the league’s future landscape.
First round
1. Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark
Iowa | PG | 6-foot-0 | senior
In the past week, Clark received the Wooden Award for the second year in a row and appeared on the “Weekend Update” segment of “Saturday Night Live.” Also, it was announced that the Indiana Fever will have 36 of their 40 games featured by the WNBA’s national broadcast and streaming partners. It has been a great 2024 so far for Clark, but she is likely most looking forward to getting on the court with her new teammates and coaches.
2. Los Angeles Sparks: Cameron Brink
Stanford | PF | 6-foot-4 | senior
This is the key pick in terms of how the top post players go. If it is Brink, this pick would make her a foundational player for a Sparks team establishing a new identity now without Nneka Ogwumike. But the same could be said for Cardoso, who played well winning the NCAA championship. Both players should be elite rim-protectors and shot-blockers; Brink at this point probably offers a little more proven offensive versatility.
3. Chicago Sky: Kamilla Cardoso
South Carolina | C | 6-foot-7 | senior
Cardoso is hard to stop once she gets the ball in scoring position, and she can control the boards, plus be a major impediment to opponents’ driving ability. Almost everything will be new with the Sky this season, so Cardoso or whomever Chicago picks will have a fresh slate and a chance to play a lot.
4. Los Angeles Sparks: Rickea Jackson
Tennessee | SF | 6-foot-2 | senior
Jackson has been a proven scorer throughout her college career and can play either power or small forward. The Sparks will need an offensive boost, and she should be able to help there, plus develop quickly on the defensive end. Jackson’s career-high 22 3-pointers this season mean she has that tool, which will be an advantage.
5. Dallas Wings: Aaliyah Edwards
UConn | PF | 6-foot-3 | senior
There’s a chance Edwards goes higher, depending on whether a team is looking for a more traditional power forward who can dependably do everything well. The track record of former UConn players in the pros is excellent, so that helps her draft stock, too. The good thing for Dallas is if Edwards is already picked, Jackson probably will be available, and the Wings would be happy with her, too.
6. Washington Mystics: Jacy Sheldon
Ohio State | SG | 5-foot-10 | senior
Washington is in a new stage for the franchise, with some prominent former standouts either gone or not playing this season. After Clark, Sheldon might be the top guard picked in this draft for her combination of scoring ability (17.8 PPG this season) and energetic, hard-nosed defense. There’s also a chance the Mystics could go with an overseas player who might not play in the WNBA this season. 7. Chicago Sky: Angel Reese
LSU | PF | 6-foot-3 | senior
The fact the Sky traded with Minnesota to swap first-round draft positions gives us a good indication that Chicago has a specific player in mind — someone the Sky hope will still be available. It could be Reese, who was a dominant rebounder in college; she had 20 in her final game for LSU. A lot has been made of Reese needing growth on the offensive end. But Weatherspoon was a defensive specialist as a player and could really value Reese’s potential.
8. Minnesota Lynx: Isobel Borlase
Australia | PG | 5-foot-11
All signs point to the 19-year-old wanting to play in the WNBA this season. But even if she doesn’t, she’s so young there is plenty of time for her to develop for the future. Borlase already has played professionally with the Adelaide Lightning in the WNBL this season in Australia. The Aussies’ track record of success in the WNBA is very good, too.
9. Dallas Wings: Leila Lacan
France| PG | 5-foot-11
Based on the Wings’ roster, they might go with an overseas player who might not play in the WNBA until 2025. Lacan turns 20 in June and is playing professionally for Angers in her native France. She has averaged 12.7 points this season. She played in the U19 World Cup last season for France, which lost the bronze medal game to Canada.
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10. Connecticut Sun: Nyadiew Puoch
Australia | PF | 6-foot-3
Another 19-year-old, Puoch is back in the first round of our final mock draft of 2024. The Sun might see her as an investment in the future. She plays for the Southside Flyers, who won the WNBL championship this season in her native Australia. If she is not ready for the WNBA this year, perhaps this will be a “draft-and-stash” situation in which she joins Connecticut in 2025.
11. New York Liberty: Nika Mühl
UConn | PG | 5-foot-11 | senior
The key here: Will the Liberty think a defensive-minded guard who averaged just 5.8 points per game in four seasons with the Huskies is valuable enough to be a first-round pick? Her size and energy on defense are big pluses for a team that needs better perimeter defense. She also averaged 7.9 assists as a junior and 6.5 as a senior, so her playmaking is a strength as well.
12. Atlanta Dream: Celeste Taylor
Ohio State | PG | 5-foot-11 | senior
Taylor played five seasons in college, spread out between Texas, Duke and Ohio State — three programs known for strong defense. So she might also be on New York’s radar for the No. 11 pick, or even go higher. Taylor averaged 10.8 points per game in her college career, making 169 3-pointers total.
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