The 2023-24 college season featured more star power than any in recent memory, and the good news for WNBA fans is that many of those players will be back on the court quickly. The 2024 WNBA Draft is on Monday, and several stars who dominated the national conversation during the college season will be taking their talents to the professional stage.
Every year, it boggles the mind how quick this transition is for collegians. Caitlin Clark will go from game-planning for South Carolina to being on the same roster as former Gamecocks great Aliyah Boston within nine days. There isn’t even enough time for a WNBA Draft Combine, so some team executives are working with incomplete information about height and wingspan.
As a result, the WNBA Draft, compared to its NBA counterpart, has always favored players who were able to produce in college rather than those who have the theoretical tools to succeed at the next level. We can project how a different team context will affect a player’s impact, but at a certain point, if they don’t have a high-level resume after four years, it’s hard to take a risk on them.
That’s why the draft is a great entry point to the WNBA for followers of the college game. The best players will show up, starting with one of the GOATs.
The top 5:
- Indiana: Caitlin Clark, Iowa G
- Los Angeles: Cameron Brink, Stanford F/C
- Chicago: Rickea Jackson, Tennessee F
- Los Angeles: Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina C
- Dallas: Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State G
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2024 WNBA mock draft: Where will Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso land?
