WNBA 2024 Mock Draft: Where will Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso and other big name prospects be selected?

Caitlin Clark’s selection may be all but assured but find out where the rest of this season’s talented class will land to start their WNBA careers

Following the completion of one of the most exciting NCAA Women’s tournaments in history that was capped off by the South Carolina Gamecocks securing a victory in the National Championship, all attention has now turned to the WNBA Draft.

1Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark, G, Iowa

As we previously mentioned, Clark ending up in Indiana is currently the most well-known secret in basketball.

Clark’s production over the last several years has been unmatched, leading to her setting multiple scoring records during her time with the Hawkeyes.

She finished her career at Iowa with 3,951 points, 1,144 assists, and 990 rebounds, leading Iowa to two NCAA championship game appearances. Clark also became only the 10th woman named Naismith Player of the Year multiple times after winning the award for the second time in a row this year.

Anticipation of her selection has already resulted in a historic 36 of the Fever’s 40 regular season games being slated for national TV.

2Los Angeles Sparks: Cameron Brink, F, Stanford

Brink’s talents on both ends of the floor make her the perfect replacement for longtime star Nneka Ogwumike in Los Angeles.

Despite Stanford being eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in the Sweet 16, Brink could still put her full talents on display after recording 32 rebounds and 18 blocks in 71 minutes. She also fouled out in both games and further proved that avoiding foul problems may be her biggest weakness as she transitions to the next level.

Brink was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, nonetheless, and should quickly identify herself as one of the Sparks’ best defenders for years to come.

3Chicago Sky (via Phoenix): Rickea Jackson, F, Tennessee

Jackson established herself as one of the most gifted scorers and shot-creators in this year’s class after averaging 20.2 points and 8.2 rebounds in the supercompetitive SEC this season.

She made a career-high 22 3-pointers this season and averaged 29.5 points and 9.5 rebounds on 63.9 percent shooting during the Volunteers short-lived run in this year’s NCAA Tournament.

Jackson has the pro-ready size and athleticism to make an immediate impact in the league, plus her continued improvement on offense shows she can easily be a foundational piece of the Sky’s ongoing rebuild.

4Los Angeles Sparks (via Seattle): Kamilla Cardoso, C, South Carolina

Why add one elite defender to the frontcourt when you can add two right? Cardoso turned in an amazing run of performances for the Championship-winning Gamecocks and was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

Standing at a massive 6-foot-7, Cardoso’s athleticism allows her to not only be a dominant force defending the rim and rebounding, but she also displayed an ability to be an offensive force when she gets the ball near the basket.

If Cardoso improves her game as a post-scorer, she can become one of the league’s dominant bigs and form one of the most dangerous frontcourts in the WNBA, next to Brink.

5 Dallas Wings (via Chicago): Jacy Sheldon, G, Ohio State

Sheldon is considered to be the best guard in the draft and makes all the sense in the world due to the amount of depth in the Wings’ frontcourt.

Along with averaging 17.8 PPG this season, she also brings hard-nosed defense and bundles of energy to the court that would be a much-needed addition to the backcourt in Dallas.

Although Sheldon is not a pure lead-guard, her abilities give her the chance to shine as a solid-shooting two-way guard next to Arike Ogunbowale.

6Washington Mystics: Aaliyah Edwards – F, UConn

Edward has one of the highest floors in the draft and used the season to showcase her talents as a versatile, efficient, athletic, and hard worker.

She excels at playing within herself and not finding herself in situations outside of her comfort zone, which tends to be within 15 feet of the basket.

The Mystics are not expected to be serious contenders this season, and that may allow Edwards a chance to focus on expanding her shooting and defending range during her rookie year as Washington focuses on what is expected to be a multi-year rebuild.

In the meantime, it should not take Edwards long to excel as a post player and quickly find her niche in the league.

7Minnesota Lynx: Angel Reese – C, LSU

Reese is unquestionably the most recognizable prospect in this year’s draft outside of Clark; however, her one-dimensional game knocks her down the draft board just a bit.

Her strengths and weaknesses have been on full display over the last two years during LSU’s 2022/23 National Championship winning season and run to the Elite Eight this year.

Reese also displayed her toughness during the team’s losing effort against Iowa when she recorded 17 points, 20 rebounds, and 4 assists in her final college game despite suffering an ankle injury early on during the game.

Minnesota were one of the worst rebounding teams in the league in 2023, and although there are question marks over how Reese’s offensive game will translate to the next level, her strengths are far too much for the Lynx to pass up on and fill a major need with this pick.

8Chicago Sky: Nyadiew Puoch – F, Australia

Although the Sky already added talent to the frontcourt with their pick earlier in the first round, Chicago needs a lot of help, plain and simple.

Not only do the Sky owe the Wings a 2025 first-round pick swap, but they only have one player under contract beyond this season and many holes that need filling.

What better time to take a gamble on a player who appears to be a long-term project with loads of potential.

Puoch has already showcased the ability to be an elite defender while playing against WNBA-caliber athletes in the WNBL.

She will need to refine her jump shot and improve her decision-making on offense to become a true star in the WNBA, but the Sky has more than enough time to let her develop.

Chicago recently joined Jeff Pagliocca in large part due to his track record for developing players, and what a better player to let him work his magic on than Puoch.

9 Dallas Wings: Isobel Borlase – G, Australia

It’s back-to-back picks from Australia from back-to-back teams with multiple selections in the top 10.

Even with the earlier selection of Jacy Sheldon, the Wing’s salary cap situation makes the chance to draft and stash Borlase perhaps their most appealing option if they don’t trade one of their picks.

The 19-year-old is coming off another strong season in the WNBL, and another year of continuing her development in Australia before moving to the WNBA could be the best thing for Dallas’ present and future.

10Connecticut Sun: Alissa Pili – F, Utah

Connecticut are in severe need of additional shooting from 3-point range, which should make Pili an easy selection here.

The Sun finished the season ninth in the league in 3-point attempts per game last year but lost three of the five players who attempted at least two per game.

Not only is Pili perhaps the best player available at this point in the draft, but she is unquestionably the best shooting threat still on the board.

Last season, Pili averaged 21.4 PPG and shot 40.4 percent from 3-point range while showcasing the ability to score from anywhere on the court.

The biggest question mark about her game remains her ability to defend as an undersized forward at the next level, but she will be far from the only rookie who will have to improve her ability and effort on that end of the floor in order to be successful.

11New York Liberty: Nika Muhl – G, UConn

After careful consideration between her and Charisma Osborne, Muhl’s outstanding performances on defense throughout the later rounds of the NCAA tournament were just enough to earn her a spot in New York.

The Liberty are in need of defensive help in their backcourt, and Muhl showcased the ability to disrupt both Caitlin Clark and JuJu Watkins, proving she can handle the toughest defensive assignments imaginable.

She possesses the ability to be a threat as a spot-up shooter and pick out excellent passes on a regular bias.

During the season, Muhl shot 2.6 percent on catch-and-shoot jumpers, and UConn was 15.2 points per 100 possessions better offensively when she was on the court.

12Atlanta Dream (via Las Vegas, Los Angeles): Charisma Osborne

Osborne’s full body of work during her college career is more than deserving of a first-round selection, even if it comes with the final pick of the round.

Her abilities as a gifted playmaker and superb athleticism seem to perfectly fit the type of team Atlanta appears to be building.

Osborne will need to improve her shooting skills moving forward if she wishes to carve out a career as a pure point guard, but her ability to consistently defend the toughest assignments on the perimeter and top-tier athletic ability will ultimately become her calling cards as she transitions to the WNBA.