WNBA Draft 2024: Previewing the First Round
Top Prospects and Team Needs
The 2024 WNBA Draft is set for April 15th, and there are several top prospects who are expected to be selected in the first round. Iowa's Caitlin Clark is the clear No. 1 pick, but there are several other talented players who could go in the top five. Angel Reese of LSU, Azzi Fudd of UConn, and Haley Jones of Stanford are all considered to be potential lottery picks. In addition to the top prospects, several teams have needs that they could address in the draft. The Dallas Wings, who finished with the worst record in the league last season, have the No. 1 overall pick and could use a player like Clark or Reese to help turn their franchise around. The Indiana Fever, who also finished near the bottom of the standings, could use a boost in the frontcourt and may target a player like Jones.
Mock Draft Predictions
Several experts have released mock drafts for the 2024 WNBA Draft. Here is a look at how the first round could play out according to CBS Sports: 1. Dallas Wings - Caitlin Clark, Iowa 2. Indiana Fever - Angel Reese, LSU 3. Atlanta Dream - Azzi Fudd, UConn 4. Washington Mystics - Haley Jones, Stanford 5. New York Liberty - Dorka Juhasz, Ohio State 6. Minnesota Lynx - Sonia Citron, Notre Dame 7. Phoenix Mercury - Breanna Beal, Florida 8. Chicago Sky - Emily Bessoir, Oregon 9. Seattle Storm - Charisma Osborne, UCLA 10. Los Angeles Sparks - Raven Johnson, LSU
Key Storylines to Follow
There are several key storylines to follow ahead of the 2024 WNBA Draft. One is the potential for trades. Several teams could be looking to move up in the draft to select a top prospect, and there could be some big deals made on draft night. Another storyline to follow is the international flavor of the draft. There are several talented international players who could be selected in the first round, including Juhasz from Hungary and Osborne from Canada. Finally, it will be interesting to see how the draft impacts the upcoming WNBA season. Several teams could get a major boost from adding a top prospect, and the draft could shake up the league standings.
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