It’s been over 24 hours since the 2024 WNBA Draft in New York City, presented by State Farm, but like a good neighbor, the ripple effects are still there.
They’re set to spread, like this women’s side of the sport, across the globe it reaches like palming an outstretched Wilson.
It’s all because of the effect of one generational talent.
Caitlin Clark.
Who else was going to go number one except the true game changer, whose broken NCAA point and viewership records? Doing the same to those who tuned in on draft night. Not to mention the Indiana Fever jersey sales of the number 22.
Two straight number ones like Taylor Swift, this Caitlin Clark era gives us an even better version of the next up Indiana Fever, who last year drafted fellow big talent Aliyah Boston with the first pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft.
Get ready for the next dynasty in the making.
GOAT Diana Taurasi may have a point that the big leagues is a whole other ball game, but that’s just her competitive fire talking. We’re sure Clark’s college stats of 31.6 points, 8.9 assists and 7.4 rebounds for the Iowa Hawkeyes will shoot straight to the heart of the W.
The Fever still have the WNBA’s new version of the Lakers and the Celtics in the Aces and the Liberty super teams to deal with. Not to mention storied franchises like the Los Angeles Sparks, who after losing legend Nneka Ogwumike to free agency had a draft almost as good as Indy getting the WNBA’s version of LeBron…or Steph Curry.
Curry’s friend and godbrother family Cameron Brink was taken by the Sparks with the second pick. The purple and gold franchise also selected Rickea Jackson from Tennessee with the fourth choice. With Jackson and this year’s Lisa Leslie Award winner, Cam, the Sparks are on the brink of something special.
Many thought LA would take the purple reign of ‘Most Outstanding Player’ Angel Reese from LSU. Decked out in a dress that had vibes of Florence Pugh in ‘Dune: Part Two’, she was sealed seventh by the Chicago Sky.
Chicago also had an air high draft, taking Kamilla Cardoso with the third pick, that’s about to make the earth sick. The Windy City of “MJ, fade away perfect” is about to feel the same success as hometown hero Candace Parker bringing back the gold.
The top five also featured Jacy Sheldon of Ohio State, bringing her averages of 17.8 points per to the Dallas Wings, with Elite Eight experience.
Canada was represented like the six, with the Washington Mystics selection of another Aaliyah in Aaliyah Edwards. The sixth spotter and native of Ontario helped her Connecticut Huskies connect with three NCAA Final Fours. Expect big things as the 2019 Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global camp MVP takes wing.
Alyssa Pili at eight looks to be the next Minnesota Lynx great, with Maya Moore retired and Seimone Augustus heading to the Hall this fall.
Meanwhile, in this era of Wemby, the ninth and tenth picks of the 2024 WNBA Draft both came from France. At nine, Dallas also doubled-up in the top ten, like Los Angeles and Chicago with Carla Leite. Leïla Lacan will also suit up for the Connecticut Sun.
Outside the top ten is a crop of talent you shouldn’t ignore. Just like how stronger the league leaders like the Liberty have got (with Marquesha Davis taken eleventh and Esmery Martinez), or the back-to-back champion Aces. Stacking talent with the flair of Dyaisha Fair and Kate Martin, both inside the top twenty. Not to mention the new dynasty of the Seattle Strom, armed with 14th pick Nika Mühl.
The former champion Chicago Sky even got another big player for their rebooted roster in Gonzaga’s Brynna Maxwell, taken luckily at spot 13.
Despite all the draft picks, Las Vegas and New York have in the second round (Elizabeth Kitley and Jessika Carter, respectively). Nothing is getting over the Fever. Especially with the fifteenth draftee of Celeste Taylor, a backcourt dynamo from Ohio.
The changing of the guard is here. And we don’t just mean in the W. With a draft class for the ages, everybody watching, take note. Women’s sports are levelling the playing field.
