With the women’s NCAA tournament now behind us, all eyes turn to the 2024 WNBA Draft as college stars make the transition to the professional level.
The WNBA Draft will be the 29th draft in WNBA history. It will take place on Monday, April 15th at 7:30 p.m. at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
While Iowa phenom Caitlin Clark is the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the draft, questions remain about where stars like Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese will land. Broadcaster Meghan McKeown outlines her 2024 WNBA mock draft below.
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ROUND 1
1. Indiana Fever - Caitlin Clark, Iowa
Arguably the greatest college basketball player of all-time, Clark’s decision-making and ability to play in ball screens will allow her to have an immediate impact on the Fever. Clark also rebounds at a high level, which allows her to push pace in transition and find teammates in the open floor. Oh yeah, and she can score at three levels!
2. Los Angeles Sparks - Cameron Brink, Stanford
With the loss of Nneka Ogwumike to Seattle, the Sparks are in need of a dynamic, shot-blocking post player. Brink was the 2024 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. While it may take some time to adjust to the WNBA, Brink is smart and has a wide skillset and versatility offensively.
3. Chicago Sky (from Phoenix) - Rickea Jackson, Tennessee
Big, strong, athletic wing who can get to the rim, hit in the midrange, and is a capable three-point shooter. Jackson’s guard skills at 6'2" make her a matchup problem. Most importantly, she can rebound at a high level. Jackson could be a nice compliment to Marina Mabrey and Diamond DeShields.
4. Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle) - Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina
At 6'7", Cardoso is unstoppable on the boards. Her ability to score down low in addition to her rebounding would be a huge add as the Sparks continue to develop their front court in the post-Nneka Ogwumike era.
5. Dallas Wings (from Chicago) - Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State
Jacy Sheldon’s motor and defensive prowess has WNBA scouts excited. Dallas was the worst three-point shooting team in the league last season (31%). Sheldon brings perimeter shooting and a high basketball IQ to the table.
6. Washington Mystics - Aaliyah Edwards, UConn
Aaliyah Edwards nearly averaged a double-double her senior year at UConn (17.6ppg / 9.2rpg) and at 6'3", she has a pro-ready body. She is fundamentally sound and would likely be best available at this point in the draft.
7. Chicago Sky - Angel Reese, LSU (from Minnesota via Los Angeles)
Between her rebounding, paint scoring ability, and defense, Angel Reese is the perfect get for a Sky team that needs depth everywhere. It’d also be big for Chicago to have one of the biggest names in the draft.
8. Minnesota Lynx - Nika Muhl, UConn
Cheryl Reeve loves smart, tough-nosed point guards and that’s exactly what Nika Muhl brings to the table. With a high IQ, you can literally put her anywhere on the floor. The two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year cuts down angles and stays in front of opponents. Every team in the WNBA could use depth when it comes to guards who can defend at a high level on the perimeter.
9. Dallas Wings - Alissa Pili, Utah
The Wings need to add shooting to its roster. Alissa Pili shot 40% from beyond the arc last season. Her size and ability to spread the floor makes her an attractive pick for Dallas. She’s also 6'2" and knows how to use her size to her advantage.
10. Connecticut Sun - Nyadiew Puoch, Australia
The 19-year-old can flat out get to the rim and finish. Puoch has played professionally in Australia. While she may take some time to develop, she has legitimate raw talent. The Sun have the depth where they can take time to develop her.
11. New York Liberty - Charisma Osborne, UCLA
Charisma Osborne is a tough scoring guard who can also defend. She’s garnered back-to-back All-Pac-12 Defensive team honors. Even if she doesn’t make an immediate offensive impact on the floor, her natural defensive instincts will be attractive to any team in the W. The Liberty ranked in the bottom half of the WNBA last season in turnovers forced (13) and steals (6.7).
12. Atlanta Dream (from Las Vegas, via Los Angeles) - Dyaisha Fair, Syracuse
Atlanta led the WNBA in bench points last season (21). Dyaisha Fair finished her career as the third leading scorer in Division I women’s basketball (3,403 points). Having guards who can come off the bench and score will continue to be big for the depth of the Dream.
ROUND 2
1. Chicago Sky - Jessika Carter, Mississippi State
Carter stands at 6'5" and averaged nearly 15 points and 10 rebounds a game last season, earning Second Team All-SEC honors.
2. Seattle Storm - Celeste Taylor, Ohio State
The two conference defensive player of the year (ACC and Big Ten) is attractive to any pro team because of her ability to defend on the perimeter.
3. Indiana Fever - Isobel Borlase, Australia
Borlase is a guard with tremendous upside from Australia, where she has been playing professionally. She can get out and run in transition, meaning she could be a great target down the floor for Caitlin Clark.
4. Las Vegas Aces - Marquesha Davis, Ole Miss
Davis can create her own shot and is lethal in the midrange at 6'.
5. New York Liberty - Jaz Shelley, Nebraska
Shelley is an elite creator with the ball in her hands and can knock down the three. She also played with Sabrina Ionescu at Oregon.
6. Las Vegas Aces - Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
Kitley falls into the second round because of her ACL tear, but has tremendous skill in the post. This would be a long term development pick.
7. Connecticut Sun - Mackenzie Holmes, Indiana
Holmes has elite footwork in the post and adds frontcourt depth to Connecticut.
8. Atlanta Dream - Javyn Nicholson, Georgia
The 6'2" forward averaged nearly 17 points and 9 rebounds in the SEC last season.
9. Washington Mystics - Taiyanna Jackson, Kansas
At 6'6", Jackson averaged a double-double this season for the Jayhawks (12.6ppg and 10rpg) in addition to three blocks per game. She adds front court depth to Washington.
10. Connecticut Sun - Leila Lacan, France
Lacan can knock down three’s, which is what the Sun need off the bench.
11. New York Liberty - Jakia Brown-Turner, Maryland
Brown-Turner put up 14 points a game for the Terps last season. A physical, strong wing that has a lot of potential.
12. Las Vegas Aces - Desi Rae Young, UNLV
Young was one of the least talked about dominant post players the last two seasons. She knows how to win at UNLV and has incredible motor rebounding.
