On Monday night in Brooklyn, the Indiana Fever picked Clark as the number one choice in the 2024 WNBA draft. Clark, who set lots of records in college women’s basketball, got chosen. Academy of Music.
Indiana Fever Make Caitlin Clark of Iowa
The draft had fans attending for the first time since 2014-2016. Tickets for 1,000 spectators sold out in just 15 minutes after going on sale a few months ago.
Clark’s coronation was eagerly awaited since she decided in late February to join the league instead of using her remaining year of college eligibility.
Clark’s special moment, celebrated by her loved ones, her Iowa family, and ecstatic fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, as she proudly held up a Fever jersey on the jumbotron, remains unforgettable.
“Waiting at the table for my turn, surrounded by family, emotions run high. Unlike on the basketball court, where I’m not with my loved ones, this moment is shared with those who’ve supported and believed in me the most. It’s truly special.”
The Los Angeles Sparks, who are working on rebuilding after Nneka Ogwumike left in free agency, picked two players in the lottery: Cameron Brink from Stanford at No. 2 and Rickea Jackson from Tennessee at No. 4. Brink becomes the third Stanford player ever to be chosen in the top two of the WNBA draft, joining Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike, and she’s also Stanford’s 15th first-round pick.
Brink expressed his gratitude for staying on the West Coast and for the opportunity given to him. He feels determined to prove himself through hard work and assistance to the team. Being near his family holds significant importance for him.
Tennessee just drafted Jackson, their 19th first-round pick ever. That’s the second-highest number of first-round picks in WNBA draft history.
The Chicago Sky made big moves by picking Kamilla Cardoso from South Carolina as the third overall selection and Angel Reese from LSU as the seventh. Cardoso was the standout player in the 2024 Final Four, helping South Carolina win the national championship with an undefeated season. She even joined the team’s victory parade before heading to New York. Meanwhile, Reese earned her spot by being the Most Outstanding Player in the 2023 Final Four.
“Reese and I, we’re both top-notch players,” Cardoso remarked, recalling their matchups back in high school and the SEC. With a chuckle, she confidently declared, “Nobody’s grabbing rebounds against us.”
The Sky traded draft picks with Minnesota on Sunday, allowing them to choose seventh in the draft under the leadership of WNBA legend Teresa Weatherspoon.
Over the last two seasons, Reese racked up an impressive 61 double-doubles, making them the leader in Division I and second only to Sylvia Fowles in LSU history. Reese’s rise to stardom was highlighted by leading the Tigers to their first national championship in 2023. They now stand as LSU’s highest draft pick since Fowles, who was selected No. 2 overall in 2008.
Reese shared, “The talks were fantastic, and Weatherspoon felt like a mother figure to me. Being a Black woman as head coach, her NBA experience, and everything they offered made it a clear choice. Jeff, the GM, was also fantastic. Player development was key for me, and they valued that too. I’m thrilled about this move and can’t wait to start in Chicago.”
As women’s college basketball gained massive popularity thanks to standout players like Clark and Reese, the 2024 draft class is seen as a big deal for the WNBA.
Jackson expressed, “This group is one for the ages. I can really feel the uniqueness of this bunch. Women’s basketball is gaining so much attention right now. People are really getting into it. I’m thankful to be part of this draft. It feels like we’re moving forward positively.”
Jacy Sheldon from Ohio State was picked fifth by the Dallas Wings, while Aaliyah Edwards from UConn was selected sixth by the Washington Mystics. Edwards had her best season yet in 2023-24, averaging 17.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
Minnesota selected Alissa Pili from Utah as the eighth pick. Pili scored an average of 21.1 points in the last two seasons, placing her fourth in Division I, following only Clark (29.7), Ta’Niya Latson (21.3), and McKenna Hofschild (21.3).
The New York Liberty, who reached the WNBA Finals last season, chose Marquesha Davis as the 11th pick. Davis is only the fourth player from Ole Miss to be picked in the first round.
In the first round of the WNBA draft, three international players were picked: Carla Leite from France went 9th to Dallas, Leïla Lacan, also from France, was selected 10th by the Connecticut Sun, and Nyadiew Puoch from Australia was chosen 12th by the Atlanta Dream. This is the fourth instance where three or more international players have been selected in the first round of the draft, following the years 2021, 2001, and 2000.
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Clark, a 6-foot guard from West Des Moines, Iowa, comes into the league at the peak of her game. She’s been named national player of the year twice, and she wrapped up her college career with a whopping 3,951 points. That’s the most ever scored in Division I history for both men’s and women’s basketball. Along the way, she led the Iowa Hawkeyes to their first-ever back-to-back national title game appearances.
She’s become a sensation on the court, known for her incredible logo 3-pointers, jaw-dropping assists, and unstoppable scoring ability. In her senior year, she averaged an impressive 31.6 points per game, with a career average of 28.4 points. Her electrifying performances have filled arenas in Iowa City and beyond, breaking TV ratings records on various networks and streaming platforms.
She’s on cereal boxes and in State Farm ads, and she even popped up on “Saturday Night Live” recently. But now, her toughest test—and greatest chance to shine—is just around the corner.
The Fever haven’t made it to the playoffs since 2016, which was Tamika Catchings’ last season. But now, with Clark teaming up with Aliyah Boston, last year’s No. 1 overall pick, things are looking up. This duo could turn the Fever’s fortunes around, and maybe even shake up the whole league in the years ahead.
After winning the WNBA title in 2012, Indiana’s team has struggled since Catchings retired. They’ve had the lowest winning percentage in the league since 2017, even though they’ve had high draft picks in the last seven years. Unfortunately, four out of those seven picks are no longer on the team.
This past season showed promising signs for Boston, with the team securing their first No. 1 pick. The Fever won 13 games, tying their highest since Catchings’ retirement. With Clark joining the team, ending the longest active playoff drought seems very achievable.
“Absolutely, our aim is to revive championship standards,” Clark remarked, light-heartedly adding that despite not being a favorite among Indiana Hoosiers fans during her time at Iowa, she aims to win them over as Fever fans now. “I’m fortunate to join an organization that truly values women’s basketball. Just look at today, they had 17,000 tickets claimed just to watch the draft. That reflects the excitement in Indianapolis. It’s a fantastic basketball city.”
“I can’t think of a better place to kick off my career! This organization truly supports women’s basketball and does things the right way. I’m super excited to join them!”
Fever’s general manager, Lin Dunn, agreed with Clark.
“Dunn thinks it’s a great match for us. She’s from the Big Ten, from the Midwest. Can you imagine a better place for her than Indianapolis, Indiana? I sure can’t.”
Dunn was asked about the team having two consecutive No. 1 picks, similar to when she was the general manager of the Seattle Storm and drafted Lauren Jackson in 2001 followed by Sue Bird in 2002.
“Well, it’s not something that occurs frequently. But when it does happen—and if you look at history—it often leads to championships,” Dunn explained. “I believe this marks the start of our journey towards winning another championship here. Back in Seattle, when we paired Bird and Jackson— a fantastic point guard with a great post player—our team soared. I see the same potential here with Clark and Boston.”
Clark, who stands out as the sole Division I women’s player to achieve over 3,000 points and 1,000 assists, will team up with two promising young post players in Boston, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, and NaLyssa Smith, a lottery pick from 2022. Building on her chemistry with Iowa’s Monika Czinano and Hannah Stuelke, Clark’s potential connection with Boston and Smith in Indianapolis presents an exciting prospect for Fever fans.
“Being with a team that has, what I see as, one of the best post players globally, in my opinion, is exciting. As a point guard, I’m thrilled by that. My main focus will be getting the ball to Aliyah every day. That’s my role – pass her the ball and let her score. It’s going to make my job simple, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Clark will team up with two experienced guards in the backcourt: Kelsey Mitchell, who ranks fourth in all-time scoring in NCAA Division I and was one of the top 3-point shooters in the league last season, and Erica Wheeler, who is returning as the point guard.
“I’m 22, and I don’t have all the answers,” Clark explained. “This is new to me, a fresh challenge I’m eager to take on. It’s great to have supportive people I can turn to for advice or help when things get tough.”
Other prospects invited to the draft on Monday found their new teams: UConn’s Nika Muhl went to the Storm as the second pick in the second round; Indiana selected Ohio State’s Celeste Taylor at No. 15 overall; Dyaisha Fair from Syracuse, who ranks third on the all-time Division I women’s career points list, was chosen by the Las Vegas Aces at No. 16; Virginia Tech’s Elizabeth Kitley joined the Aces at No. 24; and UCLA’s Charisma Osborne was the first pick of the third round, heading to the Phoenix Mercury.
Kate Martin from Iowa, who came to support her teammate Clark, was also selected as the 18th overall pick by the Aces.
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