NEW YORK — Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink and others make this one of the most anticipated WNBA drafts in contemporary years. There are a number of affect avid gamers up for grabs, however their skill is just about eclipsed through their recognition amongst basketball enthusiasts.
“Caitlin is kind of in a world of her own, but I don’t know that we have seen this kind of excitement across the board,” ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo stated. “You know, Angel Reese has a massive following. Cameron Brink has a large following of people, whether it’s following them on social media or following them throughout the course of their college career.
“We have women coming into the draft this year, who people are very much aware of and eager to see how their game is going to translate at this level.”
Clark has helped convey hundreds of thousands of new enthusiasts to the recreation together with her signature brand photographs and dazzling passing skill. The Iowa famous person was once a large explanation why a record 18.9 million viewers tuned in to the NCAA championship game the place South Carolina beat the Hawkeyes.
The NCAA Division I all-time scoring chief will cross first to the Indiana Fever on Monday evening when the draft takes position at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in entrance of 1,000 enthusiasts.
“This is the first time we’re going to have fans at the draft, so I think that’s going to be special,” ESPN analyst Andraya Carter stated. “For people watching at home to see and hear a crowd and fans and people there, I think it’ll be really exciting.”
While Clark is a lock to head first, Brink, Tennessee’s Rickea Jackson and South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso have all been in the dialogue to be taken at No. 2 through Los Angeles. The Sparks additionally personal the No. 4 select with Chicago opting for 3rd.
“They are foundational. They’re an incredible opportunity for our organization,” Sparks GM Raegan Pebley stated. “We definitely want to see two players that not only have the skill set to make an impact early, but also a long runway ahead of them, opportunities to develop, opportunities to, not only be excellent in what they do, but how they impact the other pieces around them as we continue to build this team.”
Dallas is 5th and Washington 6th. Minnesota, Chicago, Dallas, Connecticut, New York and Atlanta shut out the first spherical. In all, there are 3 rounds and 36 choices in general.
Here are a couple of different tidbits for the draft:
INJURY SETBACKS
All-Americans Mackenzie Holmes of Indiana and Elizabeth Kitley of Virginia Tech gained’t be capable of play in the WNBA this season as a result of of knee accidents. Holmes said on social media that she is having surgical procedure subsequent month.
“At this time to ensure my body is healthy and my playing career is as long and successful as possible, I have decided to get the necessary surgery in May to prevent further issues and alleviate the pain it has caused,” she stated. “I have declared for the 2024 WNBA draft and pray that a team honors me with a selection knowing I will be ready for the start of 2025 training camp.”
Kitley tore the ACL in her left knee in Virginia Tech’s ultimate common season recreation and neglected the whole postseason.
“Whenever you see any player go through an injury at any point in their career, but especially at that point, this special season that Virginia Tech was having. But I think she’s a player that has, I’ll use this word ‘track’ again,” Pebley stated. “Just a lot of runway ahead of her. She’s going to, I think, have a great career with her versatility, her footwork abilities. And I think her impact around the rim.”
INVITEES
The WNBA invited 15 players to the draft Monday, together with Clark, Reese, Brink, Jackson, Cardoso and Kitley. The others are Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl of UConn; Charisma Osborne of UCLA; Celeste Taylor and Jacy Sheldon of Ohio State; Alissa Pili of Utah; Marquesha Davis of Mississippi; Dyaisha Fair of Syracuse; and Nyadiew Puoch of Australia.