After a few of the most-watched basketball video games in current historical past, girls’s basketball is on the forefront of the sports activities world as soon as once more. The 2024 WNBA Draft will see a few of the largest names from the event like Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink, Angel Reese, and Kamilla Cardoso proceed their basketball careers on the skilled stage.
However the place will a few of the largest younger stars of the game find yourself? There’s loads of intrigue forward of the WNBA Draft on Monday evening. ESPN‘s Michael Voepel, The Athletic‘s Sabreena Service provider, Bleacher Report‘s Joseph Zucker, and CBS Sports activities‘ Jack Maloney up to date their predictions after the event and forward of Monday evening’s draft.
Here is the place they anticipate future stars will play this season:
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2024 WNBA Draft predictions roundup
ESPN: Caitlin Clark, guard, Iowa
The Athletic: Caitlin Clark, guard, Iowa
Bleacher Report: Caitlin Clark, guard, Iowa
CBS Sports activities: Caitlin Clark, guard, Iowa
An easy consensus right here. Clark’s the most effective faculty basketball gamers of all time and is the selection for Indiana. Her presence alone has drastically modified Indiana’s attain; 36 of the Fever’s 40 video games this season might be nationally televised, up from only one final yr.
Indiana took Aliyah Boston No. 1 total final season. The 2 ought to work properly collectively and proceed Indiana’s upward trajectory after a 13-win 2023 marketing campaign.
Service provider: “She’s the main scorer in faculty basketball historical past, a dead-eye shooter from deep vary and an impressive passer who finds teammates on the break or at stunning angles within the half court docket. She might be a direct worth add as a distributor and spacer with huge upside as a person scorer and shot creator.”
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ESPN: Cameron Brink, ahead, Stanford
The Athletic: Cameron Brink, ahead, Stanford
Bleacher Report: Cameron Brink, ahead, Stanford
CBS Sports activities: Cameron Brink, ahead, Stanford
The consensus continues on the second total choose for Los Angeles. The Sparks are in a full rebuild mode after dropping Nneka Ogwumike in free company and buying and selling Jordin Canada. Brink gained the Naismith Defensive Participant of the 12 months award this season in addition to the Lisa Leslie Award given yearly to the most effective heart in girls’s faculty basketball. Her foul price is a slight concern however her defensive prowess is plain in opposition to all positions.
Service provider: “She continues to be an impressive defensive participant who covers floor properly, can stick with guards or bigs, and prevents pictures from being taken along with contesting them. Her capturing kind suggests she’ll have the ability to play out on the perimeter as a result of her body is greatest suited to taking part in energy ahead.”
ESPN: Kamilla Cardoso, heart, South Carolina
The Athletic: Rickea Jackson, ahead, Tennessee
Bleacher Report: Rickea Jackson, ahead, Tennessee
CBS Sports activities: Kamilla Cardoso, heart, South Carolina
The consensus pattern ends at No. 3 total. Chicago’s in full rebuild mode after its first dropping season since 2018.
Cardoso’s inventory is increased after a powerful run within the NCAA Event, together with 15 factors, 17 rebounds, and three blocks within the nationwide championship sport. She earned event Most Excellent Participant honors after South Carolina’s run to a different title. She’s a drive on the defensive finish and is bettering on offense as a put up scorer.
Against this, Jackson’s one of many prime scorers within the draft after averaging 20.2 factors per sport within the hardest convention in girls’s faculty basketball. She’s an awesome finisher on the rim and has a powerful mid-range sport. When she’s not scoring, she’s snug dealing with the ball and making performs for teammates.
Voepel: “We noticed how efficient she might be when she will get the ball in scoring place and the way a lot she will management the boards. That is going to be a difficult season of change and new faces in Chicago, so the Sky would wish persistence with Cardoso, identical to with the remainder of the staff.”
Service provider: “[Jackson] is an unstoppable shot creator in opposition to the most effective athletes and dropped 33 and 10 in her last collegiate sport in opposition to NC State. She is bodily able to play within the WNBA and can have the ability to rating straight away, even when she nonetheless has some work to do offering worth off the ball.”
4. Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle)
ESPN: Rickea Jackson, ahead, Tennessee
The Athletic: Kamilla Cordoso, heart, South Carolina
Bleacher Report: Kamilla Cordoso, heart, South Carolina
CBS Sports activities: Rickea Jackson, ahead, Tennessee
The predictions at No. 3 change at No. 4 total. With Brink already in Los Angeles, specialists have the Sparks getting into two completely different instructions. If Jackson’s obtainable, she’d provide a complement on the offensive finish for Brink’s standout presence on protection. If Cordoso’s the choose, she will staff up with Brink for the most effective younger defensive tandems within the league whereas creating extra on offense.
Voepel: “Jackson was Tennessee’s star the previous two seasons and could possibly be a lift to the Sparks along with her scoring means. She made a career-high 22 3-pointers this season, which is an effective signal for her continued progress as she enters the WNBA. She additionally must be a top-notch defensive participant for Los Angeles coach Curt Miller.”
Zucker: “The WNBA is catching as much as the NBA when it comes to how conventional facilities are considered and utilized. Typical bigs nonetheless nonetheless have their makes use of, particularly after they’re nearly as good at defending the paint as Cardoso is.”
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ESPN: Aaliyah Edwards, ahead, UConn
The Athletic: Jacy Sheldon, guard, Ohio State
Bleacher Report: Jacy Sheldon, guard, Ohio State
CBS Sports activities: Jacy Sheldon, guard, Ohio State
A near-consensus at No. 5 for Dallas. The Wings gained 22 video games for the primary time since 2008 earlier than dropping to eventual champion Las Vegas within the playoffs. However they may use assist in the backcourt and three-point capturing. They completed final within the WNBA in three-point share in 2023 (31.7%). Sheldon may assist in each of these areas as the most effective guard not named Caitlin Clark on this draft. Dallas is stocked with frontcourt gamers however Edwards is arguably the most effective participant obtainable at No. 5.
Voepel: “If Edwards continues to be obtainable, the Wings do not appear more likely to bypass her. A number of the strengths of Edwards’ sport had been on show within the Remaining 4 semifinal loss to Iowa, as had been issues she must work on. However she has the look of a professional put up participant.”
Service provider: “Sheldon might be allowed to play aggressively on the perimeter, figuring out that the timber (Teaira McCowan, Kalani Brown and Natasha Howard) are ready behind her inside. She isn’t a pure lead guard, however Dallas nonetheless wants a two-way guard who can play subsequent to Arike Ogunbowale, and Sheldon is large enough to make that backcourt defensively viable.”
ESPN: Jacy Sheldon, guard, Ohio State
The Athletic: Aaliyah Edwards, ahead, UConn
Bleacher Report: Aaliyah Edwards, ahead, UConn
CBS Sports activities: Aaliyah Edwards, ahead, UConn
Once more, specialists flip between two prospects in consecutive picks. Washington’s in arguably the hardest spot of any staff this offseason. The Mystics misplaced Natasha Cloud in free company and Elena Delle Donne is stepping away from basketball indefinitely. Washington could possibly be a candidate to commerce as much as No. 5 and safe Edwards or anticipate her at No. 6. Both means, she can be a direct impression starter. She’s an excellent defender and bettering as a put up scorer and soar shooter. Sheldon would have an analogous impression if obtainable at No. 6.
Voepel: “If the Mystics go together with a guard, Sheldon could possibly be the one to assist with the franchise’s rebuilding interval. She has a ton of power and a hard-nosed dedication to protection. Plus, she averaged 17.8 PPG this season.”
Maloney: “You possibly can quibble with the shortage of vary on her jumper, however there’s actually nothing Edwards does poorly. She’s versatile, environment friendly, athletic and works laborious. If the Mystics can get her at No. 6, that might be an enormous win for them following a chaotic offseason.”
ESPN: Isobel Borlase, guard, Australia
The Athletic: Angel Reese, ahead, LSU
Bleacher Report: Nyadiew Pouch, ahead, Australia
CBS Sports activities: Angel Reese, ahead, LSU
A mixture of predictions for the Lynx at No. 7. Minnesota rebounded from an 0-6 begin to make the playoffs and loved an All-WNBA season from Napheesa Collier. The Lynx aren’t in dire want of star energy or assistance on both finish of the ground.
Borlase thrives in transition and is an environment friendly scorer, capturing 59.6% within the Australian WNBL final season. At 19 years previous, she’s additionally one of many youthful prospects. Reese is among the prime defenders within the draft and will complement Collier without having to ship on the offensive finish. She’d even be the most recent LSU product to go north and play for the Lynx. Pouch is one other defensive standout who’s creating her offensive sport.
Voepel: “The 19-year-old seems to have a brilliant future forward and already has performed professionally with the Adelaide Lightning within the WNBL this season in Australia. Even when the Lynx do not know for certain if she’s going to play within the WNBA this season, Minnesota would possibly need to add Borlase for 2025 and past.”
Service provider: “The Lynx had been one of many worst rebounding groups within the league in 2023, and if there may be one factor Reese brings to the desk, it’s the flexibility to rebound. Minnesota can be an fascinating match for Reese as a result of the Lynx have quite a lot of perimeter creation and bigs who can function away from the basket, leaving some room within the center for Reese to work.”
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8. Chicago Sky (from Atlanta through Los Angeles)
ESPN: Angel Reese, ahead, LSU
The Athletic: Nyadiew Pouch, ahead, Australia
Bleacher Report: Leïla Lacan, guard, Angers (France)
CBS Sports activities: Nyadiew Pouch, ahead, Australia
With Chicago in rebuild mode, the Sky may doubtless simply take the most effective participant obtainable, particularly contemplating they owe Dallas a first-round choose swap subsequent yr. Reese could possibly be a defensive complement to the Sky’s picks at No. 3. Pouch might take extra time to develop however there’s little rush in Chicago proper now. Lacan, one other worldwide participant, may take time to develop as properly. Proper now, she’s a plus defender and playmaking combo guard on offense.
Voepel: “Rebounding is [Reese’s] prime power, and it is a massive one. How Reese’s offensive sport interprets to the following stage is the query. Although she and Cardoso had been rivals — not pleasant ones — within the SEC, would possibly they be rookie teammates for the rebuilding Sky?”
Service provider: “Puoch is an elite defender at a number of positions and is already taking part in in opposition to WNBA athletes within the WNBL. She wants assist refining her jumper and offensive decision-making, however that’s why Chicago employed a GM with a participant improvement observe report in Jeff Pagliocca.”
9. Dallas Wings
ESPN: Alissa Pili, ahead, Utah
The Athletic: Carla Leite, guard, Tarbes (France)
Bleacher Report: Isobel Borlase, guard, Australia
CBS Sports activities: Isobel Borlase, guard, Australia
There’s some settlement right here with extra guard assist projected at No. 9. Dallas’ roster is so full they might solely have the ability to maintain one first-round choose on for 2024. Leite, at 19 years previous, is already a standout playmaker with spectacular athleticism. However she wants to enhance her soar shot and motion off-ball on offense and protection. She could possibly be a draft-and-stash choice. Pili’s a powerful scorer from all ranges of the court docket and excelled particularly at catch-and-shoot three level pictures (46.7% this season).
Service provider: “Dallas can add to its backcourt with one of many nice younger guards in Europe. At 19 years previous, Leite is already a high-level scorer who is hard to cease on her approach to the rim. She is artful at drawing fouls and shoots properly on free throws. Even when she will’t come over this season, Leite is price ready for.”
Maloney: “If [the Wings] do not commerce No. 5, they definitely may look to maneuver this choose. Within the occasion they maintain it, a draft-and-stash possibility makes probably the most sense. Borlase is an possibility in that case. She’s a giant guard and coming off one other productive season within the WNBL.”
ESPN: Dyaisha Truthful, level guard, Syracuse
The Athletic: Alissa Pili, ahead, Utah
Bleacher Report: Angel Reese, ahead, LSU
CBS Sports activities: Alissa Pili, ahead, Utah
Connecticut set a franchise report with 27 wins in 2023 behind All-WNBA First Crew ahead Alyssa Thomas. As such, the Solar do not have many wants outdoors of three-point capturing. Connecticut completed ninth within the league at 20 makes an attempt per sport.
Pili can be a direct assist with that due to her stellar capturing totals from Utah. Equally, Truthful’s one of many prime scorers in girls’s faculty basketball historical past and shot a career-high 37.7% from deep final season for Syracuse. Reese can be a greatest participant obtainable choose right here and somebody to enhance Thomas on protection.
Voepel: “Truthful averaged 22.2 PPG in her five-season profession, first at Buffalo after which Syracuse. She held her personal within the ACC, regardless of her small stature. That mentioned, it is a matter of if the Solar see her all-around abilities as ok, alongside along with her means to shoot.”
Maloney: “Connecticut desperately wants some capturing assist, and one participant who may fill that position is Pili. There are actual questions on how she’ll fare within the execs as an undersized ahead, however there isn’t any debate about her shot.”
ESPN: Charisma Osborne, guard, UCLA
The Athletic: Nika Mühl, guard, UConn
Bleacher Report: Alissa Pili, ahead, Utah
CBS Sports activities: Charisma Osborne, guard, UCLA
New York gained a franchise-record 32 video games and made the WNBA Finals final season behind MVP Breanna Stewart. All 5 starters from final yr return for 2024 however the Liberty’s bench may use some assist in addition to perimeter protection.
Although she stands 5-foot-9, Osborne is a standout perimeter defender and playmaker with plenty of athleticism. She would wish to enhance her shot, particularly from outdoors, however has promising capturing kind that might lend itself to development. Mühl improved her inventory by holding sturdy in opposition to Clark within the Remaining 4, showcasing her defensive prowess. She’s a very good soar shooter as properly however would not be relied upon to shoulder a lot of a load on the offensive finish in New York. Pili would provide one other shooter round Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu.
Service provider: “The Liberty must shore up their backcourt defensively, and Mühl is already snug taking over the hardest assignments. She’s additionally a wonderful passer and might hit spot-ups; she shot 42.6 % on catch-and-shoot jumpers her senior season. UConn was 15.2 factors per 100 possessions higher offensively with Mühl on the court docket in 2023-24, and that’s the lesser a part of her sport.”
Maloney: “Although Osborne was not at her greatest within the Bruins’ last two video games of the event, she continues to be doubtless a first-round choose due to her all-around sport and defensive aptitude. The Liberty’s most blatant space of weak point final season was perimeter protection, and Osborne can assist in that division.”
12. Atlanta Dream (from Las Vegas through Los Angeles)
ESPN: Jessika Carter, ahead/heart, Mississippi State
The Athletic: Charisma Osborne, guard, UCLA
Bleacher Report: Charisma Osborne, guard, UCLA
CBS Sports activities: Nika Mühl, guard, UConn
Atlanta made the playoffs for the primary time in 5 years final season and offseason additions Jordin Canada and Tina Charles put this squad in fine condition forward of 2024. The most important want at this level is depth, particularly at level guard and within the frontcourt normally, in addition to three-point capturing.
Carter is a two-time All-SEC second staff participant who averaged 14.9 factors and 9.9 rebounds in her last season with the Bulldogs. She’s a dependable shot blocker on protection and a strong scorer on offense. She’d present depth instantly for the Dream. Osborne and Mühl would each enhance guard depth and protection.
Voepel: “The Dream may need some room for depth at heart, and Carter completed her Bulldog profession as a second-team All-SEC participant. She had her greatest total season with averages of 14.9 PPG and 9.9 rebounds.”
Maloney: “The Dream have loads of versatile gamers who can deal with the ball and provoke offense, however offseason acquisition Jordin Canada is the one true level guard on the roster. It by no means hurts to have a back-up at that place, and the Dream may look to Muhl, who has been operating the present for UConn for years.”
When is the 2024 WNBA Draft?
- Date: Monday, April 15
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Cable: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN+
2024 WNBA Draft order
First Spherical
- Indiana Fever
- Los Angeles Sparks
- Chicago Sky (from Phoenix)
- Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle)
- Dallas Wings (from Chicago)
- Washington Mystics
- Minnesota Lynx
- Chicago Sky (from Atlanta, through Los Angeles)
- Dallas Wings
- Connecticut Solar
- New York Liberty
- Atlanta Dream (from Las Vegas, through Los Angeles)
Second Spherical
- Chicago Sky (from Phoenix)
- Seattle Storm
- Indiana Fever
- Las Vegas Aces (from Los Angeles)
- New York Liberty (from Chicago)
- Las Vegas Aces (from Washington)
- Connecticut Solar (from Minnesota)
- Atlanta Dream
- Washington Mystics (from Dallas)
- Connecticut Solar
- New York Liberty
- Las Vegas Aces
Third Spherical
- Phoenix Mercury
- Seattle Storm
- Indiana Fever
- Los Angeles Sparks
- Phoenix Mercury (from Chicago)
- Washington Mystics
- Minnesota Lynx
- Atlanta Dream
- Dallas Wings
- Connecticut Solar
- New York Liberty
- Las Vegas Aces