The WNBA draft is simply across the nook — April 15 in New York — and we now have the solutions on which key gamers will probably be out there. This senior class in ladies’s school basketball is the final to have the choice of returning for a fifth 12 months in school through the NCAA’s COVID-19 waiver from the 2020-21 season.
A lot of the gamers we have now been projecting for the primary spherical of the 2024 draft are opting to go professional, together with the lock-solid No. 1 choose, guard Caitlin Clark of Iowa, who introduced her determination Feb. 29. This week, South Carolina middle Kamilla Cardoso and LSU ahead Angel Reese additionally declared they’re headed to the draft.
One exception: Guard Georgia Amoore, a projected first-round choose who was at Virginia Tech however is now within the switch portal for what will probably be her fifth collegiate season.
However there are additionally a number of fifth-year seniors who’ve exhausted their eligibility and now hope to proceed their careers within the WNBA. The league stays at 12 groups; the Bay Space franchise begins play in 2025. Making a WNBA roster is a giant problem: The utmost roster dimension is 12, however many groups carry simply 11 gamers for wage cap causes, so there are usually fewer than 144 roster spots.
So there isn’t any assure even first-round picks will make a roster in 2024. That mentioned, as is often the case for the WNBA draft, the primary 5 picks appear comparatively stable, though the order after No. 1 may go other ways.
Iowa | PG | 6-foot-0 | senior
The Fever have been by robust instances the previous a number of years however now have some of the coveted draft picks in WNBA historical past. Clark is ending her Iowa profession within the Closing 4 and can convey a whole lot of consideration to Indiana. It isn’t simply that she is the very best participant within the draft, she’s additionally the very best on the place — level guard — that can most assist the Fever. Clark will be part of younger put up gamers Aliyah Boston (No. 1 in 2023) and NaLyssa Smith (No. 2 in 2022) in Indiana. It should be enjoyable once more to be a Fever fan.
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Stanford | PF | 6-foot-4 | senior
The Sparks will get two superb gamers as a result of they traded to even have the No. 4 choose. However which two? Brink appears the possible choice right here, though it additionally could possibly be both of the gamers we have now at Nos. 3 and 4. Brink is flexible offensively and tough-nosed defensively, main Division I in blocked pictures per recreation (3.74). Did she ever fairly get the grasp of taking part in in foul bother? Not as a lot as Stanford would have preferred; it remained an issue all through her school profession. Nevertheless, Brink will get six fouls within the WNBA, which ought to assist.
Tennessee | SF | 6-foot-2 | senior
It isn’t out of the query Jackson may go at No. 2. But when she goes third, she could possibly be an necessary piece of the Sky’s rebuilding course of. New coach Teresa Weatherspoon has a whole lot of work forward in attempting to reestablish Chicago as a aggressive group. Jackson, who spent her final two collegiate seasons as Tennessee’s high participant, ought to broaden her recreation much more as a scorer within the WNBA. Lengthy, fast and powerful wing-type gamers who can guard a number of positions are very invaluable within the league, and Jackson can fill that function.
South Carolina | C | 6-foot-7 | senior
There simply aren’t that many gamers in ladies’s basketball with the scale, energy and agility of the 6-7 Cardoso. Which is why she additionally may go second or third. South Carolina coach Daybreak Staley mentioned through the Albany 1 Regional she hopes to see what she calls “Killa Kamilla” on the Closing 4: Cardoso targeted and decisive, taking advantage of her bodily benefits. The Sparks may see Cardoso and Brink as a powerful 1-2 punch inside.
UConn | PF | 6-foot-3 | senior
The Wings in all probability may use one other 3-point shooter, but when Edwards remains to be out there, it is exhausting to think about they’d go by her. Edwards, who helped UConn make it again to the Closing 4, is essentially sound — a UConn participant trait — and appears bodily nicely fitted to the professional recreation.
Ohio State | SG | 5-foot-10 | senior
In her fifth school season, Sheldon led Ohio State to the Huge Ten regular-season championship. The postseason was a disappointment for the Buckeyes, who had been knocked out of the NCAA match within the second spherical, however now Sheldon will transfer on. She initiatives as one of many high defensive guards within the draft. It is a rebuilding interval for the Mystics, so robust management qualities, which Sheldon has, are sought by Washington.
LSU | PF | 6-foot-3 | senior
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With the personnel they have already got, the Lynx appear prone to search for the very best participant out there with this choose. The large query: Will they assume that participant is Reese? Rebounding is her high energy; she’s distinctive there. The priority is whether or not her offensive abilities can develop to the purpose the place opposing groups assume they’ve to protect intently even when she is just not within the paint. If the Lynx imagine they can assist her broaden her recreation with the expertise she has, they may go along with Reese.
8. Chicago Sky: Isobel Borlase
Australia | PG | 5-foot-11
She is simply 19, so she has a whole lot of time to develop her recreation. However Borlase has already performed professionally in her residence nation — she was with the Adelaide Lightning within the WNBL this season — and comes from a really athletic household background. Borlase has good dimension and abilities, and a aggressive persona. She may study loads working with a former level guard the caliber of Weatherspoon in Chicago.
Utah | SF | 6-foot-2 | senior
Pili has proven dazzling offensive ability in school, however it’s unsure how that can translate within the professional recreation. Her 3-point taking pictures potential — making 57 this season and 121 in her school profession — may assist Dallas. However will she be ok on offense to get courtroom time to enhance defensively? Wings coach Latricia Trammell is thought for growing gamers and educating protection. So it is determined by whether or not the Wings see a spot for Pili and imagine she will be able to actually get higher.
Syracuse | PG | 5-foot-5 | senior
The Solar would love a participant like Ohio State’s Sheldon, however she’s not anticipated to nonetheless be out there. So they may as an alternative go along with Honest, who completed her five-season school profession with 3,403 factors (22.2 factors per recreation). She could be very fast, decided and used to being underestimated due to her small stature. However somebody who has put the ball within the basket this a lot could possibly be price a search for the Solar.
UCLA | SG | 5-foot-9 | senior
Osborne is one other fifth-year participant, and he or she may have the ability to contribute on the defensive finish, which is what the Liberty want. That was evident in how troublesome it was for New York to decelerate Las Vegas’ guards within the WNBA Finals final 12 months. Osborne completed her profession averaging 14.9 factors and three.1 assists, however New York would not essentially require a whole lot of offense from her.
Australia | PF | 6-foot-3
The Dream could possibly be seeking to put money into a younger participant with a doubtlessly excessive ceiling, such because the 19-year-old Puoch. She performs for the Southside Flyers, who gained the WNBL championship this season, in her native Australia. She won’t be prepared for the WNBA this 12 months, however maybe this will probably be a “draft-and-stash” scenario wherein she joins Atlanta in 2025.