After the ping-pong balls bounced around the 2024 WNBA Draft Lottery ended the same as it did one year prior – with the Indiana Fever on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick. This draft could be momentous for the WNBA with several potential stars on their way.
The prize pick of the draft could be Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, who has one more year of eligibility but could also move on to the WNBA if she thinks the time is right.
Along with Clark are potential stars in Angel Reese (LSU), Cameron Brink (Stanford), Kamilla Cardoso (South Carolina) and Paige Bueckers (UConn), creating one of the most talented draft classes in years.
With the Draft Lottery in the books now there is an order set for the 2024 WNBA Draft. All of the players that could enter the draft can see where they might potentially land making their decisions easier; or much more difficult depending on the situation.
The only variable that has to be factored in is the league’s expansion in 2025. Historically the WNBA has not awarded an expansion franchise with the top pick.
That could change with two teams entering the league. Expansion in 2006 and 2008 led to the Chicago Sky getting the sixth pick and the Atlanta Dream the fourth pick behind the teams that missed the playoffs or were not a part of the lottery.
The 2024 WNBA Draft will take place on April 15th, 2024. Indiana has four months to decide who it is going to team with Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith.
This is the first mock draft to preview the 2024 WNBA Draft:
- Indiana Fever – Caitlin Clark
Iowa – Guard – Senior
2023-2024 Stats: 29.6 points, 7.6 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game with four double-doubles
Regardless of which team landed the top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft the answer to the question was going to be Clark. If the dynamic guard enters the draft she is going to be the number one pick bringing her elite scoring, playmaking and shooting to the next level. Teaming Clark with Boston could give Indiana one of the best duos in the WNBA immediately.
Clark can be an offense all on her own. She is one of the best scorers (3,041 points), shooters (394 made three-pointers) and playmakers (879 assists) in women’s college basketball history. By the time her career is over Clark could hold nearly every major individual offensive record.
Indiana having the top pick could help sway Clark to enter the draft with the Iowa native and current Iowa star in a position to stay close to home.
- Los Angeles Sparks – Cameron Brink
Stanford – Center – Senior
2023-2024 Stats: 18.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game on 60-42-96 splits
Brink has proven throughout four seasons that she can play with star players, be the star player, dominate on the defensive end and contribute at the highest level on the offensive end. She is the perfect chameleon on the basketball court. Adding a player with Brink’s ability on the defensive end alongside former MVP Nneka Ogwumike gives Los Angeles one of the best frontcourts in the league. Over her last 43 games, Brink has averaged 15.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game on 50.9% shooting from the field.
- Phoenix Mercury – Paige Bueckers
UConn – Guard – Junior
2023-2024 Stats: 19.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game on 49-45-80 splits
Phoenix is seeing its stars age out of being able to carry the load on a nightly basis, which opens the door for a player like Bueckers to step in. Bueckers has only played 25 games after her freshman season saw the dynamic guard win National Player of the Year. When healthy, Bueckers is one of the best scorers, playmakers and shooters out of the backcourt in the country. Bueckers could potentially play alongside Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins-Smith while leading the team into the future as the next building block.
- Seattle Storm – Aaliyah Edwards
UConn – Forward – Senior
2023-2024 Stats: 15.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game on 58.1% shooting
Edwards is the type of talent that does not leap off the page with her counting stats, but impacts winning in every possible way. She has played the role of sixth player, go-to star scorer and complimentary star over four years with UConn. Edwards can play virtually every role on the court as an offensive player and a defensive stopper. Where Edwards thrives is by playing off stars, which is what Seattle already has with two All-Stars in Jewell Loyd and Ezi Magbegor. Plugging in Edwards will be seamless for any team, especially Seattle as the team continues to rebuild after seeing a mass exodus after the 2022 season.
- Dallas Wings (via Chicago Sky) – Kamilla Cardoso
South Carolina – Center – Senior
2023-2024 Stats: 14.4 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game on 61.3% shooting
Dallas put it together last season making the playoffs behind the one-two punch of Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally. They do not need another high-volume scorer or playmaker. What Dallas needs are the role players that fill out a championship roster around elite scorers and playmakers. Cardoso has proven to be able to fit in any situation, from a starter, to a sixth player on a championship team and now the foundation of a potential championship team. She gives Dallas a big, strong presence in the paint on both ends of the floor to contend with the best bigs in the league.
- Washington Mystics – Rickea Jackson
Tennessee – Forward – Senior
2023-2024 Stats: 22.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in two games played
An injury has limited Jackson’s time on the court this season, but she also proved her ability to score the basketball. She has been a 20-point scorer for three straight seasons and when healthy can be one of the best in the country. Adding in a strong scorer alongside Elena Delle Donne would make Washington that much more dangerous.
- Minnesota Lynx – Georgia Amoore
Virginia Tech – Point Guard – Senior
2023-2024 Stats: 17.1 points, 8.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game on 91.7% free-throw shooting
The last two seasons have been a revelation for Amoore and Virginia Tech with her ability to score and make plays. She has formed a synergy with Elizabeth Kitley knowing how to play off her star teammate, when to attack and when to defer. Minnesota has found a star in Napheesa Collier and needs to add as much talent around her as possible. With Amoore stretching the floor as a catch-and-shoot scorer from three, it will open up the floor for Collier and second-year playmaker Diamond Miller.Â
- Atlanta Dream – Angel Reese
LSU – Forward – Senior
2023-2024 Stats: 17.4 points and 10.0 rebounds per game on 47.5% shooting
At this stage in Atlanta’s rebuild, the team is collecting talent to be able to contend. They already have Rhyne Howard and Cheyenne Parker on the roster, which proved to be an All-Star caliber duo this past season. Reese gives Atlanta potentially the most impactful and talented player in this draft class if she slips down to them here with the eighth pick. She is a double-double machine and must watch when on the court. When at her best Reese is an All-American who dominated the NCAA Tournament as the most valuable player on a championship team.
- Dallas Wings – Nyadiew Puoch
Australia – Forward – 19 years old
2023-2024 Stats: 11.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in seven FIBA games
With this second pick in the first round Dallas can swing for the fences at a talent that might take some time to develop. That is exactly what Puoch brings to the table as a 19-year-old prospect out of Australia. She brings length and defensive potential to a Dallas team that already has two stars and selected Cardoso with the fifth pick in the draft.
- Connecticut Sun – Charisma Osborne
UCLA – Guard – Senior
2023-2024 Stats: 13.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game on 46.0% shooting from three
There are very few players in the country that play as hard as Osborne on both ends of the floor. She is a perfect fit on a Connecticut roster that has one of the best trios in the frontcourt led by Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones who can dominate games inside-out. Osborne can fill up the statsheet on the offensive end and stretch the floor as a shooter for a Connecticut team that at times can become predictable and stagnant on the offensive end.
- New York Liberty – Jacy Sheldon
Ohio State – Guard – Senior
2023-2024 Stats: 15.3 points, 3.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game on 39.4% shooting from three
New York has the opportunity to draft one of the best leaders, defenders and all-around players with the 11th pick in the draft. Sheldon has led Ohio State to one of the most successful stretches in school history playing off both Taylor Mikesell last year and Cotie McMahon this season. Sheldon could be a terrific option off the bench for a New York team that could not find the answer in the WNBA Finals when Courtney Vandersloot showed her age in games.
- Los Angeles Sparks (via Las Vegas Aces) – Alissa Pili
Utah – Center – Senior
2023-2024 Stats: 23.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game on 73.6% shooting
Los Angeles already went big with the second overall pick in this draft and can make a swing with the last pick in the first round. This pick could go a lot of ways doubling down on frontcourt productivity. Pili gives the team an elite, efficient scorer in the paint that can lead the bench unit. She could even play with Brink giving Los Angeles an offense-defense pairing in the frontcourt.
Other names to watch for on draft night: Ayoka Lee (Kansas State), Deja Kelly (North Carolina), Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech), Hailey van Lith (LSU), Mackenzie Holmes (Indiana), Nika Muhl (UConn), Sarah Edwards (Baylor), Taylor Jones (Texas) and Yvonne Ejim (Gonzaga)
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