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WNBA Draft grades: Fever earn A for picking Clark, Sky receive C+ even with Angel Reese

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Essentially the most anticipated WNBA Draft in latest reminiscence has come and gone. As soon as once more, it was a franchise-changing day for the Indiana Fever, who drafted Caitlin Clark. In the meantime, a number of groups made significant investments of their futures whereas others fine-tuned of their pursuit of a championship within the close to time period.

Let’s check out how effectively every group completed its objectives within the 2024 WNBA Draft. The grades are just a little bit larger throughout the board than final yr, however this was a greater pool of gamers. I’m permitting for some optimism.

Nyadiew Puoch (12), Isabel Borlase (20), Matilde Villa (32)

The Dream made three worldwide choices, all of whom are 19 years outdated, and none of whom project to play within the WNBA through the 2024 season. As such, it’s exhausting to say if Atlanta addressed any of its wants as a result of by the point these gamers come over, the roster might look dramatically totally different. Large image, Puoch and Borlase have been rated as first-round skills by the final managers The Athletic surveyed, so to choose up each with just one first-round decide is nice worth. However the Dream have an opportunity to get higher proper now with Rhyne Howard and Allisha Grey ranking among the many higher perimeter duos within the league, they usually punted on an opportunity for rapid enchancment, even when this trio of choices makes an affect down the road.

Kamilla Cardoso (3), Angel Reese (7), Brynna Maxwell (13)

On the one hand, I really like the gamers Chicago chosen. Cardoso and Reese might be a dominant frontcourt for the foreseeable future, they usually complement one another effectively. Maxwell is an impressive shooter who made 42.7 % of her 3-pointers and 91 % of her foul photographs throughout her five-year school profession. She was ninth within the nation in factors per play (1.17) this previous season.

However I can’t lose sight of what the Sky deserted to maneuver up one spot within the draft. They surrendered a second-round decide in 2025, which will likely be a deep draft as a result of all the seniors utilizing their pandemic bonus years have to return out. They gave up on Sika Kone, a promising younger participant. And, they allowed Minnesota to swap first-round picks with them in 2026 — if the rebuild doesn’t go shortly for Chicago, the entrance workplace might come to remorse that call. The Sky did obtain the rights to Nikolina Milić, however she’s already 30 years outdated and isn’t taking part in this season.

The haul Chicago acquired doesn’t fairly make up for the truth that the Sky surrendered useful belongings to get right here.

Connecticut Solar: B-

Leïla Lacan (10), Taiyanna Jackson (19), Helena Pueyo (22), Abbey Hsu (34)

The Solar’s frontcourt is fairly effectively spoken for with Alyssa Thomas, Bri Jones and DeWanna Bonner all returning. What the Solar wanted was reinforcements within the backcourt, they usually took some swings to make that occur. Lacan is a high-ceiling prospect, solely 19 and excelling in France. Nevertheless, the home league schedule makes it difficult for French gamers to return to the WNBA, so it’s unclear when Lacan will debut for the Solar.

Nevertheless, Connecticut discovered worth later within the draft. Pueyo is a dogged defender who can shoot the ball at a good clip from 3-point vary. Hsu’s dimension at 5-11 is useful for the place, and he or she’s a fairly strong first step. Taiyanna Jackson appears just a little duplicative of Olivia Nelson-Ododa, however she was an impressive defensive middle at Kansas and may no less than present some coaching camp competitors.

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Jacy Sheldon (5), Carla Leite (9), Ashley Owusu (33)

Are you able to inform the Dallas Wings wanted guards? Nonetheless, even whereas honing in on a positional want, the Wings nonetheless managed to pick out gamers with important upside. Sheldon is a 3-and-D archetype who excels in transition, making her a pure match for Dallas, which likes to play up-tempo. Leite turns 20 on Tuesday, and he or she already reveals the flexibility to run a professional offense whereas being a person scoring menace. Even Ashley Owusu has promise. She was the most effective taking pictures guard within the nation as a sophomore, so the expertise is there if she will be able to discover a correct exercise routine and regain her motor.

Indiana Fever: A

Caitlin Clark (1), Celeste Taylor (15), Leilani Correa (27)

In fact, anybody in Indiana’s place would have taken Caitlin Clark, however who cares? The Fever made themselves a sexy vacation spot for Clark, offering her with the motivation to declare from the draft, and did the apparent factor as soon as she declared. If you happen to decide a generational expertise, the draft grade goes to be an A.

Past Clark, I just like the choices of Taylor and Correa. Each are large guards, becoming with Lin Dunn’s philosophy (she drafted Grace Berger final yr, in any case). Correa can shoot just a little, whereas additionally attending to the rim often, and Taylor is a nasty defender who could make issues tough on Clark in coaching camp and in follow. Indiana has its tentpoles in place — all the selections now must be to optimize Clark and Aliyah Boston. Taylor is somebody who can play subsequent to Clark and make her life simpler, and Correa is an efficient flier to take at this level within the draft.

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Las Vegas Aces: B

Dyaisha Honest (16), Kate Martin (18), Elizabeth Kitley (24), Angel Jackson (36)

The Honest decide bought a lot of the hype, contemplating she is the third-leading scorer in Division I ladies’s basketball historical past. Nevertheless, I merely don’t see the necessity for one more bucket-getter on a group that already has A’ja Wilson, Jackie Younger, Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Grey. The Aces want function gamers who can fill within the gaps round their core 4. That’s why their decide of Kate Martin intrigues me. Martin may not be a WNBA-level athlete, so this choice might be moot, however Martin completely is aware of methods to amplify star expertise. She hits open photographs, she cuts exhausting, she units good screens, and he or she performs larger than she is on protection. Martin is likely to be extra expert than Kierstan Bell, so why couldn’t she take that spot on the Aces’ roster?

Moreover, getting Kitley on the finish of the second spherical is a heist. Though she will be able to’t play this season as she recovers from an ACL harm, maybe it’s higher for Kitley to be a stash. In that situation, she will be able to wait out Candace Parker’s eventual retirement to fill that frontcourt gap within the roster. There are considerations about Kitley’s footspeed, however she’s a three-time ACC Participant of the 12 months who persistently figures out a technique to produce. If she will be able to increase her vary — and that is the place being on the identical roster as Megan Gustafson might actually pay dividends — Kitley has a future on this league.

Los Angeles Sparks: A

Cameron Brink (2), Rickea Jackson (4), McKenzie Forbes (28)

This was a house run of a draft for Los Angeles. The Sparks bought the nationwide defensive participant of the yr in Brink, somebody whose defensive metrics alone made her a lottery decide. However Brink can also be an impressive playmaker and inside scorer with a burgeoning perimeter recreation as soon as L.A. lets her stretch her wings. At No. 4, the Sparks chosen the second-best scorer within the draft, somebody who can rating from wherever on the courtroom and demonstrated the capability to get her shot off in opposition to Group USA in a November exhibition. Brink and Jackson are an attractive ahead mixture that may scale up if L.A. goes small but in addition can play with one other large, whether or not that’s Dearica Hamby or another person the Sparks purchase down the road.

Deciding on Forbes within the third spherical is simply good enterprise. USC coach Lindsey Gottlieb has been touting Forbes as a first-round decide all yr. Even when she didn’t charge that extremely for WNBA groups, she nonetheless is a prolific shot-maker who reads the ground effectively, takes care of the ball and can deliver the rising Trojans fan base along with her to Crypto.com Enviornment, solely two miles away from the place USC performs its dwelling video games.

Minnesota Lynx: A

Alissa Pili (8), Kiki Jefferson (31)

It nearly doesn’t matter who the Lynx took at No. 8 — the fruits of the commerce they made with Chicago would have earned them a excessive grade regardless. Nevertheless, Minnesota ended up with Pili, probably the most unguardable gamers within the nation. Perhaps we don’t know what place Pili will defend, however opponents must defend her, and that doesn’t appear nice. I really feel loads higher about Pili’s WNBA future realizing she is beneath the tutelage of a seasoned and profitable head coach like Cheryl Reeve.

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Marquesha Davis (11), Esmery Martinez (17), Jessika Carter (23), Kaitlyn Davis (35)

Realistically, the Liberty have at most one out there roster spot, and the one want they’ve is a defensive-minded guard. I’d have most popular Nika Mühl on this spot as a result of she is an exceptional defender and in addition might have discovered the purpose guard place from Courtney Vandersloot as a succession plan. Davis is a greater athlete and maybe a extra versatile defender — her steal share is astounding — however Mühl is a greater shooter and playmaker and covers the purpose of assault simply as effectively. With a group like New York that’s contending instantly, I’d want a extra well-rounded participant.

Martinez and Carter are fascinating coaching camp gamers, each have a physicality that the Liberty didn’t all the time play with in 2023. New York introduced that Kaitlyn Davis will likely be competing for the 2025 roster, so she seems to be a home draft-and-stash, very like fellow USC product Okako Adika, who New York drafted in 2023.

Charisma Osborne (25), Jaz Shelley (29)

The Mercury have roster spots for the taking, they usually addressed that by deciding on two fifth-year seniors who might realistically contribute as rookies. Osborne was among the many 15 invitees to the draft; she has the pedigree of a better decide and must be able to defend on the very least. Shelley additionally will get after it defensively and performs with moxie; she’s all the time keen to take large photographs and shoots a excessive quantity of 3s. Phoenix is all the time in want of extra perimeter protection as long as Diana Taurasi occupies one of many different guard spots, and neither of those rookies will likely be intimidated by the personalities on the Mercury roster.

Nika Mühl (14), Mackenzie Holmes (26)

Seattle is one other group that wants bench contributors, and Mühl may already be the fourth-best guard on the roster. She will chip in as a backup level guard and play subsequent to the opposite Storm ballhandlers, simply as she did with KK Arnold and Paige Bueckers at UConn. After taking part in in three Ultimate Fours, Mühl shouldn’t be fazed by the strain of being on a group that desires to win proper now. There’s a robust custom of Huskies excelling in Seattle, so maybe Mühl is the newest in that line. Holmes already introduced that she’s going to endure surgical procedure to deal with some lingering accidents and won’t play in 2024.

Aaliyah Edwards (6), Kaylynne Truong (21), Nastja Claessens (30)

There isn’t actually something improper with the Mystics’ draft. They took two gamers who charge effectively statistically in Edwards and Truong, however I had hoped a franchise at this level in team-building would have taken a extra aggressive strategy. Washington has Shakira Austin as a focus, but it surely wants one other star, and I’m undecided any of the gamers it chosen have the upside of an all-WNBA participant. Admittedly, that’s a excessive bar. However it’s additionally what’s required of the most effective groups within the league.

(Images of Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Rickea Jackson: Sarah Stier / Getty Pictures)



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