The 2024 Women’s NCAA Tournament was one for the ages.
It culminated with Kamilla Cardoso and the South Carolina Gamecocks outlasting Caitlin Clark’s Iowa team in the national championship, but WNBA executives had a close eye on each round of games to identify the prospects capable of making an immediate impact on their respective franchises.
WNBA DRAFT 2024: Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades
Clark stands alone atop draft boards and mock drafts but the class is much more than her. The women’s college basketball landscape is complete with other draft-eligible stars like Stanford’s Cameron Brink, Tennessee’s Rickea Jackson, LSU’s Angel Reese and, of course, the two-time national champion Cardoso.
With the 2024 WNBA Draft coming just eight days after the women’s tournament concludes, there’s no time like the present to take stock of where this year’s stars could land.
The Sporting News has you covered with a 2024 WNBA Mock Draft.
MORE: Meet The Sporting News 2023-24 Women’s College Basketball All-America Team
WNBA Mock Draft 2024
1. Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark, Iowa
Age: 22, Senior
Position: Guard
Height: 6-0
It’s no secret that Clark’s name will be the first called in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Iowa’s superstar senior has generational shooting and passing skills that will immediately translate to the next level, making her a wonderful pairing alongside Aliyah Boston, last year’s No. 1 overall pick and WNBA Rookie of the Year.
With Clark and Boston leading the charge, the Fever will look to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
MORE: Why Caitlin Clark is Sporting News Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year
2. Los Angeles Sparks: Cameron Brink, Stanford
Age: 22, Senior
Position: Forward
Height: 6-4
Brink will leave Stanford as one of the greatest defenders the college game has ever seen. The nation’s leader in blocks per game (3.6) has won Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year three consecutive times.
In addition to her rim protection, Brink’s overall game has grown each year, with her evolving into averaging 17.5 points and 11.9 rebounds as a senior. That evolution shows her potential is through the roof and she’ll continue to grow as LA rebuilds.
MORE: Cameron Brink on her WNBA future, Stanford career and more
3. Chicago Sky (from Phoenix): Rickea Jackson, Tennessee
Age: 23, Fifth year
Position: Forward
Height: 6-2
Jackson, who had a great showing in the tournament, won’t fall past third in this draft.
While the Lady Vols were eliminated in the Round of 32, Jackson posted averages of 29.5 points and 9.5 rebounds on 63.9 shooting in the final two games of her career. She is a natural scorer and is one of, if not the most pro-ready prospects in this draft.
A scorer of Jackson’s caliber will accelerate the rebuild in a new era of Sky basketball.
4. Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle): Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina
Age: 22, Senior
Position: Center
Height: 6-7
LA has two picks in the top four and while the fit between Cardoso and Brink might seem tricky, the Sparks can afford to figure it out.
In time, LA could boast one of the game’s most fearsome frontcourts. Cardoso won Defensive Player of the Year honors as a freshman in the ACC and a senior in the SEC. She’s a staunch rim protector and an evolving scorer. Reloading the frontcourt is the best way to adjust to life post-Nneka Ogwumike.
MORE: Learn more about Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina’s SEC Tournament hero
5. Dallas Wings (from Chicago): Aaliyah Edwards, Connecticut
Age: 21, Senior
Position: Forward
Height: 6-3
Edwards is one of the most talented players in the college game, posting averages of 17.6 points and 9.4 rebounds while shooting 59.3 percent from the field in 2023-24.
Dallas is in an interesting position with a roster numbers crunch and the uncertainty surrounding All-WNBA forward Satou Sabally, who underwent surgery on her shoulder in February. Edwards adds a boost to a team looking to build on its playoff run in 2023.
6. Washington Mystics: Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State
Age: 23, Fifth year
Position: Guard
Height: 5-10
Sheldon fills a major void at the guard position by providing a scoring punch and staunch perimeter defense. With Elena Delle Donne sitting out of the 2024 season and Natasha Cloud moving on in free agency, it’s a new era in D.C. Adding Sheldon helps the Mystics stay on track.
7. Chicago Sky (from Minnesota): Angel Reese, LSU
Age: 21, Junior
Position: Forward
Height: 6-3
hicago moved up one spot to seemingly target a specific player. As the top five prospects are seemingly set, Reese feels like the logical choice. With averages of 21.0 points and 14.4 rebounds during her time at LSU, Reese is a walking double-double and she’d certainly bring excitement to SkyTown.
8. Minnesota Lynx (from Chicago, via Atlanta and Los Angeles): Nyadiew Puoch, Southside Flyers (Australia)
Age: 19
Position: Forward
Height: 6-3
Puoch, who was given “The Block Doctor” nickname thanks to her athleticism and rim protection, is one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft. Minnesota moved one spot down and could use its new pick to take on a player that won’t turn 20 until June and has a ton of untapped potential.
9. Dallas Wings: Isobel Borlase, Adelaide Lightning (Australia)
Age: 19
Position: Guard
Height: 5-11
With a need for a guard, Dallas will look to Australia’s WNBL for help.
Borlase is on a fast track to stardom in Australia, earning Breakout Player of the Year and Sixth Woman of the Year honors in 2023 before coming back to earn a First Team All-WNBL selection in 2024. Borlase is an athletic guard with several tools and posted averages of 15.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game this past season.
10. Connecticut Sun: Alissa Pili, Utah
Age: 22, Fifth year
Position: Forward
Height: 6-2
Pili is one of the most unique talents in this year’s draft. With her, she brings floor-spacing ability in addition to an array of moves around the basket.
Connecticut’s main rotation is set but in the margins, it could use the scoring punch Pili would provide. Defensively, the Sun are strong and principled enough to compensate for Pili’s potential shortcomings.
11. New York Liberty: Charisma Osborne, UCLA
Age: 22, Fifth year
Position: Guard
Height: 5-9
The Liberty fell a few wins shy of a title last year and will look to improve their depth ahead of 2024.
After five years at UCLA, Osborne’s experience should help her adjust to the pro game. At the next level, she can display an all-around game as a scorer, distributor and rebounder from the guard position.
12. Atlanta Dream (from Las Vegas, via Los Angeles): Leïla Lacan, Angers (France)
Age: 19
Position: Guard
Height: 5-11
Lacan is one of the youngest members of this draft class but answers Atlanta’s need for a boost in its backcourt.
The 5-11 combo guard is in her second season in France’s LFB and is averaging 12.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.2 steals per game. She has room to improve as a shooter but her numbers suggest a great feel for the game and strong instincts on the defensive end. It’s a shot worth taking for the Dream.
WNBA Draft order 2024
Below is the complete order of the 2024 WNBA Draft. The draft consists of three rounds, with each round consisting of 12 picks. All selections will be made on the same day.
First Round
Indiana Fever
Los Angeles Sparks
Chicago Sky (from Phoenix)
Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle)
Dallas Wings (from Chicago)
Washington Mystics
Chicago Sky (from Minnesota)
Minnesota Lynx (from Chicago, via Atlanta and Los Angeles)
Dallas Wings
Connecticut Sun
New York Liberty
Atlanta Dream (from Las Vegas, via Los Angeles)
Second Round
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 Sun (from Minnesota)
Atlanta Dream
Washington Mystics (from Dallas)
Connecticut Sun
New York Liberty
Las Vegas Aces
Third Round
Phoenix Mercury
Seattle Storm
Indiana Fever
Los Angeles Sparks
Phoenix Mercury (from Chicago)
Washington Mystics
Minnesota Lynx
Atlanta Dream
Dallas Wings
Connecticut Sun
New York Liberty
Las Vegas Aces
When is the 2024 WNBA Draft?
Date: Monday, April 15
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | 4:30 p.m. PT
TV channel: ESPN
The 2024 WNBA Draft takes place on Monday, April 15. The draft will be held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York and will be a seated event with fans in attendance for the first time since 2016.
When does the 2024 WNBA season start?
The 2024 WNBA season begins on Tuesday, May 14. Here is the schedule for opening day:
Liberty vs. Mystics, 7 p.m. ET
Fever vs. Sun, 8 p.m. ET
Mercury vs. Aces, 10 p.m. ET
Lynx vs. Storm, 10 p.m. ET
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