Where does LSU star Angel Reese end up in the 2024 WNBA mock draft?

The WNBA draft is just around the corner — April 15 in New York — and we now have the answers on which key players will be available. This senior class in women’s college basketball is the last to have the option of returning for a fifth year in college via the NCAA’s COVID-19 waiver from the 2020-21 season.

The vast majority of players that we have been projecting for the first round of WNBA mock draft are choosing to turn pro, including Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, who is a lock to be the number one pick and who made her announcement on February 29. This week, forward Angel Reese of LSU and center Kamilla Cardoso of South Carolina both announced their plans to enter the draft.

Georgia Amoore, a guard who was at Virginia Tech and is currently in the transfer portal for her fifth season, is one exception. She was predicted to be selected in the first round.

However, a number of fifth-year seniors have used up all of their eligibility and now intend to play in the WNBA. There are still 12 clubs in the league; the Bay Area squad is scheduled to start play in 2025. The WNBA has a 12-player maximum roster, but many teams carry just 11 players due to salary cap restrictions, meaning there are usually fewer than 144 spaces available.

Thus, there’s no assurance that even first-round selections will end up on a team in 2024. Nevertheless, the top five picks appear fairly solid, as is usually the case in the WNBA draft, but the sequence after No. 1 may go either way.

Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark
Iowa | PG | 6-foot-0 | senior

Despite going through difficult difficulties in recent years, the Fever currently own one of the most sought-after draft picks in WNBA history. Clark will draw a lot of attention to Indiana when she concludes her Iowa career in the Final Four.

Not only is she the best player in the draft, but she is also the best at the position that will benefit the Fever the most, which is point guard. Young post players NaLyssa Smith (No. 2 in 2022) and Aliyah Boston (No. 1 in 2023) will be joined by Clark in Indiana. Fandom for Fever is going to be enjoyable once more.

 Los Angeles Sparks: Cameron Brink

Stanford | PF | 6-foot-4 | senior

Due to their deal to obtain the No. 4 pick, the Sparks will also receive two excellent players. Which two, though? Here, Brink looks to be the most likely choice, although either of our two players at Nos. 3 or 4 could be chosen instead. Brink leads Division I in blocked shots per game (3.74), demonstrating his versatility on offense and his tough-mindedness on defense. Did she ever really learn how to play while she was in foul trouble? Not as much as Stanford would have preferred; the issue persisted all through her time in college. But in the WNBA, Brink will draw six fouls, which ought to be beneficial.

Chicago Sky: Rickea Jackson

Tennessee | SF | 6-foot-2 | senior

It is possible that Jackson will go at No. 2. However, if she finishes third, she might play a significant role in the Sky’s reconstruction. Teresa Weatherspoon, the new coach, has her job cut out for her as she attempts to get Chicago back to being a competitive club. Jackson should be able to further develop her skills as a scorer in the WNBA after finishing her final two collegiate seasons as Tennessee’s best player. Jackson can play the role of a long, swift, and powerful wing-type player who can guard several spots, which is highly valued in the league.

Los Angeles Sparks: Kamilla Cardoso

South Carolina | C | 6-foot-7 | senior

Simply put, the 6-7 Cardoso is one of the rarest players in women’s basketball in terms of size, strength, and agility. She might therefore finish second or third. Coach Dawn Staley of South Carolina stated at the Albany 1 Regional that she is hoping to see Cardoso in the Final Four because she is “Killa Kamilla”—focused, resolute, and makes the most of her physical advantages. Cardoso and Brink might be viewed by the Sparks as a potent one-two punch inside.

Dallas Wings: Aaliyah Edwards

UConn | PF | 6-foot-3 | senior

Though it’s unlikely that they would pass up Edwards if she’s still available, the Wings could certainly use another 3-point shooter. Edwards, who assisted UConn in returning to the Final Four, appears physically well-suited for the professional game and has solid fundamentals, which is a quality shared by UConn players.

 Washington Mystics: Jacy Sheldon

Ohio State | SG | 5-foot-10 | senior

Sheldon guided Ohio State to the Big Ten regular-season title in her fifth year of college. Although Ohio State was disappointed by the postseason, Sheldon will now move on. She is a top-round defensive guard prospect in the draft. Washington is looking for someone with great leadership characteristics, like Sheldon, as the Mystics are going through a rebuilding phase.

Minnesota Lynx: Angel Reese

LSU | PF | 6-foot-3 | senior

The Lynx are probably going to use this choice to simply select the best player available given the roster they currently have. Will they believe that to be Reese? is the key question. Her greatest strength is rebounding; she excels at it. It is unclear if her scoring prowess will develop to the point where opposing teams feel compelled to play close defense even when she is not in the paint. The Lynx may choose Reese if they believe they can help her use her talent to further her career.

Chicago Sky: Isobel Borlase

Australia | PG | 5-foot-11

Since she is only 19, she has plenty of time to improve. However, Borlase hails from an extremely athletic family and has already competed professionally in her native country, playing for the Adelaide Lightning in the WNBL this season. Borlace has a competitive nature, good size, and talents. Working alongside a former point guard like Weatherspoon in Chicago might teach her a lot as a player.

Dallas Wings: Alissa Pili

Utah | SF | 6-foot-2 | senior

Although Pili has demonstrated incredible offensive ability in college, it is unclear how that will translate to the professional game. Dallas may benefit from her 3-point shooting prowess, as she has made 57 this season and 121 over her collegiate career. But will her offensive prowess be sufficient to earn her enough court time to develop her defense? Latricia Trammell, the Wings coach, is renowned for her ability to teach defense and develop players. Therefore, it will depend on if the Wings think Pili has a place and that she can actually improve.

Connecticut Sun: Dyaisha Fair

Syracuse | PG | 5-foot-5 | senior

A player like Sheldon of Ohio State would be ideal for the Sun, but it’s unlikely that she will remain available long. Fair, who concluded her five-season career with 3,403 points (22.2 PPG), may be chosen in its place. She is incredibly fast, tenacious, and accustomed to being taken advantage of due to her diminutive size. However, the Sun should give someone who has made this many baskets a closer inspection.

 New York Liberty: Charisma Osborne

UCLA | SG | 5-foot-9 | senior

Another fifth-year player, Osborne may be able to help the Liberty on defense, which is what they need. That was demonstrated by how hard it was for New York to contain the guards in Las Vegas during the previous year’s WNBA Finals. Even though Osborne averaged 14.9 points and 3.1 assists in her career, New York wouldn’t necessarily need a lot of her offensive output.

 Atlanta Dream: Nyadiew Puoch

Australia | PF | 6-foot-3

The 19-year-old Puoch is an example of a young talent with a high ceiling who the Dream would be looking to invest in. In her home country of Australia, she plays for the Southside Flyers, who took home the WNBL title this year. Although she might not be ready for the WNBA this season, it’s possible that she will sign a “draft-and-stash” deal with Atlanta in 2025.