On Monday night, April 15th, the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York buzzed with excitement as 36 promising players were selected across three rounds of the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Starting off with the top pick, the Indiana Fever made their mark by selecting Caitlin Clark, continuing their streak of securing the top overall selection for the second consecutive year. Clark, fresh from a legendary college career, showcased her skills in the national championship game after an extraordinary season. With impressive stats averaging 31.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game, she concluded her college journey with a staggering 3,951 points, making her the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer across both men’s and women’s leagues. Clark’s influence on women’s basketball, famously termed the “Caitlin Clark effect,” garnered increased attendance and television viewership, a phenomenon the Indiana Fever are poised to benefit from.
Heading westward, Stanford’s Cameron Brink found herself sporting the Los Angeles Sparks colors, as the second overall pick. The Sparks, with two early selections thanks to a trade with the Seattle Storm, also secured standout forward Rickea Jackson from Tennessee at No. 4.
The Chicago Sky made waves with their picks, selecting South Carolina’s All-American center Kamilla Cardoso at No. 3, whose stellar performance led the Gamecocks to a national championship victory. Joining Cardoso in the Sky’s roster is LSU’s three-time All-American forward Angel Reese, chosen at No. 7, boasting impressive stats of 18.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.
Adding to the draft drama, the Dallas Wings got Ohio State’s All-American guard Jacy Sheldon at fifth overall, while the Washington Mystics secured UConn’s All-American forward Aaliyah Edwards at sixth. Minnesota Lynx capitalized on the talent pool by selecting Utah’s two-time All-American forward Alissa Pili at the eighth spot. Later part of the first round, Dallas Wings also chose Carla Leite at No. 9, followed by the Connecticut Sun selecting guard Leila Lacan at No. 10.
Continuing into the second round, the Chicago Sky secured Brynna Maxwell from Gonzaga at No. 13, while the Seattle Storm added UConn’s Nika Mühl to their roster at No. 14. The Indiana Fever continued their draft success with Celeste Taylor from Ohio State at No. 15. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Sparks ranked up their lineup with Dyaisha Fair from Syracuse, adding depth and versatility to their backcourt. The New York Liberty capitalized on the draft’s depth, selecting Esmery Martinez from Arizona at No. 17 after a successful college career.
As the draft entered its final round, the intensity remained high. The Phoenix Mercury opted for Charisma Osborne from UCLA at No. 25, while the Seattle Storm added Mackenzie Holmes from Indiana at No. 26. The Indiana Fever rounded out their selections with Leilani Correa from Florida at No. 27, ensuring a diverse and talented roster for the upcoming season. The Los Angeles Sparks further strengthened their lineup with Mackenzie Forbes from USC at No. 28, adding another dynamic player to their squad.
With each pick, WNBA teams strategically built their rosters, aiming for a balance of talent, experience, and potential. As these new draft picks prepare to transition from college to the professional stage, they bring with them a experience, skills, and achievements, guarantee to make an impact in the competitive world of women’s basketball. As the WNBA season approaches, fans eagerly anticipate witnessing these emerging stars shine on the court, adding fresh talents to the league’s legacy of excellence and athleticism.
2024 WNBA Draft Results:
| Round | Team | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana Fever | Caitlin Clark | G | Iowa |
| 1 | Los Angeles Sparks | Cameron Brink | F | Stanford |
| 1 | Chicago Sky (via Phoenix Mercury) | Kamilla Cardoso | C | South Carolina |
| 1 | Los Angeles Sparks (via Seattle Storm) | Rickea Jackson | F | Tennessee |
| 1 | Dallas Wings (via Chicago Sky) | Jacy Sheldon | G | Ohio State |
| 1 | Washington Mystics | Aaliyah Edwards | F | UConn |
| 1 | Chicago Sky (via Minnesota Lynx) | Angel Reese | F | LSU |
| 1 | Minnesota Lynx (via Atlanta Dream) | Alissa Pili | F | Utah |
| 1 | Dallas Wings | Carla Leite | G | France |
| 1 | Connecticut Sun | Leïla Lacan | G | France |
| 1 | New York Liberty | Marquesha Davis | G | Ole Miss |
| 1 | Atlanta Dream (via Las Vegas Aces) | Nyadiew Puoch | F | Australia |
| 2 | Chicago Sky (via Phoenix Mercury) | Brynna Maxwell | G | Gonzaga |
| 2 | Seattle Storm | Nika Mühl | G | UConn |
| 2 | Indiana Fever | Celeste Taylor | G | Ohio State |
| 2 | Las Vegas Aces (via Los Angeles Sparks) | Dyaisha Fair | G | Syracuse |
| 2 | New York Liberty (via Chicago Sky) | Esmery Martinez | F | Arizona |
| 2 | Las Vegas Aces (via Washington Mystics) | Kate Martin | G | Iowa |
| 2 | Connecticut Sun (via Minnesota Lynx) | Taiyanna Jackson | C | Kansas |
| 2 | Atlanta Dream | Isobel Borlase | G | Australia |
| 2 | Washington Mystics (via Dallas Wings) | Kaylynne Truong | G | Gonzaga |
| 2 | Connecticut Sun | Helena Pueyo | G | Arizona |
| 2 | New York Liberty | Jessika Carter | C | Mississippi State |
| 2 | Las Vegas Aces | Elizabeth Kitley | C | Virginia Tech |
| 3 | Phoenix Mercury | Charisma Osborne | G | UCLA |
| 3 | Seattle Storm | Mackenzie Holmes | F | Indiana |
| 3 | Indiana Fever | Leilani Correa | G | Florida |
| 3 | Los Angeles Sparks | Mackenzie Forbes | F | USC |
| 3 | Phoenix Mercury (via Chicago Sky) | Jaz Shelley | G | Nebraska |
| 3 | Washington Mystics | Nastja Claessens | G | Belgium |
| 3 | Minnesota Lynx | Kiki Jefferson | G | Louisville |
| 3 | Atlanta Dream | Matilde Villa | G | Italy |
| 3 | Dallas Wings | Ashley Owusu | G | Penn State |
| 3 | Connecticut Sun | Abbey Hsu | G | Columbia |
| 3 | New York Liberty | Kaitlyn Davis | F | USC |
| 3 | Las Vegas Aces | Angel Jackson | C | Jackson State |
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