2024 WNBA Draft: ESPN releases new mock, predictions for Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, all 36 picks
The 2024 WNBA Draft is just five days away, with the next round of college and international basketball stars set to join the ranks of America’s elite this season.
Headlining this year’s draft is Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark, who figures to go No. 1 overall to the Indiana Fever. Clark was a dynamo in setting records left and right this season for Iowa en route to the national title game for the second straight year.
But who will join Clark in the 2024 WNBA Draft? ESPN projects every pick, all three rounds. Check it out below.
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1. Indiana Fever – PG Caitlin Clark, Iowa
What more can be said about Clark that hasn’t already been told in the television ratings or the constant shattering of record after record? College basketball’s superstar was every bit of that description, putting the game on her back and dragging it to new heights.
As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Clark would get a chance to link up with former South Carolina superstar Aliyah Boston. That’s a squad that figures to do a lot of damage sooner or later.
2. Los Angeles Sparks – PF Cameron Brink, Stanford
Brink is one of the best bigs in the game, showing a lot of versatile offensive game in addition to her ability to hit the glass and clean it up. Like many of the others on this list, she’s also already played against plenty of elite competition.
As a senior in 2023-24, Brink averaged 17.4 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, to go along with 3.7 blocks, 2.8 assists and 0.8 steals. She was everywhere, also posting an impressive 83.6% mark from the free-throw line.
3. Chicago Sky – C Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina
Cardoso is probably the most physically dominant big in the upcoming draft, and as such she’ll find herself selected in the first few picks. Cardoso also already knows what it looks like to be on a mega-talented roster built to compete at the highest level.
She averaged 14.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 2.0 assists per game while stuffing the stat sheet for the Gamecocks. At 6 foot 7, she can be downright dominant in the paint.
4. Los Angeles Sparks – PF Rickea Jackson, Tennessee
The star in the Tennessee frontcourt for the last two years, Jackson showed some versatile game that involved the ability to take it inside or make jump shots. She began shooting more 3-pointers this year and knocked down 22.
Jackson is coming off a season in which she averaged 20.2 points and a career-best 8.2 rebounds per game. She also chipped in 2.3 assists per contest, showing off her passing ability.
5. Dallas Wings – PF Aaliyah Edwards, UConn
The UConn frontcourt threat was an elite weapon, especially when coupled with Paige Bueckers. Edwards was a monster in the NCAA Tournament, dominating her matchups down low and showing off a deft hand on the glass as a scorer.
Edwards averaged career highs in both scoring and rebounding this season, notching 17.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. She also had 2.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks per contest.
6. Washington Mystics – SG Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State
At this spot in the draft things start to open up positionally and best player available becomes a legitimate strategy depending on what’s out there. You could do a lot worse than Sheldon in this range of the 2024 WNBA Draft.
The Ohio State star ratcheted up her scoring as a senior in 2023-24, averaging 17.8 points and 3.8 assists per game. She was a terrific shooter from behind the 3-point arc, going 37.3% from deep.
7. Minnesota Lynx – PG Isobel Borlase, Australia
The first international player on our list, Borlase is a 19-year-old prospect with excellent handles. As ESPN notes, Borlase has already played professionally with the Adelaide Lightning in the WNBL this season.
It’d be interesting to see someone go ahead of LSU star Angel Reese here, but if the position fit is right it could certainly happen.
8. Chicago Sky – PF Angel Reese, LSU
The LSU star waits no longer after falling to No. 8 overall in the ESPN projection of the 2024 WNBA Draft. Reese could certainly be selected higher based on her overall potential.
While Reese won’t have quite the offensive polish as some of the other stars in this year’s draft, she does have one of the best motors in the game. Reese averaged 18.6 points, 13.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.0 blocks per game as a junior at LSU in 2023-24.
9. Dallas Wings – SF Alissa Pili, Utah
Pili offers an interesting combination of size and ability, checking in at 6 foot 2 with the ability to play physically in the post in a pinch. She also shoots lights out from range, finishing her senior season shooting at a 40.4% clip from downtown.
The Wings need a little more scoring punch and Pili could certainly do the trick. She averaged 21.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game this season for the Utes.
10. Connecticut Sun – PG Dyaisha Fair, Syracuse
One of the most diminutive guards entering this year’s 2024 WNBA Draft, Fair checks in at 5 foot 5. There’s little question about her overall ability, but whether she can continue to improve as a shooter and an all-around playmaker remain key questions.
Fair shot 37.7% from 3-point range as a senior, while she also averaged 3.6 assists per game. If she can slightly bump up both numbers, she’ll have a good chance to hold onto a roster and make an impact.
11. New York Liberty – SG Charisma Osborne, UCLA
ESPN notes that the Liberty will likely be looking for a guard that can defend at a high level, and Osborne showed some of that ability in her time with the Bruins. She was on the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team while in college.
Osborne capped her final season with 13.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game. That kind of contribution across the board is part of what makes her such a versatile guard.
12. Atlanta Dream – C Jessika Carter, Mississippi State
One of the other physically imposing centers in this draft, Carter was a big influence in the paint while with the Bulldogs. She was a second-team All-SEC player, putting up some of her best numbers as a senior.
Carter averaged 14.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, while also blocking 1.7 shots per game and dishing out 1.1 assists per contest. Carter was a 68.2% free-throw shooter.
Other 2024 WNBA Draft Picks
Second round
- Chicago Sky – PF Nyadiew Puoch, Australia
- Seattle Storm – PG Nika Muhl, UConn
- Indiana Fever – PF Javyn Nicholson, Georgia
- Las Vegas Aces – PG Celeste Taylor, Ohio State
- New York Liberty – SG Jaz Shelley, Nebraska
- Las Vegas Aces – SF Jakia Brown-Turner, Maryland
- Connecticut Sun – PF Mackenzie Holmes, Indiana
- Atlanta Dream – PG Leila Lacan, France
- Washington Mystics – C Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
- Connecticut Sun – C Taiyanna Jackson, Kansas
- New York Liberty – PF Quay Miller, Colorado
- Las Vegas Aces – PF Desi-Rae Young, UNLV
Third round
- Phoenix Mercury – SG Carla Leite, France
- Seattle Storm – SG Abbey Hsu, Columbia
- Indiana Fever – SF McKenzie Forbes, USC
- Los Angeles Sparks – SF Marquesha Davis, Ole Miss
- Phoenix Mercury – SF Aijha Blackwell, Baylor
- Washington Mystics – SG Brynna Maxwell, Gonzaga
- Minnesota Lynx – SG Hannah Jump, Stanford
- Atlanta Dream – SG Honesty Scott-Grayson, Auburn
- Dallas Wings – SG Kiki Jefferson, Louisville
- Connecticut Sun – SG Sara Scalia, Indiana
- New York Liberty – PF Rebeka Mikulášiková, Ohio State
- Las Vegas Aces – PG Jaylyn Sherrod, Colorado