2024 WNBA Draft Recap & Review

First off, congratulations to all of the women who got selected in this year's WNBA Draft. This was one of the most epic draft classes of all time. Sure, there was other top-notch classes and drafts before, but this one had a little bit of everything. Excitement, goosebumps, tears, surprises, nerves, great speeches and interviews.

It shouldn't be a spoiler (or a shock) at this point that now former Iowa star Caitlin Clark was selected number one overall by the Indiana Fever. Where she now joins former South Carolina standout and reining rookie of the year, Aliyah Boston. Clark is going to a team that has held the number one pick for the past two seasons, which usually means that their season didn't go quite that well. The question now [and probably for as long a Clark plays] is can she turn that franchise around like she did making Iowa a tournament team for all four of her years there. Clark and Boston could be a very fierce duo. Sure, the jersey and ticket sales are nice, but will people also get to see a winning team while spending that money will be the question. Clark is now living out her dream she once wrote down as a little girl playing in the pros. And nevermind what her salary is going to be, she's going to be bringing all that brands that supported her in college with her, she'll be doing just fine.

Some other early picks in the draft that weren't too big of surprises either was Cameron Brink from Stanford (2nd overall to the LA Sparks) and national champion Kamilla Cardoso from South Carolina (3rd overall to the Chicago Sky). Brink has been one of the most dominate defensive forces in the NCAAA for just about all of her time at Stanford. She headed into this draft as the reigning National Defensive Player of the Year, 14th all-time in blocked shots and the Lisa Leslie Award for the nation's best center. At 6'5" the LA Sparks are getting the height and defense they need to rebuild. Speaking of height, the 6'7" Kamilla Cardoso heads to the windy city as the reigning NCAA tournament's Most Outstanding Player after snatching up 17 rebounds in the Gamecock's win over Iowa.

The one surprising draft pick was quite possibly Angel Reese from LSU (7th overall to the Chicago Sky). She joins Cardoso as possibly the new "twin tower" duo with Reese standing at 6'3". The Sky will most definitely have a very formattable frontcourt with Reese and Cardoso, and very feared as well. During the broadcast, it was mentioned that the Sky had a plan to grab Reese if she was passed on by a few teams, and apparently she fell right into their lap. While others were surprised she fell out of the top-5. Reese brings with her a national title, SEC player of the year honors and holds the NCAA mark for double-doubles in a season with 34.

These last two picks could be considered surprising, pleasantly surprising. While many argue that Nika Muhl from UConn (2nd round, 14th overall by the Seattle Storm) should have been a first-rounder. Muhl holds the all-time assist record at UConn with 686, passing Moriah Jefferson. Muhl is a hard-nosed defender that will take on any team's best player, she doesn't care if she scores as long as the team gets the W. The last "pleasantly" surprise pick was none other than "The Glue". That glue being Kate Martin from Iowa (2nd round, 18th overall by the Las Vegas Aces). In her post-draft interview she said [paraphrasing] she was there to support Caitlin [Clark], but she was hoping she'd get an opportunity, and she got one. A big one at that as she joins the defending champion Aces.

Full Draft Order :

1st Round

1. Indiana Fever- Caitlin Clark, G, Iowa

2. LA Sparks- Cameron Brink, F/C, Stanford

3. Chicago Sky- Kamilla Cardoso, C, South Carolina

4. LA Sparks- Rickea Jackson, F, Tennessee

5. Dallas Wings- Jacy Sheldon, G, Ohio State

6. Washington Mystics- Aaliyah Edwards, F, UConn

7. Chicago Sky- Angel Reese, F, LSU

8. Minnesota Lynx- Alissa Pili, F, Utah

9. Dallas Wings- Carla Leite, G, France

10. Connecticut Sun- Leila Lacan, G, France

11. New York Liberty- Marquesha Davis, G, Ole Miss

12. Atlanta Dream- Nyadiew Puoch, F/C, Australia 2nd Round:

13. Chicago Sky- Brynna Maxwell, G, Gonzaga

14. Seattle Storm- Nika Muhl, G, UConn

15. Indiana Fever- Celeste Taylor, G, Ohio State

16. Las Vegas Aces- Dyaisha Fair, G, Syracuse

17. New York Liberty- Esmery Martinez, F, Arizona

18. Las Vegas Aces- Kate Martin, G, Iowa

19. Connecticut Sun- Taiyanna Jackson, C, Kansas

20. Atlanta Dream- Isobel Borlase, G, Australia

21. Washington Mystics- Kaylynne Truong, G, Gonzaga

22. Connecticut Sun- Helena Pueyo, G, Arizona

23. New York Liberty- Jessika Carter, C, Mississippi State

24. Las Vegas Aces- Elizabeth Kitley, C, Virginia Tech 3rd Round

25. Phoenix Mercury- Charisma Osborne, G, UCLA

26. Seattle Storm- Mackenzie Holmes, F, Indiana

27. Indiana Fever- Leilani Correa, G, Florida

28. LA Sparks- McKenzie Forbes, G, USC

29. Phoenix Mercury- Jaz Shelley, G, Nebraska

30. Washington Mystics- Mastja Claessens, F, Belgium

31. Minnesota Lynx- Kiki Jefferson, G, Louisville

32. Atlanta Dream- Matilde Villa, G, Italy

33. Dallas Wings- Ashley Owusu, G, Penn State

34. Connecticut Sun- Abbey Hsu, G, Columbia

35. New York Liberty- Kaitlyn Davis, F, USC

36. Las Vegas Aces- Angel Jackson, C, Jackson State