2024 WNBA Draft summary: teams, picks, rounds, players and Caitlin Clark news
2024 WNBA Draft: live updates
WNBA First Round Draft Picks
1. Indiana Fever - Caitlin Clark, Iowa
2. Los Angeles Sparks - Cameron Brink, Stanford
3. Chicago Sky - Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina
4. Los Angeles Sparks - Rickea Jackson, Tennessee
5. Dallas Wings - Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State
6. Washington Mystics - Aaliyah Edwards, UConn
7. Chicago Sky - Angel Reese, LSU
8. Minnesota Lynx - Alissa Pili, Utah
9. Dallas Wings - Carla Leite, France
10. Connecticut Sun - Leila Lacan, France
11. New York Liberty - Marquesha Davis, Ole Miss
12. Atlanta Dream - Nyadiew Puoch, Australia
The 2024 WNBA season is not far away! Here's when Caitlin Clark could make her debut for the Indiana Fever.
Celeste Taylor
Celeste Taylor joins Caitlin Clark at the Indiana Fever. She's the 15th overall pick.
WNBA Draft first round
That's the first round in the books for the WNBA Draft 2024. The expected, but still big, news is that Caitlin Clark is off to the Indiana Fever.
Cameron Brink went as the second pick to the Los Angeles Sparks and she'll be joined by Rickea Jackson who was picked fourth overall.
March Madness MVP Kamilla Cardoso was snapped up at three by the Chicago Sky.
Three overseas players were picked in the first round: Carla Leite (Dallas Wings) and Leila Lacan (Connecticut Sun) from France and the final pick, Nyadiew Puoch (Atlanta Dream) from Australia.
Nyadiew Puoch may only be 19, but she's already been playing pro for two years in Australia.
Nyadiew Puoch is 12th overall pick
Nyadiew Puoch, from Australia, is headed to the Atlanta Dream.
Final pick of the first round is in!
Marquesha gets a huge roar from her home town fans here.
WNBA Pick 11...
The New York Liberty select Marquesha Davis from Ole Miss.
New York Liberty pick is in...
French connection
After Carla Leite going to the Dallas Wings, the Connecticut Sun also go across the Atlantic for their 10th pick, selecting Leila Lacan, who is also a point guard. She was at Angers in France, but now makes the move west to Connecticut.
Dallas Wings take Carla Leite
Dallas Wings, with their second pick of the night, select French woman Carla Leite, who was at Tarbes in France. The 5' 9" point guard is 20, though she'll be 21 tomorrow!
Alissa Pili to the Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx use their eighth pick to select Alissa Pili, the short forward from Utah.
Chicago Sky seventh pick
The Sky get the big name of Angel Reese to add to Kamilla Cardoso!
Sky up next
Having picked Kamilla Cardoso with their first pick of the night, the Chicago Sky now get their second pick of the evening.
Number 6 pick is in...
The Washington Mystics go for... Aaliyah Edwards, from UConn!
Dallas Wings fifth pick
The Dallas Wings select Jacy Sheldon with the fifth overall pick.
Fifth pick
The Dallas Wings have the next pick in the WNBA draft...
Rickea Jackson
"I feel like I'm very versatile," says Rickea Jackson but also says she's a "sponge" and is ready to learn and grow.
"My family is my reason for being here!" She says its thanks to her brothers that she ever picked up a basketball.
She says the Sparks fans are going to love her "personality!"
Fourth pick: Sparks select Rickea Jackson
The Sparks' second pick of the night and they take Rickea Jackson, from Tennessee, as the fourth overall pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft.
LA Sparks
Sparks BACK on the clock for the fourth pick...
Kamilla Cardoso says she wanted to give her family a better life and she is so "proud to be here tonight."
Kamilla Cardoso, number three pick
Kamilla Cardoso, who just won the NCAA tournament and was named player of the tournament goes to the Chicago Sky as the number three overall pick.
Cameron Brink, number 2 pick
Cameron Brink is super emotional. "I'm an ugly cryer!" she says as she's interviewed about being picked number 2 in the WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. She says she's really excited to start her journey in the pro leagues and says her passion for the game has never been higher.
LA Sparks pick...
The Sparks pick Cameron Brink, from Stanford. And Brink is in tears at the emotion of the moment.
The moment Caitlin Clark's pick was announced
The moment Commissioner Engelbert announced Clark is off to the Indiana Fever. An instant not to be forgetten.
LA Sparks on the clock
Next up are the Los Angeles Sparks... Cameron Brink or Rickea Jackson the likely picks...
Clark on being number one pick
"I've been working towards this since second grade," says Caitlin Clark. "I believe in myself and my parents instilled that in me from a young age."
"I earned this," says Clark.
She says she's excited to get to Indiana, where they have a "great roster".
What's her number one goal? "Be myself and have fun and the rest will take care of itself".
Indiana Fever pick Caitlin Clark!
They made us wait a minute more than we expected but the pick is in and IT IS CAITLIN CLARK!
It might have been expected but it's still special. Welcome to the WNBA Caitlin Clark.
Pick is in!
Fever make their call.
Indiana Fever on the clock!
The Fever are on the clock... who are they going to go for...??
Los Angeles Sparks are up next, by the way.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert
WNBA Commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, takes the podium to welcome everyone to the WNBA Draft. She says women's sport and specifically WNBA are having "more than a moment".
She thanks everyone who has been with them for the past 27 and welcomes everyone who will be fans for season 28...
Increase in interest in WNBA
The impact of Caitlin Clark on the interest in the game is undeniable. Audiences are soaring and interest is off the charts, say the Draft presenters.
Why? She shoots from so deep; her range means you have to defend her from so 35 yards out. But they also praise her passing and ability to link up with her teammates.
Entertainingly as our presenters are praising her, the camera pans to Clark, who happens to be yawning. She laughs it off.
WNBA Draft is live!
Off we go! The Draft show is live!
Rickea Jackson
Likely one of the earliest picks, Jackson spent three seasons with Mississippi State before playing the last two at Tennessee and averaged 22.6 points on 53% shooting, 8.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in the last 10 games of the season. As for 3-pointers, she hit 33.8% on 2.6 attempts per game.
"I feel like that’s the thing I have gotten better at and more confident in is my passing," Jackson said about her game style. "If my teammate is open, I’m going to get them the ball, and if I have a shot, I’m going to take that shot ... I do like being able to play like that, too."
Whether she’s picked at 3 or 4 is up for debate, but both the Sparks and Sky have been heavily linked with the 6-foot-2 player.
Kamilla Cardoso
Another player set to be picked by the Sparks (they have second and fourth picks) Cardoso is a hugely promising center who has been playing for the South Carolina Gamecocks. She comes into the draft off her second NCAA win, where she was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
The 6-foot-7 player's record speaks for itself: over 36 games in the 2022/23 season, Kamilla averaged 9.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, all while shooting 55.9% from the field.
However, the Sparks may not have it all their own way with this pick, as the Chicago Sky, with the third pick, are also said to be thinking hard about swiping the talented player.
Cameron Brink
Tonight is very much not just about Caitlin Clark. While she's almost certainly going to be the number one pick there are some other massive names up for grabs, including Cameron Brink - known as the Unicorn, because of her versatility.
Originally from Beaverton, Oregon, Cameron Brink, towers above most at 6 feet 4 inches.
In 2023, she made history as the inaugural women's basketball player to put pen to paper on an NIL deal with New Balance. Breaking records is nothing new for her: as a junior, she shattered the program's record for career blocks and won an NCAA championship with Stanford in 2021.
Brink is an ambitious personality and has already called for an expansion to the WNBA, saying previously that "I really think that Portland deserves a franchise. I think people would really rally behind a team here and they would support us. I was sad about [San Francisco getting a new team first], I mean obviously the Bay is a good one for me because at Stanford we're close by.”
Now 22, Brink is anticipated by many in the know to be selected as the second overall pick by the Los Angeles Sparks.
Indiana Fever Draft party
According to the Indiana Fever, 17,000 people have claimed tickets to their WNBA Draft watch party. I think we know who they're expecting to see picked...
Caitlin Clark on ESPN
The Draft commentary team at ESPN caught up with Caitlin Clark just before the draft and after she admitted that she'd been "so nervous" on SNL, she was asked how her game would transcend to the WNBA.
Clark said the thing she thought would be really important is her passing. "Don’t get me wrong, I love shooting the ball!" but she argued her ability to work with teammates would also be key.
Can Caitlin Clark wear 22 at Indiana Fever
Caitlin Clark played 22 for Iowa, who have decided to retire the number after Clark's incredible performances, but will she be wearing 22 at the Indiana Fever, if they, as expected, go for her? It looks pretty likely - right now the Indiana Fever do not have a number 22, so Clark won’t have any problems taking her number in her new team.
Why did Clark pick 22?
Caitlin Clark has explained that she picked the number 22 because she was born on 22 January 2002.
Clark's buzzer beater against Indiana
Clark may almost certainly be off to the Indiana Fever, but look at what she did to the Indiana Hoosiers back in February 2023 to win the game 86-85.
Draft fever at Indiana Fever!
Fans of the number one pick are certainly up for the action in Brooklyn this evening!
I think it's safe to say they won't be disappointed! Around 17,000 fans claimed tickets for the watch party in Indiana.
Indiana Fever: Number one pick, number one pick
Indiana Fever have got the number one pick for the second year in a row. Last year they used their first pick to select power forward Aliyah Boston, who was voted 2023 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year.
Curiously, they'd never had a first pick before last year's.
Jamie McCarthy / AFP
Why is the Draft held at the BAM?
The Brooklyn Academy of Music is the venue for tonight's draft, and it's the perfect blend of modernity, history and easy access for fans.
The home of the Brooklyn Nets, the Barclays Center, is incredibly close to the BAM, increasing its appeal as a host venue for starters and enhancing the basketball link.
Brooklyn's deep-rooted passion for the sport will be brought to life in the centre that has a history of being the home of famous theater, music, and dance.
Angel Reese
Angel Reese, the power forward from LSU Tigers, is expected to go number eight overall pick, with the Chicago Sky likely to step in for her. Her rivalry with Caitlin Clark at college level is expected to continue in the pro game... put those Fever-Sky matches in your calendar. June 1 is their first meeting in the new season.
With just less than an hour to go, here's a reminder of the order:
FIRST ROUND:
1. Indiana Fever
2. Los Angeles Sparks
3. Chicago Sky (via Phoenix Mercury)
4. Los Angeles Sparks (via Seattle Storm)
5. Dallas Wings (via Chicago Sky)
6. Washington Mystics
7. Chicago Sky (via Minnesota Lynx)
8. Minnesota Lynx (via Atlanta Dream)
9. Dallas Wings
10. Connecticut Sun
11. New York Liberty
12. Atlanta Dream (via Las Vegas Aces)
2024 WNBA Draft Class
The prospective picks are in the house and ready... less than an hour to go to the start of the 2024 WNBA Draft!
Who to watch: Rickea Jackson
At 6-foot-2,Jackson has been a dominant force for has shone for Tennessee in college basketball.
This season, despite an injury keeping her out for a portion of the early campaign, she led the SEC charts with 20.2 points per game and while managing 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
She also achieved a more than respectable 48.5 percent shooting accuracy from the field and 78 percent from the free-throw line.
With a total of 2,261 points over 127 college games, she ranks sixth among all-time scorers.
Expected team: Chicago Sky
What are the WNBA draft eligibility requirements?
There are a few eligibility requirements players need to meet to enter the WNBA Draft, but they only need to satisfy one.
NCAA players must be graduation seniors or turn 22-years-old the year of the draft. Also, if they have any remaining eligibility, for whatever reason, they must renounce it.
As far as that goes, if their team played in the Elite 8 or any later rounds of the NCAA tournament, they had until 48 hours after their final game. Players can withdraw their name from WNBA consideration up to five days before the draft.
Regarding international players who have never played in the NCAA, they must turn 20-years-old the year of the draft.
Might we see changes to the WNBA?
Cameron Brink, set to be one of the top picks tonight, has made her feelings clear on an expansion, saying "I really think that Portland deserves a franchise. I think people would really rally behind a team here and they would support us".
Now, it seems the WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert has said that the goal is indeed to expand to 16 teams in a four year period.
Fingers crossed it happens! The time is now to take full advantage of the interest in the sport.
In short, yes.
Clark is set to be the favourite for first pick in the Draft and beat out anyone else, despite the plethora of talent we’re going to see move in tonight’s event.
Check out Andy's explainer on some of the top names who are set to make moves into the elite tonight.
STEPH CHAMBERS / Getty Images via AFP
Check out just how special Caitlin Clark really is...
Here's everything the superstar achieved in the 2023-24 NCAA season:
December 30, 2023: Clark set the all-time NCAA assist record and became the first Division 1 college basketball player to have 3,000+ points, 900+assists, and 800+rebounds - of any woman or man.
January 31, 2024: In Iowa’s game against Northwestern, Clark scored 35points, becoming the No. 1 scorer in Big Ten history.
February 11, 2024: Clark became one of just five other players to have 1,000 career assists, and is the only one to have more than 3,000 points.
February 15, 2024: Clark became the all-time women’s Division 1 points leader, surpassing Kelsey Plum’s previous record of 3,527points set in 2017.
February 28, 2024: Clark broke a few records on this day. She broke the record for single-season three-pointers and became the highest-scoring player in college women’s basketball history after scoring her 3,650thpoint, surpassing Lynette Woodward.
March 3, 2024: Clark became the highest-scoring player in Division 1 college basketball historyfor men or women, breaking Pete Maravich’s previous record, set 54 years earlier.
March 8, 2024: Clark surpassed Stephen Curry for the most three-pointers in a single season of NCAA Division 1 basketball history.
March 25, 2024: Clark broke another one of Kelsey Plum’s records, scoring the most points in a single season with 1,113.
April 1, 2024: During Iowa’s Elite Eight game against LSU, Clark made her 62nd March Madness three-pointer, making her the player with the most three-pointers scored during the women’s NCAA tournament, breaking Diana Taurasi’s previous record.
April 7, 2024: Clark’s 18-point first quarter broke the record for most points scored in a single quarter for an NCAA championship game, AND made her the leading scorer in the NCAA tournament with 480 points, beating Chamique Holdsclaw’s previous record of 479 points. She also became the first NCAA Division 1 player - man or woman - to make 200 three-pointers in a single season. (Steph Curry previously held the record with 162).
And now you see why she's set to be pick number one.
GREGORY SHAMUS / Getty Images via AFP
Who to look out for: Kamilla Cardoso
A two-time NCAA champion and the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, the talented center arrives at the draft as one of the names on everyone’s lips.
She also won Defensive Player of the Year and if things go as expected, she could add to an LA front court that looks increasingly scary.
Cardoso won the national championship with South Carolina and averaged 14.4 points and 9.7 rebounds for the Gamecocks.
Expected team: Los Angeles Sparks
Caitlin is already a media star!
Clark is not just a natural on the court, but also in front of the screen.
Check out her latest NBA appearance, where she manages to steal the show as usual!
Fans are loving college basketball...
The NCAA Women’s Basketball championship showdown between the Iowa Hawkeyes and South Carolina Gamecocks drew unprecedented viewership, averaging 18.7 million viewers and reaching a peak of 24 million.
This marked the highest viewership ever recorded for a women’s basketball game.
Remarkably, the two women’s games trailing closest behind this historic event on the most-watched list both featured Iowa’s standout player, Caitlin Clark. This correlation is no coincidence.
Earlier, the Final Four clash between Iowa and UCONN on April 5 shattered records with 14.2 million viewers, followed by Iowa’s triumph over LSU on April 1 with 12.3 million viewers.
STEPH CHAMBERS / Getty Images via AFP
Who to look out for: Aaliyah Edwards
Of course, Clark is not the only name to keep an eye on.
A modern power forward in the making, Aaliyah Edwards is putting fear into opponents and she’s not even been picked yet. At 6-3 and with a 6-5 wingspan, defending is not a problem for the 21-year-old.
The Canadian is also ambitious to get to the top: the UConn Huskies senior could have chosen to stick around in college basketball another year given her eligibility through the COVID switch up, but she’s declared herself ready for the pro game.
"Although got to savour every moment because this is my last jam at UConn, I'm all in, ready to bring that championship glory back to Storrs with my squad by my side," Edwards said in her announcement video. "Let's have one last dance”, she said on social media.
How much can rookies make?
The base salary for WNBA rookies varies based on their draft position. For picks No. 1-4, the base salary in their debut year is $76,535.
Picks 5-8 earn a slightly lower base salary of $73,439. Rookies chosen from 9th to 12th spots receive $70,344.
Second-round picks start with a base salary of $67,249.
As players progress, their salaries increase annually. The rookie scale ensures structured growth.
Moreover, players can earn more through endorsements, bonuses and incentives. Veteran stars negotiate higher salaries based on experience and accolades.
Clark looks stylish as she arrives at the Draft
The expected top pick had plenty of fans turn heads at the upcoming star as she made her way down the orange carpet!
Aliyah Boston: "Let's go Fever"
Aliyah Boston, who plays power forward for the Indiana Fever, says her team's picks are "almost in".
Who to look out for: Cameron Brink
Stanford’s standout forward averaged a double-double with 17.8 points and 12 rebounds per game in her final collegiate season. A Pac-12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, she’s expected to be a top pick and might even come out as number two.
Expected team: Los Angeles Sparks
JASON MILLER / Getty Images via AFP
How much could Caitlin Clark earn in the WNBA?
Just by securing a spot among the top four selections, Caitlin is slated to receive an annual salary of $76,535 in her debut year.
This figure will increase to $78,066 in her second year and to $85,873 in her third year.
If she continues into a fourth year, her salary will further rise to $97,952. Though this might not appear substantial at first glance, Caitlin will have the opportunity to augment her earnings through various sponsorship and endorsement deals.
After five years in the WNBA, Clark will have the opportunity to negotiate a supermax salary, presently valued at $241,984 but expected to surpass $250,000 by her eligibility in 2029. Additionally, she will likely be eligible to participate in one of the player marketing agreement programs established by the WNBA.
Through these programs, players can earn up to $250,000 each as brand ambassadors for the league and its numerous partners, including Skims, PlayStation, Continental Tire, Google, Meta, and beauty brand Mielle.
Caitlin has already signed up for a host of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) endorsement deals through her agents Excel Sports Management. Among the contracts are deals with Nike, Topps, Bose, The Vinyl Shop, Goldman Sachs and Buick among others.
Serena Williams wants to buy an WNBA team!
The tennis superstar has made her thoughts clear on where she wants to go in the future, and it looks like she's got her heart set on owning a team from the WNBA. Now, that would certainly bring interest into the sport like we've never seen before!
Angel Reese is causing a stir!
The LSU Tigers forwardcertainly made an impression as fans and photographers caught a glimpse of her nails - and that grill!
She's certainly not lacking in confidence: “I’ve won a national championship, I’ve gotten [Southeastern Conference] Player of the Year, I’ve been an All-American. My ultimate goal is to be a pro—and to be one of the greatest basketball players to play, ever. I feel like I'm ready” she told VOGUE.
Clark setting trends as well as records
The Iowa player was spotted in Pradaclothing, making it the first time ever the Italian brand has chosen to dress someone for the WNBA.
Her impact on the sport cannot be understated, and we'll get into it later as we get closer to the Draft, but Caitlin Clark has been seriously revolutionary for college basketball in terms of everything from sponsorships to viewing figures and more.
Are you ready? Here we go!
The excitement is real as the WNBA Draft is on the way!
There are new levels of interest in the women's game due to the seemingly endless levels of extraordinary talent on show at college level, and it's only going to get better as the support grows from the increasing number of fans and people prepared to invest.
Here's Clark's announcement on leaving the college game:
In a heartfelt letter posted on social media, Clark announced that she was declaring herself available for the WNBA Draft this year.
“While this season is far from over and we have a lot more goals to achieve, it will be my last one at Iowa,” Clark wrote. “It is impossible to fully express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me during my time at Iowa … because of all of you, my dreams came true.”
We're sure excited to see how she gets on at the pro level!
Caitlin Clark: the name of the night
Here we go, we got this far without naming Caitlin Clark. The undisputed star of the show, Clark is set to be the main focus of the draft.
But where will she end up?
If everything unfolds as anticipated, Clark will team up with last year's undisputed Rookie of the Year, Aliyah Boston, aiming to rejuvenate the Indiana Fever, who have struggled to achieve a winning season since 2015.
She's a sensational young talent and her impact on college basketball has been so huge that the Iowa team have retired her number 22.
The WNBA Draft is divided into three rounds with 12 picks each, so only 36 total players are selected, with the first four picks are determined by a lottery system.
This year it was Indiana, Phoenix, Seattle and Los Angeles, as they had the lowest cumulative records from the past two seasons, making them eligible.
As for the order of draft selection, that is determined by 14 balls placed into a lottery machine and then drawn for the first two picks.
The worse a team’s record, the higher the odds are they are drawn as the first pick.
Here’s all the information you need if you want to watch the action live on TV or your streaming device. Make sure to check back here for all the buildup and reaction!
What time does the WNBA Draft start?
The event, which will be held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT.
Until then, we’ve got you covered with some pre-draft talking points and all the information you need ahead of that first pick.
The show begins at 7 p.m. ET, but picks won’t start until 7:30.
Team order: Third round
1. Phoenix
2. Seattle
3. Indiana
4. Las Vegas
5. Phoenix (via Chicago)
6. Washington
7. Minnesota
8. Atlanta
9. Dallas
10. Connecticut
11. New York
12. Las Vegas
Team order: Second round
1. Chicago (via Phoenix)
2. Seattle
3. Indiana
4. Las Vegas (via Los Angeles)
5. New York (via Chicago)
6. Las Vegas (via Washington)
7. Connecticut (via Minnesota)
8. Atlanta
9. Washington (via Dallas)
10. Connecticut
11. New York
12. Las Vegas
Team order: First round
Team will pick in a certain order, with various rounds scheduled for the draft.
Here are the groups and the list of teams in their pre-programmed orders:
FIRST ROUND
1. Indiana Fever
2. Los Angeles Sparks
3. Chicago Sky (via Phoenix Mercury)
4. Los Angeles Sparks (via Seattle Storm)
5. Dallas Wings (via Chicago Sky)
6. Washington Mystics
7. Chicago Sky (via Minnesota Lynx)
8. Minnesota Lynx (via Atlanta Dream)
9. Dallas Wings
10. Connecticut Sun
11. New York Liberty
12. Atlanta Dream (via Las Vegas Aces)
Welcome!
Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the 2024 WNBA Draft.
We’ll be here at AS USA to guide you through the action as it unfolds on this special night that will see the hottest prospects take their first step into elite basketball.