WNBA draft 2024: Grading the Fever and every team’s night

A giant a part of getting grade on WNBA draft night time is commonly in place months earlier than, when the lottery order is set. Within the case of the 2024 draft, the Indiana Fever actually could not mess it up after they acquired the primary choose: Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark would give them an A-plus.

As was the case final season when the Fever additionally picked No. 1 and acquired South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston, it was all smiles at Indiana headquarters on draft night time. Not simply because Clark was formally within the fold and coach Christie Sides might already envision her passing the ball inside to Boston, final 12 months’s WNBA Rookie of the 12 months, and NaLyssa Smith, the No. 2 choose in 2022, time and again and over.

But in addition as a result of the Fever now have two of the best 3-point shooters in faculty hoops historical past. Clark is the NCAA report holder, having completed with 548 treys. Kelsey Mitchell, the No. 2 choose in 2018, had 497 3-pointers at Ohio State.

Between them, they compiled 7,353 factors in faculty as the highest two scorers in Large Ten historical past. Clark is the No. 1 scorer all time in males’s and ladies’s Division I.

“My coronary heart is pounding actually arduous proper now,” Sides stated when speaking about having two perimeter scorers the caliber of Clark and Mitchell on the identical group together with the younger put up gamers. “It is a coach’s dream.”

However the Fever aren’t ESPN’s solely A-plus group on draft night time. The Los Angeles Sparks, in want of two influence gamers immediately, acquired them in Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson.

In case you are searching for “unhealthy” grades, we do not have them this 12 months. In some previous seasons, eyebrows had been raised beginning early within the first spherical. However on Monday, groups appeared to profit from their locations within the draft and the expertise accessible. Some groups took larger possibilities, particularly with younger expertise from abroad. Some opted for particular wants and doubtlessly bypassed a participant whom they may remorse not taking.

All that stated, a lot can occur with accidents, group chemistry and the way gamers modify to the being professionals. However by way of Monday’s draft, listed here are the grades.

Picks:
1. Caitlin Clark, Iowa, PG
15. Celeste Taylor, Ohio State, PG
27. Leilani Correa, Florida, SG

No franchise wanted the thrill Clark brings greater than Indiana, which hasn’t made the WNBA playoffs since 2016. Each Sides and basic supervisor Lin Dunn stated they’re longing for Clark to satisfy all her teammates and have her persona influence the group and the neighborhood. In addition they stated she is greater than prepared for what’s forward of her on the courtroom.

“I hoping she’s going to go dwelling and get some relaxation for a short time. She’s simply been on the go,” Sides stated. “However I am unable to wait to get her within the locker room with our gamers. They will get to know her, know she’s a fierce competitor. These guys see all of the articles written and issues on social media. They do not know her but. I am prepared for that day.”

In Taylor, the Fever drafted a participant who is aware of Clark from their matchups within the Large Ten this season. Taylor performed 5 seasons in faculty, at Texas, Duke and Ohio State. Her protection might assist her stick on this roster.

Correa is one other guard with good dimension and ability. Nevertheless it’s a numbers recreation, and she or he may not make the roster.

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Picks:
2. Cameron Brink, Stanford, PF
4. Rickea Jackson, Tennessee, SF
28. McKenzie Forbes, USC, SF

The Sparks additionally wanted an infusion of expertise and pleasure, and so they went with two gamers who’ve excellent professional ability units and will be capable of complement one another on the courtroom.

Los Angeles’ large determination seemingly got here right down to Brink or Kamilla Cardoso at No. 2, and the Sparks could not have gone flawed both approach. With Brink, they’ve a participant who can shield the rim, step out to defend on the perimeter when wanted and rating in a wide range of methods.

Jackson can also be a confirmed scorer who would have been a lottery choose final 12 months too however opted to return for her fifth faculty season.

The Sparks want some pizazz and gamers who’ve the boldness to imagine in a brand new period in L.A. Brink and Jackson can do this.

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Picks:
3. Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina, C
7. Angel Reese, LSU, PF
13. Brynna Maxwell, Gonzaga, SG

That they had their battles within the SEC, together with some that acquired heated, however Cardoso and Reese now will be a part of forces as a dominant rebounding duo. Underneath Teresa Weatherspoon, who’s in her first season with the Sky, they each are prone to play loads and assist Chicago type a brand new id.

Cardoso and Reese might want to develop their video games offensively, however contemplating their expertise and dimension, there isn’t any motive to assume they cannot do this.

Maxwell is an fascinating choose too, as a result of she has been such a dependable 3-point shooter. In her profession, which incorporates stops at Utah and Gonzaga, she made 377 of 882 from lengthy vary (42.7%).

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Picks:
6. Aaliyah Edwards, UConn, PF
21. Kaylynne Truong, Gonzaga, PG
30. Nastja Claessens, Belgium, SF

The Mystics get such a excessive grade for a few causes. The largest: getting Edwards, as a result of she tasks to be a confirmed commodity on the actual place the Mystics want. UConn starters usually make clean transitions to the WNBA. Edwards’ toughness and resilience had been constants for a Huskies group that went by way of the wringer with accidents the previous few seasons.

Just like the Sparks and the Sky, the Mystics are in a brand new period and want gamers they will construct round. Edwards might be such a participant.

As for Truong and Claessens, Mystics basic supervisor Mike Thibault has proven an eye fixed for expertise over time that others may not have. One instance: He drafted Belgium’s Emma Meesseman within the second spherical (No. 19) in 2013, and she or he was a key issue within the Mystics’ 2019 championship.

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Picks:
12. Nyadiew Puoch, Australia, PF
20. Isobel Borlase, Australia, PG
32. Matilde Villa, Italy, SG

We’re clearly going out on a limb with this grade as a result of these gamers aren’t anticipated to make an influence this season for the Dream. They may not even play within the WNBA in 2024.

This draft was all about funding sooner or later for Atlanta, and we’d look again on it as a windfall if these gamers develop as hoped. Admittedly, it might additionally not pan out.

However all three are 19-year-olds who have already got skilled expertise and time to develop. Puoch would possibly examine to Seattle’s Ezi Magbegor. Some thought Borlase was a possible first-round choose.

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Picks:
16. Dyaisha Honest, Syracuse, PG
18. Kate Martin, Iowa, SG
24. Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, C
36. Angel Jackson, Jackson State, C

Getting a B grade is not typical when a group does not actually have a first-round choose. However indulge us, as a result of we form of love what the Aces did right here. The 2-time defending WNBA champions haven’t any apparent wants, and it is potential none of those gamers makes the group, as a result of it is so arduous to do.

However in Honest and Martin, the Aces took two totally different sorts of underdogs: Honest due to her 5-foot-5 dimension and Martin as a result of she does not actually have an apparent place she suits into as a professional. However they’re each accustomed to being underestimated and proving folks flawed.

Kitley is injured (ACL tear) and will not play this season, however she and Jackson (who performed three seasons at USC earlier than transferring to Jackson State) are each 6-foot-6 and value giving a glance.

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Picks:
11. Marquesha Davis, Ole Miss, SF
17. Esmery Martinez, Arizona, PF
23. Jessika Carter, Mississippi State, C
35. Kaitlyn Davis, USC, SF

The Liberty wanted protection, and so they did a fairly good job in attempting to deal with it with the picks that they had. Folks would possibly examine Marquesha Davis to the Liberty’s Betnijah Laney-Hamilton or Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper.

Martinez began her faculty profession with a defense-oriented West Virginia group underneath former coach Mike Carey. Carter would possibly show to be a serviceable professional heart, and that she was nonetheless accessible at No. 23 is a bonus for the Liberty, who get to at the very least give her a glance.

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Picks:
10. Leila Lacan, France, PG
19. Taiyanna Jackson, Kansas, C
22. Helena Pueyo, Arizona, PG
34. Abbey Hsu, Columbia, SG

The Solar needed a guard with their first-round choose and acquired that with Lacan, an thrilling prospect who might change into an influence participant as she develops.

Jackson was considerably of an enigma at Kansas as a result of she has a lot potential at 6-foot-6 however would disappear at instances on courtroom.

Pueyo is thought for her protection and Hsu for her scoring and 3-point capturing.

We is likely to be grading the Solar somewhat too excessive primarily based on enthusiasm about Lacan’s future. Nevertheless it may very well be very shiny.

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Picks:
25. Charisma Osborne, UCLA, SG
29. Jaz Shelley, Nebraska, SG

The Mercury get an honest grade as a result of they at the very least chosen two intriguing gamers, even when they’re each third-rounders. Osborne performed 5 seasons at UCLA, and previous Bruins guards have made an influence within the league. And it looks as if she was extra of a second-round choose than a third-rounder, so which may repay for Phoenix.

Shelley began her profession at Oregon then performed the previous three seasons with Nebraska. The Australian guard is a fairly sharp 3-point shooter who logged plenty of minutes for the Huskers.

If both participant makes Phoenix’s roster, even for depth, the Mercury did OK with this draft.

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Picks:
5. Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State, SG
9. Carla Leite, France, SG
33. Ashley Owusu, Penn State, PG

This might work out nice for the Wings, who needed to get guard assist from the draft. The problem: Was Sheldon priceless sufficient to bypass the prospect to take put up participant Aaliyah Edwards with the fifth choose? That will likely be one thing to observe throughout the subsequent few seasons.

Additionally, was Leite the proper French guard to pick out, or was Lacan, who went proper after her at No. 10 to Connecticut? That is one other comparability to keep watch over.

As for Owusu, the Wings most likely felt it was price giving her a glance as a third-rounder due to the peaks of her faculty profession at Maryland. Nevertheless it additionally had some valleys after she left the Terps.

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Picks:
8. Alissa Pili, Utah, SF
31. Kiki Jefferson, Louisville, SG

Pili was everywhere in the draft board for us, so it figures that we aren’t positive about this grade. The previous Pac-12 participant of the 12 months has a various offensive ability set, however not all WNBA evaluators had been offered on her means to defend properly on the professional stage. Clearly, Minnesota thinks she is as much as the duty, and she or he may not have to play an enormous position immediately.

But when it does not work out and/or Angel Reese is an enormous success, the Lynx would possibly second-guess the draft choose swap they made with Chicago that allowed the Sky to choose up Reese.

As for Jefferson, she did not rating fairly as properly in her remaining season at Louisville as she did throughout her first 4 campaigns at James Madison, however she is an enormous guard who was well worth the choose.

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Picks:
14. Nika Muhl, UConn, PG
26. Mackenzie Holmes, Indiana, PF

Muhl did not soar into our mock draft first spherical till the final version, so realistically, she was chosen the place she was extra persistently projected. Is she a adequate defender and playmaker to make up for not being a famous scorer? That would be the key as as to whether this grade is near heading in the right direction or too low.

Holmes underwent surgical procedure after battling knee points in her five-season Indiana profession, and she or he is not anticipated to play within the WNBA till 2025. She was very constant and reliable when wholesome in faculty. However like Megan Gustafson, a second-round pick of Iowa in 2019 who’s now with the Aces, Holmes most likely must show she will be able to develop her vary to make it within the WNBA.