The draft lottery was created in large part to combat tanking when generational talents were coming out of college and turning professional. Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark is one of those once-in-a-generation players, but she’s not the only big name in our 2024 WNBA mock draft.
Clark headlines a class of 2024 WNBA Draft prospects that is very strong at the top. While only one team will land Clark, plenty of other WNBA clubs can find impact players in this year’s incoming crop of players.
Related: Caitlin Clark salary, WNBA contract details
Let’s dive into our WNBA mock draft 2024 with Round 1 projections.
1. Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark, PG, Iowa Hawkeyes
Caitlin Clark is one of the most decorated college basketball players ever. The 22-year-old finished her career with the Iowa Hawkeyes as a two-time AP Player of the Year and a three-time unanimous first-team All-American selection. On the court, the 6-foot point guard provides shooting range and confidence from deep that is really only seen in the NBA. However, she is also a very adept passer (8.9 APG this season). Paired with last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Aliyah Boston, the Indiana Fever now has a star duo that can dominate.
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2. Los Angeles Sparks: Cameron Brink, PF, Stanford Cardinal
Stanford Cardinal star Cameron Brink certainly isn’t as well-known as Clark to the average basketball fan across the country. However, the 6-foot-4 big is a national champion (2021) and her resume boasts a lot more accolades than just that. The 22-year-old won Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in three consecutive seasons and earned the conference’s Player of the Year honors twice (2022 and 2024). This past season, she set career-highs in scoring (17.8 PPG) and rebounding (12 RPG), while blocking 3.5 shots per contest for the second consecutive year. With Nneka Ogwumike now signed with Seattle, Brink is the perfect replacement at center for the retooling Los Angeles Sparks.
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3. Chicago Sky: Kamilla Cardoso, C, South Caroline Gamecocks
Kamilia Cardoso grabbed the nation’s attention during the NCAA Tournament and there’s a strong argument that the South Carolina Gamecocks don’t win the national championship without here. In that title game against Caitlin Clark’s Hawkeyes, Carodoso snagged a game-high 17 rebounds including 7 offensive boards. Standing at 6-foot-7, Cardoso is a force to be reckoned with in the paint. She’d provide the Chicago Sky with an outstanding building block in their rebuild, too.
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4. Los Angeles Sparks (via SEA): Rickea Jackson, F, Tennessee Volunteers
The 2024 WNBA Draft class took a bit of a hit when UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers announced she’s returning to school next season. Still, the Los Angeles Sparks come out of the first four picks with a dynamic tandem of Cameron Brink and forward Rickea Jackson to build around. Jackson averaged over 19 points per game for the third consecutive year and she set a career-high in rebounding (8 RPG). Heading into her age-24 season, she’d be a nice complement on the court to Jackson in what would quickly become an outstanding defensive pairing.
5. Dallas Wings (via Chicago): Aaliyah Edwards, PF/C, UConn Huskies
The run on bigs continues in our 2024 WNBA mock draft. Aaliyah Edwards, heading into her age-22 season has shined this year for UConn, averaging 17.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Edwards has demonstrated that she can play a variety of roles, which is something that a contender like the Dallas Wings would like to have from a rookie. Plus, with the amount of size coming into the WNBA, it’s a good thing to start loading up.
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6. Washington Mystics: Isobel Borlase, PG, Australia
Sometimes you have to be willing to take a roll of the dice. Ohio State’s Jacy Sheldon and Syracuse’s Dyaiasha Fair could be considered options here, but we’re thinking of upside in our WNBA mock draft 2024. Only 19 years old, Australian point guard Isobel Borlase averaged 15.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game this season for the Adelaide Lightning of the WNBL. The ceiling is extremely high and for a Washington Mystics team in need of a long-term solution at point guard, Borlase is worth the gamble here.
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7. Chicago Sky (via Minnesota): Angel Reese, PF, LSU Tigers
The Chicago Sky swung a trade up hours before the 2024 WNBA Draft for a reason. Maybe it’s not to land LSU Tigers star Angel Reese, but the 6-foot-3 forward feels like an ideal fit for the team. Reese is certainly undersized and her offensive repertoire is lacking, but she will absolutely provide the defense and rebounding that Chicago lacks. Plus, with Kamilla Cardoso providing the Sky with the interior size they need inside, this fit can work even better.
8. Minnesota Lynx (via Chicago): Nyadiew Puoch, PF, Australia
With Angele Reese off the board after trading down, the Minnesota Lynx take a chance on another top talent out of Australia. Nyadiew Pouch, at 6-foot-3, brings outstanding defense which is made even better thanks to her excellent length and athleticism. As for her rebounding, per The her Hoop Stats Newsletter, Puoch almost tripled her rebounding rate this season. Reese should be the pick if she is available to Minnesota, otherwise, betting on a player with Puoch’s upside is worth it.
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9. Dallas Wings: Jacy Sheldon, PG, Ohio State Buckeyes
The slide for Jacy Sheldon finally comes to an end in our WNBA mock draft 2024. Sheldon, an Ohio native, averaged 18 points and 2.1 steals per game, hitting 38 percent from the perimeter. She provides a fantastic motor with the basketball IQ, instincts and defensive prowess to make an immediate impact for the Dallas Wings.
10. Connecticut Sun: Alissa Pili. PF, Utah Utes
Last season, the Connecticut Sun attempted the fourth-fewest three-pointers (20.0) in the WNBA, but they still managed to finish with the third-best record. If the Sun want to take that next step forward, they need more shooting. Not only does Alaskan native Alissa Pili offer some size (6-foot-2), but she’s shot over 40 percent from the perimeter in the last two seasons and has averaged 1.6 three-pointers made per game this past year.
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11. New York Liberty: Nika Muhl, PG, UConn Huskies
In the rare instances when Caitlin Clark struggled during the NCAA Tournament, she was being guarded by UConn’s Nika Muhl. The Huskies’ 5-foot-10 point guard was outstanding on the defensive end, showing lockdown ability against one of the best women’s basketball players in NCAA history. It’s also worth highlighting that when Paige Bueckers was sidelined during the 2022-’23 season, Muhl averaged 8 assists per game. She could be a sneaky-good addition for the New York Liberty.
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12. Atlanta Dream (via Las Vegas): Jessika Carter, C, Mississippi State Bulldogs
In our first WNBA mock draft 2024, Elizabeth Kitley was the choice for the Atlanta Dream. Unfortunately, she suffered an ACL tear that will push her into the second round. Instead, Atlanta finds another source of rebounding and size. Carter averaged nearly 10 rebounds per game with 1.7 blocks per contest in her senior season, all while shooting over 50 percent for the fourth consecutive year. She’s the type of depth Atlanta needs at center.
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