The 2024 WNBA Draft is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN on April 15. Taking the last two NCAA Tournament ratings into consideration, it’s safe to anticipate this year’s selection to set another ratings record.
In terms of draft classes, this will be the most hyped group since 2013. That was the year headlined by three big names: Elena Delle Donne, Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins-Smith. Delle Donne and Griner have since won championships in the WNBA, while Diggins-Smith looks for her first this season with the Seattle Storm, teaming up with fellow stars Jewel Loyd and Nneka Ogwumike.
This year’s draft is so exciting due to college basketball’s two biggest stars taking their next steps: Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. In New York this past weekend leading up to the big day, Reese sat courtside at a New York Knicks game; Clark made a special guest appearance on “Saturday Night Live.”
Angel Reese at Knicks-Nets game at MSG 🔥⭐️ pic.twitter.com/0UXeDxI457
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 13, 2024
It is a foregone conclusion Clark will go Number 1 to the Indiana Fever. Reese is a more unique prospect, however. At 6-foot-3, Reese is a smaller post player in the WNBA, so an improved outside shot is needed from her — something she’s been working on.
Chris Brickley has dropped footage on IG of Angel Reese working on her jumper yesterday 🔥🏁
Check out the WNBA draft Monday night to see where she’ll be playing come May 🏀 @Reese10Angel x @Cbrickley603 pic.twitter.com/lSyITue37I
— TimeoutSPORTS__ (@TimeoutSPORTS3) April 12, 2024
Reese has been projected to be selected in either the 7th or 8th pick by the Minnesota Lynx or Chicago Sky. However, also keep a look at the Washington Mystics drafting Reese with the No. 6 pick. Reese is from the DMV area; Delle Donne, the team’s star who plays Reese’s position, is in the latter stage of her career. Reese could be a good front-court running mate with fellow DMV native Shakira Austin.
Some other top prospects to look out for are Rickea Jackson from Tennessee and Kamilla Cardoso from South Carolina. Jackson could get drafted as high as the second overall pick to Los Angeles. At worst, Jackson should be selected with the third overall pick by the rebuilding Chicago Sky.
Stanford center Cameron Brink — who’s also the goddaughter of Dell Curry — is also a lock to be a top-three draft pick this year, and will either go to the Sparks or Sky. This brings us to Cardoso, the 6-foot-7 national champion who should be a lock as a top-five draft pick this year to the Dallas Wings at five or the Sparks at No. 4. Aaliyah Edwards, the Canadian forward from UConn, should also be drafted in the top five picks, and should also get selected as pick four or five.
The Atlanta Dream traded back in this year’s draft. That means instead of picking at their original No. 8 pick, the Dream will be selecting with the 12th pick, which is also the final selection of the first round. In return, the Dream received former Sparks’ point guard Jordin Canada.
Syracuse guard Dyaisha Fair, one of college basketball’s greatest scorers ever in a career overshadowed by Clark, is also in this year’s draft.
The 2024 WNBA Draftees headed to the @EmpireStateBldg ahead of their big night 🙌 #WNBADraft
Tune in to ESPN at 7:30pm/ET to see where they land! pic.twitter.com/CfjWNx78GH
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 15, 2024
