2024 WNBA Mock Draft

Ahead of the 2024 WNBA Draft on Monday, April 15th, I decided to create a mock draft for it!  In the past, I have not created mock drafts for the WNBA Draft for two reasons:  it occurs so soon after the tournament that it is tougher to be ready with it, and there haven’t been a ton of mock drafts out for the WNBA draft, especially ones that go past the first round (as I’ll discuss in a bit, this is necessary for my drafts).  This year, I had the time to create one, and there were several mock drafts released, making it a no-brainer for me to create one in a draft that I find fascinating beyond the story lines of the top pick.  While Caitlin Clark is the no brainer first pick and Cameron Brink is a clear second pick, I think the top-4 picks have a good chance of being All-Stars, there are several players who will be quality starters/role players, there are multiple players who I think will need to change their style if they want to succeed (even ones I think will be first round picks), there is a player invited to the draft who could be rapidly falling due to injury to the point that it’s not a lock that she’s drafted, and there are several international players who have very high ceilings but low floors, making them risky selections.  It is a draft that could have storylines that go into the third and final round.

Like my NBA mock drafts, this draft is an aggregate based on several mock drafts and is not based on any intel.  While need is also considered in the first round, there were very few situations where I needed to stray from the rankings of where I have players drafted.  In the first round, I included player info, a comparison, an evaluation of their game, and the fit of each team I have drafting them.  I did not include as much information for the second and third rounds since most players drafted in these rounds don’t find a consistent role in the league; in the second round, I included player info and a brief description of their game, and in the third round, I only included player info.  The comparisons used is not a reflection of what their career will look like, but rather a comparison for how they play and how I think they will fit in the WNBA.  The draft order is updated as of the Minnesota and Chicago trade that happened on the 14^th; any future trades will not be included in this post.  (I) indicates that they have been invited to the Draft

 

1:  Indiana Fever:  Caitlin Clark (I)

6’0, PG, Iowa, Senior

Style Comp:  Kelsey Plum with some more passing flair

Clark was considered the top player in this draft all season, so there are no surprises here.  While most people reading this probably have a general understanding of who she is and what her game is like, I think it is important to discuss how it will likely translate to the WNBA.  She is an elite shooter and scorer and is especially adept off picks, which will help her in the W when pairing with bigs and forwards (she’ll be paired with a talented one immediately).  She also doesn’t get enough credit for her playmaking, athleticism, and IQ, all of which are amazing.  While she might have initial struggles playing with other stars, I think her playing style and competitiveness will allow for an easy transition in that regard.  The only thing I am concerned about for her is her defense; I think she projects to be a horrible defender initially and will likely be targeted on most plays on defense.  While I think she can develop into an okay defender, I think that’ll take at least 2 years.

I think she will fit very well in Indiana since the fit with reigning Rookie of the Year Aaliyah Boston will be amazing given each of their success in the pick and roll.  I also think that she will fit with Kelsey Mitchell, which will give Clark, Boston, and Mitchell an excellent big-3.  I also think that she will help many of their role players improve; I also believe that NaLyssa Smith’s efficiency will improve by pairing with another player who will get attention, especially one who is also a great passer.

 

2:  Los Angeles Sparks:  Cameron Brink (I)

6’4, PF/C, Stanford, Senior

Style Comp:  Early career Britney Griner

Brink is a talented player who could make an impact immediately on both ends.  She is the best shot blocker in this class and could be elite at that in the league due to her ability to come outside the paint a bit.  She is also a good finisher, solid passer from the post, and has upside as a shooter (though she struggled from 3 in college).  She has star potential, but in my opinion, there is one massive thing that could hold her back:  her fouling.  I can’t even think of a good comparison with her fouling at the WNBA level; the best I can think of with how easily she gets herself into foul trouble is if you tell Pat Beverly that it’s the playoffs.  When she does foul, she often gets frustrated and won’t adjust to the way the game is being called, which I think is what she needs to do.  She is also a great athlete, so I still think she can be a great player in the W.

Now that Nneka Ogwumike has left for Seattle after the last few seasons of trying to win was a trainwreck, L.A. is in rebuilding mode.  So they should take the best player available.  While I question the floor of Brink compared to Rickea Jackson, she has the highest ceiling out of anybody remaining in this draft.  This feels like the right choice to select.

 

3:  Chicago Sky (from Phoenix):  Rickea Jackson (I)

6’2, SF, Tennessee, Redshirt Senior

Style Comp:  Kahleah Copper

I’m a lot higher on Jackson than I think most people are.  She is a natural scorer who is more efficient than most high-volume scorers.  She is also an underrated athlete with a higher IQ than people realize.  I think there is an upside on defense, though I think that it might take a couple seasons for her to develop on that end.  I think there will also be some growing pains to see just how she fits in with a winning team; while she often had a lot of freedom offensively, there are a lot of players who got to the W and have been more focused on their scoring.  I don’t think that will happen with Jackson, but if it does, she’ll excel as a high-volume 6^th woman type player.

Now that Chicago traded Copper (ironically the player I compared Jackson to here), they should start to rebuild.  In my opinion, Jackson has easily the highest floor out of all the players remaining and also has one of the highest floors (in my opinion, I think she has the second highest floor in this class behind Clark).  At worst, they’ll get a dominant bench scorer; at best, they have a franchise pillar who cannot be stopped.

 

4:  Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle):  Kamila Cardoso (I)

6’7, C, South Carolina, Senior

Style Comp:  Brionna Jones

Cardoso could end up going third to Chicago after their South Carolina’s tournament run, but I don’t expect she’ll fall further than 4^th.  She is a really skilled paint player on both ends who can dominate a game or be willing to be a complimentary piece when absolutely needed.  I gave the comparison to Jones since I think that is how her game will be utilized, especially since Jones was a late bloomer in college.  I think she will have her difficulties on both ends outside of the paint, which could limit her in late playoff runs (kind of like what happened to Jones during the WNBA Finals in 2022), but I think she projects to be such a valuable player during the regular season (and a potential All-Star) that I think it is a no-brainer to draft her here without worrying about playoff implications.

Even though I have the Sparks drafting Brink previously, L.A. just needs to get the best talent available.  Brink has operated with another paint presence in college, so I think her and Cardoso’s skillset will be able to complement each other.

 

5:  Dallas Wings (from Chicago):  Aaliyah Edwards (I)

6’3, PF, UConn, Senior

Style Comp:  Elizabeth Williams

I think Edwards is the most WNBA ready out of everyone else remaining due to her defensive ability and versatility, finishing ability, and rebounding ability.  I think she would be able to contribute immediately since I believe she also has among the highest basketball IQs in this class (if not the highest).  While I don’t expect her to be a great shooter or a star, I think she will be a key starter pretty soon into her career if she’s given the opportunity with the team she’s on; if not, she’ll be able to provide a higher level of play off the bench than most younger bigs would be able to.

Dallas already has a few bigs already so the path to playing time isn’t clear (which is why a lot of people think they could go with Jacy Sheldon instead), but Dallas has had injury issues, especially with their bigs/forwards.  If one of them goes down, Edwards should be able to slide in and fit with this team.  I also think the idea of a pick-and-roll with Arike Ogunbowale would be very interesting.

 

6:  Washington Mystics:  Jacy Sheldon (I)

5’10, SG, Ohio State, Redshirt Senior

Style Comp:  Kayla McBride

Even while I have some concerns about how Sheldon will translate in the W, there is no denying that she is one talented player.  She has a smooth jumper, a nice ball handler, and was a good finisher for a guard in college.  While she probably won’t be the lead guard in the W, she is skilled enough to bring the ball up and run an offense as needed.  While she’s not a bad defender, I think it will take a year or two to adjust to pro defenses; even there, I don’t expect her to be more than a slightly above average defender.  The bigger thing that I’m worried about is her finishing ability; I question how she will finish against WNBA bigs, which will cause her to totally change her offensive game.  While I think she’s capable of doing it, it’s worth noting that the style a player has played their entire life is not the easiest thing to abandon.  That said, I hope I’m wrong about her finishing; she’s really fun to watch.

After a couple seasons of being a really intriguing team, Elena Delle Donne is taking a break from the WNBA, which started a rapid spiral towards a clear rebuild.  Sheldon is talented enough that it’s worth giving her the keys to see how she develops.  On the plus side, they still have Brittney Sykes on the team, who can take the ball out of Sheldon’s hands as needed, which will prevent Sheldon from facing too much of a burden early on.

 

7:  Chicago Sky (from Minnesota):  Angel Reese (I)

6’3, PF, LSU, Senior

Style Comp:  Teaira McCowan

Reese appears to be the most polarizing in this draft, but after she played really well in the tournament, she appears to be looking like a mid-first round pick.  I think her best skill is easily her defense; while she has such a high basketball IQ on both ends, she utilizes it so well on defense so she almost never gets beat.  She is also an awesome rebounder.  A lot of people have cited work ethic and off-court concerns as a reason to not draft her, but I think all of these are way overstated; she plays really hard on both ends throughout and appears to be dedicated to her craft, and she has no legal issues that I know of (that’s the only time I’m worried about off-court issues, since they’re college kids and immaturity in certain situations is natural for that age).  The concerns I have for her are around her offense; she is not a good shooter (though she is a solid free throw shooter, so there’s hope for improvement) and is an inconsistent finisher.  I still think at worst she will be a great defensive player in the W, which is a great pick at this point; at best, she improves offensively and develops into a great player in the league.

I’m probably in the minority on this one, but I think Reese would be able to immediately help any team due to her defense.  It’s possible that Chicago drafts Cardosa instead of Jackson (who I have them drafting), so the fit might be a little iffier in that case (if that happens, I could see them drafting Alissa Pili or even Charisma Osborne).  That said, in a rebuild, you draft the best player available.  If Reese is able to improve her offense, she has the highest upside out of the remaining players who also have solid floors (some of the international players are interesting in that regard, though they all have pretty low floors).  At worst, Reese will be a high level defender, which is nice to have even when starting a rebuild.

 

8:  Minnesota Lynx (from Atlanta):  Alissa Pili (I)

6’2, SF, Utah, Redshirt Senior

Style Comp:  Chicago version of Stephanie Dolson

Pili was an elite offensive force in college because she was able to score at a high rate from anywhere.  She was one of the most efficient players in college due to her ability to finish and shoot at a high rate.  While she was solid defensively in college, I don’t think she’s the best athlete in a professional standard, which I think will limit her defensively.  She was a good rebounder in college, but I could see her having a little more difficulty against the size and athleticism in the W.  I think the best route for her to be successful is to take on the role of Dolson in her prime, who was a great shooter and elite finisher who totally messed up opposing defenses due to her shooting ability (though it’s worth noting that Dolson is 3 inches taller).  I don’t think this transition would be an issue with her.

While I don’t expect Pili will be an All-Star at any point, her shooting ability will make her fit with a team that is competing or rebuilding.  In this case, she ends up with Minnesota, who is in dire need of shooting.  Despite making the playoffs, they were the second worst team in 3P% (32.5) while being in the middle of the pack in attempts (7^th).  Pili alone will be able to help out with that with her shooting.  On top of that, she is also a skilled finisher and can score from anywhere; I think being able to shoot will allow her to finish more at the rim if she is able to beat defenders.

 

9:  Dallas Wings:  Nyadiew Puoch (I)

6’3, PF, Australia (19)

Style Comp:  NaLyssa Smith

Right now, Puoch’s appeal is more on upside than her floor.  She is a terrific athlete who has shown glimpses with her defending and passing, as well as some hints of being able to finish in contact.  If she hits her ceiling (which I think is pretty high), she could end up being a multi-skilled player on both ends of the court and be one of the better players on a playoff team.  That said, I think a lot of work will need to be done to reach that point; she is incredibly raw and makes a lot of mistakes that are natural for players that age, which she can grow out of as she develops more.  The bigger concerns for me is her current scoring ability.  I’m not as optimistic about her shooting potential as some others are, but I’m more concerned for the short term that she is a poor finisher; this could limit her playing time early and stunt her development.  That said, if a team is patient and has the resources to give it a try, the payoff could be huge.

Dallas really doesn’t need a second rookie, especially since none of the players remaining are likely to be immediate contributors.  In that case, it makes sense to draft Puoch; if she doesn’t opt to sign immediately, they have a draft-and-stash player who could be valuable if she does come over.  At absolute worst, she doesn’t come over to the W anytime soon, and the rights become a valuable trade piece.

 

10:  Connecticut Sun:  Charisma Osborne (I)

5’9, SG, UCLA, Redshirt Senior

Style Comp:  Natasha Cloud

Osborne is the best defensive guard in this draft, though I think there are questions about her offense.  She has had success as an irritant, though she is such a smart player that she doesn’t solely rely on being a pest.  While she will be limited to guarding guards in the W, I think she will do well with it.  If she doesn’t make it in the league, it will be due to her offense; while a great free throw shooter, she is a poor finisher and shooter (though the shot has potential).  I think the easiest path to success is to look at how Cloud has been a great starter due to having a bad jump shot.  That said, Osborne is not the point guard and playmaker that Cloud is (Cloud is an excellent playmaker who doesn’t get the credit she deserves for that); if Osborne is to have success in the W, I think she needs to improve greatly as a playmaker, where she’s good with a lot of room to grow.

Ideally, Connecticut would hope to draft either a big or a sharpshooter (their dream would likely be Pili falling to them), which makes Osborne a strange selection.  That said, I think the fit will be great defensively, where they have really made their mark over the last few years.  I think it’ll be clunky at times offensively since they already have a few poor shooters, but I think they could use another playmaker when Alyssa Thomas is off the court, which will help Osborne improve on that end.

 

11:  New York Liberty:  Isobel Borlase

5’11, PG, Australia (19)

Style Comp:  Jordin Canada

Borlase is another international prospect whose appeal lies in her potential.  She is an amazing athlete with great size who I think will be a very good defender; I could see her being able to switch onto wings and smaller forwards for stints.  She has shown potential as a playmaker and shooter (though it is worth noting that her jumper right now is not consistent).  I think the biggest thing holding her back right now is her decision making; she turns the ball over a lot now, which I think will cut down as she gets more experience.  She also hasn’t been a good finisher, but I think that more experience will allow her to improve at that.  At this point, the upside has got to be too appealing to let her fall any further.

Let’s face it, a rookie chosen 11^th in the draft is not going to help New York immediately.  At that point, might as well draft someone with high upside and have them play internationally for a bit (Borlase has indicated that she might play in Australia for at least another year to develop prior to coming over to the W).  At that point, it doesn’t matter what position they play; when drafting for upside, you draft the best player and figure it out later (at worst, she will have trade value).

 

12:  Atlanta Dream (from Las Vegas):  Leila Lacan

5’11, PG, France (19)

Style Comp:  Something between Layshia Clarendon and last season’s Courtney Williams

In my opinion, Lacan has the highest floor out of the international prospects in this draft.  While she is a bit raw, she is a great playmaker for her age, and should continue to grow at that.  She also is a solid defender already; I don’t think she’ll be an elite defender since she’s not an amazing athlete by WNBA standards and has shown some issues defending on ball (she tends to go more for steals, which has gotten her into trouble at times), but I think she’ll be at least a good one in the W.  While her jumper has been streaky so far, I think there is upside with it, especially since she doesn’t appear to be consistently hesitant to shoot it.  The biggest issue with her is finishing; she is bad at finishing in the paint, and I think that is something that could continue in the W.  I could see Lacan falling a bit since she plays in France, which is one of the tougher to navigate with players who want to play internationally; I would argue this would make Lacan less likely to come over to the W for a few seasons (though that might not be the worst thing with her development).

Atlanta has a lot of talented players, and it will be tough to find playing time for everyone, especially with multiple who are younger.  As such, it makes sense to select a draft-and-stash type player.  In general, I would say that it is wise to select someone who has good size, has playmaking ability, and has shooting potential, which Lacan fulfills each of.

 

13:  Chicago Sky (from Phoenix):  Nika Mühl (I)

5’10, PG, UConn, Senior

Muhl is a great playmaker and defender who could be a nice complementary piece, especially off the bench.  That said, while she is a good shooter, she is very unwilling to score, and needs to be more aggressive if she wants to remain in the league.

 

14:  Seattle Storm:  Carla Leite

5’9, PG/SG, France (19, turning 20 the day after the draft)

Leite is another international prospect with some intriguing upside, as her playmaking has so much potential.  I question what she’ll be as a defender and finisher; I also think she needs to improve shooting on the ball and movement without the ball.

 

15:  Indiana Fever:  Elizabeth Kitley (I)

6’6, C, Virginia Tech, Redshirt Senior

Kitley is a great finisher and defender in the paint, which made her elite in college.  That said, limitations outside the paint brought her WNBA upside into question.  She also is recovering from a torn ACL, which could cause her to drop significantly in the draft.

 

16:  Las Vegas Aces (from Los Angeles):  Dyaisha Fair (I)

5’5, PG, Syracuse, RS Sr

Fair is a great shooter and scorer who is also a solid playmaker and plays with a good amount of intensity on both ends.  That said, her size will limit her upside as a defender and finisher (the latter is something she already struggles with).

 

17:  New York Liberty (from Chicago):  Celeste Taylor (I)

5’11, SG, Ohio State, Redshirt Senior

Taylor is one of the best defensive guards in the class, and she also has some playmaking potential.  That said, she is a poor shooter and finisher, and I have little faith that she will develop either of those.

 

18:  Las Vegas Aces (from Washington):  Taiyanna Jackson

6’6, C, Kansas, RS Sr

Jackson is a traditional big who is an amazing finisher, shot blocker, and rebounder; I think she’s a better athlete than billed.  That said, she really can’t do anything outside the paint or with the ball in her hands, which will limit her.

 

19:  Connecticut Sun (from Minnesota):  Jessika Carter

6’5, PF/C, Mississippi State, RS Sr (6^th year)

Carter is a solid finisher, good rebounder, and versatile defender, the latter of which I think could help her find a role more easily than other bigs drafter later.  That said, she isn’t as good of a finisher or defender as others who succeed in the league.

 

20:  Atlanta Dream:  Marquesha Davis (I)

6’0, SG/SF, Mississippi, RS Sr

Davis is a versatile wing who has amazing size who is athletic enough to be a good defender in the league.  That said, she’s inefficient, a bad shooter, and not good on the ball, so I question what her role will be.  Keep an eye for her to be drafted earlier since she was invited to the draft, much to my astonishment.

 

21:  Washington Mystic (from Dallas):  Leilani Correa

6’0, SG, Florida, RS Sr

Correa is a great shooter, smart off-ball player, and has nice positional size.  That said, she is also a bad defender, an inconsistent finisher, and unreliable with the ball, especially if she has to be the playmaker

 

22:  Connecticut Sun:  Mackenzie Holmes

6’3, PF, Indiana, RS Sr

Holmes is an awesome scorer in the paint who is efficient and also has a high defensive IQ.  However, she isn’t great outside the paint, isn’t good with the ball in her hands, and might not be big enough to translate her college success into the W.

 

23:  New York Liberty:  Jaz Shelley

5’9, PG/SG, Nebraska, RS Sr

Shelley is an amazing shooter who is also a great playmaker, which gives her the potential to be amazing both on and off the ball.  She does have limitations finishing and defensively, both of which I wonder if they’re the result of not being an elite athlete.

 

24:  Las Vegas Aces:  Kiki Jefferson

6’1, SG, Louisville, RS Sr

Jefferson is a solid shooter, defender, and finisher who will likely be versatile in the W.  I think her weaknesses are that she isn’t the best on the ball and isn’t elite at anything in my opinion.  Still, I think she should be considered in the first round.

 

25:  Phoenix Mercury:  McKenzie Forbes

6’0, SG/SF, USC, RS Sr (6^th year)

 

26:  Seattle Storm:  Jaylyn Sherrod

6’0, PG, Colorado, RS Sr

 

27:  Indiana Fever:  Hannah Jump

6’0, SG, Stanford, RS Sr (she also has the perfect name for a basketball player)

 

28:  Los Angeles Sparks:  Abbey Hsu

5’11, SG, Columbia, RS Sr

 

29:  Phoenix Mercury (from Chicago):  Desi-Rae Young

6’1, PF/C, UNLV, Sr

 

30:  Washington Mystics:  Jakia Brown-Turner

6’0, SF, Maryland, RS Sr

 

31:  Minnesota Lynx:  Javyn Nicholson

6’2, PF, Georgia, RS Sr

 

32:  Atlanta Dream:  Honesty Scott-Gray

5’9, SG, Auburns, RS Sr (6^th year)

 

33:  Dallas Wings:  Quinesha Lockett

5’10, PG/SG, Toledo, RS Sr

 

34:  Connecticut Sun:  Kate Martin

6’0, SG/SF, Iowa, RS Sr

 

35:  New York Liberty:  Dre’una Edwards

6’0, SF, Baylor, RS Sr (6^th year)

 

36:  Las Vegas Aces:  Erynn Barnum

6’2, PF, Mississippi State, RS Sr

 

10 Others who could be drafted:

·       Kaylynne Truong, 5’8, PG, Gonzaga, RS Sr

·       Quay Miller, 6’3, C, Colorado, RS Sr

·       Sara Scalia, 5’10, SG, Indiana, RS Sr

·       Endyia Rogers, 5’7, PG, Texas A&M, RS Sr

·       Helena Pueyo, 6’0, SG, Arizona, RS Sr

·       Aijha Blackwell, 5’11, SG/SF, Baylor, RS Sr

·       Unique Drake, 5’7, SG, St. John’s, RS Sr

·       Bryanna Maxwell, 6’0, SG, Gonzaga, RS Sr

·       Esmery Martinez, 6’2, SF/PF, Arizona, RS Sr

·       Alicia Florez, 5’9, PG, Spain (19)

 

 

Bonus:  My Top-12

Every year in my NBA mock drafts, I allude to who is my favorites in the draft or who I would have on my “big board” (I use it in quotes since I don’t have an official one).  This year, I decided it would be good to have one for the first round.  These are not official and are subject to change, especially since there is information that teams have that I do not.

Like everybody, I have my biases for what I like in a prospect.  In general, I tend to favor players who are great athletes, players with high basketball IQs, multi-skilled, or strong playmakers.  When comparing someone who is league ready vs. has high upside, I try to do a blend and consider the likelihood of them reaching their upside.  My favorite skillset typically is big playmakers, though I also like other skillsets.  I tend to favor players who are strong at offense and weak at defense more than players who are strong at defense but weak at offense since it is easier to find playing time for a defense liability than it is for an offensive one.  I tend to be less worried if a player isn’t a good shooter than if a player isn’t a good finisher in the paint.

 

1:  Caitlin Clark

This one feels obvious, but she’s an amazing scorer, athlete, and playmaker, while also having a high basketball IQ.  She has the highest floor and ceiling in this class.

2:  Rickea Jackson

This one might be surprising, but I think she has an insanely high floor due to her scoring ability and size.  While Brink’s ceiling is higher, I think it will be easier for Jackson to achieve her ceiling.

3:  Cameron Brink

Her ceiling on both ends is so high due to her skill, but I worry if the fouling will ever subside; she seems to be fouling more than most players at their development.

4:  Kamila Cardoso

I’m not that high on her upside due to potential playoff limitations, but I’m not going to deny that she still could be an All-Star, which makes her an obvious choice here.

5:  Aaliyah Edwards

I think Edwards has easily the highest floor out of everyone remaining and that there is such a clear path for her to be successful in the W.

6:  Angel Reese

I don’t think she’ll end up being an All-Star due to offensive limitations, but I could still see her being a candidate for an All-Defense team.

7:  Leila Lacan

The combination of playmaking, size, and shooting potential at her age makes Lacan such an enticing prospect; I wouldn’t take her here though due to the potential of her not coming over immediately.

8:  Jacy Sheldon

Despite my concerns about her, I do think she’s one of the most skilled guards in this draft on offense, especially as a shooter.

9:  Alissa Pili

Eventually I have to select the player who is easily the best shooter remaining, even if I have concerns about the defense.

10:  Kiki Jefferson

This is a bit of a stretch, but I love the idea of a good shooter (who will probably be better in the WNBA) who can do a lot having a role on a team.

11:  Isobel Borlase

While it’s entirely possible she won’t end up making it in the league, I think the upside with her playmaking, defense and shooting potential is so high.

12:  Nyadiew Puoch

I am genuinely worried about her inefficient scoring, but she projects to be one of the best defenders in this class if she reaches her ceiling.

 

I also considered Carla Leite, Jaz Shelley, Taiyanna Jackson, Charisma Osborne, and Kaylynne Truong.

 

 

Who are you looking forward to in this draft?  Any picks you disagree with me about in either my mock or my personal top-12?  Let me know in the comments!