On April 15, 2024, the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York, hosted the 2024 WNBA Draft, where many young ladies had their lifelong dreams come true as they transitioned from college athletes to professionals. The anticipation must have been overwhelming as everyone waited to hear their names called by the WNBA commissioner, Cathy Engelbert. One can only imagine how emotional that moment must have been as they prepared to walk across the stage and embark on a new chapter in their lives.
The Indiana Fever had the No. 1 pick in the draft, and they got it right. With their top pick, they chose one of the most decorated college athletes of all time, Catlin Clark from Iowa. Clark, 6-foot-1, was draped in a white Prada jacket and skirt with a sparkly cut-off top, sunglasses and black heels. In her final season at Iowa, she averaged 28.4 points per game. She is the NCAA all-time leading scorer for the men and women and was named a four-time All-America recipient, four-time First Team All-Big Ten recipient, three-time Dawn Staley Award winner, three-time Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award winner, three-time Big Ten Player of the Year, three-time Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player, two-time AP National Player of the Year, and two-time Naismith Women’s Player of the Year.
She will team up with the WNBA Rookie of the Year, Aliyah Boston, the 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick as the Fever will look to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
“Playing with Aliyah (Boston) lights up your eyes as a point guard,” Clark said on the ESPN set during the second round. “I’m ready for something new. You get to play against the best players in the world every night.”
The Fever also drafted guards Celeste Taylor from Ohio State and Leilani Correa out of Florida to round out the 2024 WNBA Draft Class.
The No. 2 and No. 4 pick went to the Los Angeles Sparks. They chose Cameron Brink from Stanford as their second pick. She wore a black-and-white cutout dress designed by Jimmy Choo x Jean Paul Gaultier. During the 23-24 season, the 6-foot-5 forward averaged 17.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and led the NCAA with 3.7 blocks per game. In her final year at Stanford, Brink capped off a stellar collegiate career by winning several awards, including the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, AP All-American, Wooden Award All-American, and the 2024 WBCA Lisa Leslie Award, which goes to the NCAA’s top center. In the Pac-12 conference, she won Player of the Year twice, in 2022 and 2024, and Defensive Player of the Year three times, from 2022 to 2024, while also winning four conference championships and the 2021 NCAA National Championship.
“I love that (the Sparks) took a chance on me, and I feel like I’m just going to show that I can work really hard and help them a lot,” said Brinks, who will be teaming up with the Sparks’ fourth overall pick Rickea Jackson, who arrived in Brooklyn, wearing a bright red pantsuit at the orange carpet, switched to a sparking silver get-up when she shook the commissioner’s hand.
Last season, Jackson played for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers and averaged 20.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Her outstanding season made her a finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award, which is awarded to the best small forward in Division I. In addition, she was chosen as a First Team All-SEC player and received AP All-America Honorable Mention recognition for both 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons after transferring from Mississippi State in 2022.
“I’m versatile and want to continue to be a better player,” Jackson said. “My family is the reason I’m here… I do everything for them and keep God No. 1. I’m excited to bring my personality here, build new relationships and I’m ready to win.
The Sparks also picked McKenzie Forbes out of the University of Southern California at number 28.
The Chicago Sky had arguably the most impressive draft of the night. They held the No. 3 and No. 7 picks, and they made wise selections for both. With the third pick, they chose Kamilla Cardoso from South Carolina, the reigning Most Outstanding Player in the women’s NCAA tournament, and their seventh pick went to Angel Reese from LSU, last year’s Most Outstanding Player in the women’s NCAA tournament.
The 6-foot-7 Cardoso, who sophisticatedly sported a power-red pantsuit, averaged 14.4 points and 9.7 rebounds last year at South Carolina. She played a crucial role in leading the Gamecocks to an undefeated record and winning the national championship. She also achieved great success throughout her college career, winning two NCAA championships in 2022 and 2024. In 2024, she was recognized as a WBCA Coaches’ All-American, WBCA Defensive Player of the Year, AP Second-Team All-American, USBWA First-Team All-American, SEC Defensive Player of the Year and First-team All-SEC.
Reese, who is 6-foot-3, flaunted a meticulously crafted backless hooded gray dress by Bronx and Banco, Simon Miller, and Christian Louboutin. She averaged 18.6 points and 13.4 rebounds during her senior season with the Tigers. She also had an illustrious colligate career. She also played a significant role in her team winning the national championship last year and reaching the Elite Eight this year. During her two seasons at LSU, Reese achieved 61 double-doubles. She had several streaks of at least 10 consecutive double-doubles. She was the first player since Vanderbilt’s Wendy Scholtens in 1989 and 1990 to lead the league in both scoring and rebounding in consecutive seasons. She was named the SEC Player of the Year and had seven games of scoring 20 points and grabbed 20 rebounds.
That’s right, Reese, the Bayou Barbie, is headed to The Wendy City and is thrilled to be teaming up with the Brazilian-born Caradoso. After previously competing against each other, they are both confident that their partnership will lead to nothing but success on the court.
“I’m just excited to get out there and play with some of the big names of women’s basketball,” said Cardoso. She then complimented Reese and made a bold prediction on how the duo will perform on the glass in the upcoming season.“She’s a great player and I’m a great player. “Nobody’s going to get no rebounds on us.”
“I’m thrilled to be playing with Kamilla,” Reese exclaimed about her former rival. “I’ve been playing against her since high school. My first time playing Kamilla was on one of the biggest stages of my life, and we battled. Now, being able to be teammates is going to be amazing.”
The first round of the WNBA draft concluded with some notable picks. Jacy Sheldon from Ohio State was selected by the Dallas Wings at No. 5. Connecticut’s Aaliyah Edwards went at No. 6 to the Washington Mystics. Utah’s Alissa Pili was picked 8th by the Minnesota Lynx. The 9th and 10th picks were both French players, Carla Leite and Leila Lacan, who were selected by the Dallas Wings and the Connecticut Sun, respectively. The New York Liberty chose Marquesha Davis from Mississippi with the 11th pick. Finally, the last pick of the first round went to the Atlanta Dream, who chose Australian player Nyadiew Puoch.
With all of the big names and hype surrounding women’s basketball, the 2024 WNBA season will be the most anticipated in history. If you’re a fan, get ready because the season kicks off next month on May 14.
2024 WNBA Draft Results
Round 1
- Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark, G, Iowa
- Los Angeles Sparks: Cameron Brink, F, Stanford
- Chicago Sky (via Phoenix Mercury): Kamilla Cardoso, C, South Carolina
- Los Angeles Sparks (via Seattle Storm): Rickea Jackson, F, Tennessee
- Dallas Wings (via Chicago Sky): Jacy Sheldon, G, Ohio State
- Washington Mystics: Aaliyah Edwards, F, UConn
- Chicago Sky (via Minnesota Lynx): Angel Reese, F, LSU
- Minnesota Lynx (via Atlanta Dream): Alissa Pili, F, Utah
- Dallas Wings: Carla Leite, G, France
- Connecticut Sun: Leïla Lacan, G, France
- New York Liberty: Marquesha Davis, G, Ole Miss
- Atlanta Dream (via Las Vegas Aces): Nyadiew Puoch, F, Australia
Round 2
- Chicago Sky (via Phoenix Mercury): Brynna Maxwell, G, Gonzaga
- Seattle Storm: Nika Mühl, G, UConn
- Indiana Fever: Celeste Taylor, G, Ohio State
- Las Vegas Aces (via Los Angeles Sparks): Dyaisha Fair, G, Syracuse
- New York Liberty (via Chicago Sky): Esmery Martinez, F, Arizona
- Las Vegas Aces (via Washington Mystics): Kate Martin, G, Iowa
- Connecticut Sun (via Minnesota Lynx): Taiyanna Jackson, C, Kansas
- Atlanta Dream: Isobel Borlase, G, Australia
- Washington Mystics (via Dallas Wings): Kaylynne Truong, G, Gonzaga
- Connecticut Sun: Helena Pueyo, G, Arizona
- New York Liberty: Jessika Carter, C, Mississippi State
- Las Vegas Aces: Elizabeth Kitley, C, Virginia Tech
Round 3
- Phoenix Mercury: Charisma Osborne, G, UCLA
- Seattle Storm: Mackenzie Holmes, F, Indiana
- Indiana Fever: Leilani Correa, G, Florida
- Los Angeles Sparks: Mackenzie Forbes, F, USC
- Phoenix Mercury (via Chicago Sky): Jaz Shelley, G, Nebraska
- Washington Mystics: Nastja Claessens, G, Belgium
- Minnesota Lynx: Kiki Jefferson, G, Louisville
- Atlanta Dream: Matilde Villa, G, Italy
- Dallas Wings: Ashley Owusu, G, Penn State
- Connecticut Sun: Abbey Hsu, G, Columbia
- New York Liberty: Kaitlyn Davis, F, USC
- Las Vegas Aces: Angel Jackson, C, Jackson State
