As March Madness tips off this week, it’s an exciting and important time for WNBA Draft implications. The 2024 WNBA draft class has the potential to be one of the best classes we’ve seen in a long time, as more Seniors have started to declare.
In honor of Selection Sunday,, let’s take a look at some of the biggest names that’ll be dancing in March and making the transition to the WNBA by April.
As a reminder, the 2024 WNBA Draft will take place April 15th on ESPN, live from Brooklyn, NY.
1. Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark – Guard/Iowa
Caitlin Clark has taken the college basketball world by storm. She’s been unequivocally the best scorer in the nation, surpassing Pete Maravich’s all-time scoring record a few weeks ago. But she isn’t just a scorer. Her nation-best 8.9 assists per game sets her apart as a playmaker, which may even be her biggest transferable skill at the next level.
The Fever are in a stage of talent accumulation, and Clark is an impossible talent to pass on. Pairing a gifted perimeter scorer and playmaker in Clark with a dominant post presence in Aliyah Boston could make for a very scary duo for years to come.
2. Los Angeles Sparks: Cameron Brink – Forward/Stanford
Cameron Brink just formally declared for the draft last week, and in most year’s she would be a shoe-in for the top pick. At 6’4, her skillset as a hybrid between Power Forward and Center is impossible to overlook. She led Stanford to the PAC-12 Championship game, coming up short to JuJu Watkins and the USC Trojans.
But Brink provides elite defensive versatility, an inside-the-arc scoring touch, and reliable rebounding. Not to mention, an obvious fit for the Los Angeles Sparks. The offseason departure of Nneka Ogwumike to Seattle leaves nothing but opportunity for Brink to stay local and settle in as the new franchise big for the Sparks.
3. Chicago Sky: Rickea Jackson – Forward/Tennessee
Rickea Jackson might be the most WNBA-ready player to come out of this class. She’s been a proven leader for Tennessee over the past five seasons. She’s absolutely gifted offensively, as her peers have given her credit as one of the toughest players to defend.
Her ability to score from anywhere on the court would serve as a solid foundational piece for a retooling Chicago Sky, following the offseason trade of former Finals MVP Kahleah Copper. Some critics say she’s not ready to defend at the WNBA level, but her size and athleticism gives her plenty of room to grow.
4. Los Angeles Sparks: Kamilla Cardoso – Center/South Carolina
Kamilla Cardoso had a very busy Conference Tournament in the headlines. She hit her first career three pointer at the buzzer to knock off Tennessee in the SEC Championship semifinal game. Then the next day, she was ejected and suspended for a game following a fourth quarter shove on LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson.
But her name should be in the news for her play. She is an elite shot blocker, and an overall imposing figure defensively at 6’7. She’s ascended her game to another level stepping in as a full-time starter for an undefeated South Carolina team who lost five players to the WNBA Draft last year. Brink and Cardoso as a frontcourt duo of the future can wreak havoc on the next level for years to come.
5. Dallas Wings: Aaliyah Edwards – Forward/UCONN
Aaliyah Edwards has a natural feel for the game unlike most of her peers in this draft class. She is the textbook jack-of-all-trades style athlete on the court. She can score on all three levels and defend both on and off the ball. Not to mention she’d be a great fit almost anywhere in the WNBA.
As for the Wings, they lost in the Semifinals to the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces. They already have a set core with the reigning Most Improved Player Satou Sabally, as well as Arike Ogunbowale. Adding a rotation-ready wing to their core could help them take that next step in contention.
6. Washington Mystics: Angel Reese – Forward/LSU
Angel Reese is probably the second-biggest name in the 2024 WNBA draft class. A national champion, SEC Player of the Year, a walking double-double, and a natural leader. Rees is sure to bring a lot of eyes to wherever she lands.
And there’s no better landing spot for the Baltimore native than with the Washington Mystics. A team basically looking for direction with aging star Elena Delle Donne, Reese would be great as a building block for the new age of the Mystics.
7. Minnesota Lynx: Georgia Amoore – Guard/Virginia Tech
Georgia Amoore is a dynamic lead guard that fits the mold that you’re looking for in today’s game. She’s athletic, a skilled playmaker, and an elite three point shooter. And most importantly, she fills the biggest need for the Lynx.
They have two young capable scorers in Napheesa Collier and Diamond Miller, and getting Amoore to be the tempo-pusher could maximize their offense next season.
8. Chicago Sky: Alissa Pili – Forward/Utah
Alissa Pili is the unicorn of the 2024 WNBA draft class. At 6’2, she’s capable of playing any position from the three through the five. Not to mention her skillful and efficient offensive talent. She led the Utes to a 22-10 regular season record putting up 20.8 points per game.
As far as her fit with the Sky, the addition of Pili with Rickea Jackson could serve them well offensively as they transition into this rebuild. They should be a fun team to watch this season.
9. Dallas Wings: Jacy Sheldon – Guard/Ohio State
Jacy Sheldon is just one of those players that every team needs at the next level. A high motor defender with a reliable three point shot. Her ability to harass opposing players both on and off-ball makes her a value pick, especially for a team looking to bolster their bench like the Wings.
I don’t expect her to come in playing a pivotal role offensively like Aaliyah Edwards, but Sheldon has the skillset necessary for a very long WNBA career.
10. Connecticut Sun: Elizabeth Kitley – Center/Virginia Tech
Elizabeth Kitley is a bit of a wild card. At an imposing 6’6, both her scoring and rebounding ability comes as a surprise to almost nobody. However, she is currently nursing a knee injury that she sustained at the end of the regular season.
That doesn’t take away from her skilled footwork, underrated vision and defensive versatility. And she fills an obvious need for the Sun with her size. She could be the missing piece that places Connecticut on the same level as the Aces or New York Liberty.
11. New York Liberty: Charisma Osborne – Guard/UCLA
Charisma Osborne is the ideal perimeter defender. Both individually and in a team setting, Osborne is an expert at rotations, switching, and is an overall lockdown defender. She’s not the most reliable offensive weapon, but for the Liberty she won’t need to be.
The Liberty’s biggest mismatch in the WNBA Finals was the targeted offensive attack on Sabrina Ionescu, who struggled guarding Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young. Sure, there’s going to be a learning curve for Osborne, but she’ll definitely be a help to this contender.
12. Atlanta Dream: Ayoka Lee – Center/Kansas State
Ayoka Lee is another mold of the towering athletic Center in the 2024 WNBA draft class. She’s proven through a tumultuous season that she’s a capable scorer and defender. She’s been on the radars of franchises for the last three seasons due to her abilities.
And her fit with the Dream only makes sense. They are full of young guards and forwards with Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Haley Jones and Laeticia Amihere. But Lee could fill a major need of size and defense.
March Madness will give us a good look at each of these players as they look to make cement the final chapter of their college careers. Only time will tell who walks away the victor of the national championship. But the scouts will be tuned in for the draft come April.
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