It’s been a few months since my last mock draft, and so much has changed between now and then. We’re now post-free agency and on the cusp of March Madness, so it’s time to revisit my previous thinking, and just like last year, I’m bringing aboard the Winsidr GOAT and women’s ball expert, Rachel Galligan, to make her selections. That’s right—for this year’s Mock 2.0, we are each going to make picks. Some will surely be the same and some will be different, but we’ll provide you with our thoughts for each selection of the thought experiment. This time, there are no caveats. Every draft-eligible player is available for this mock. However, we still don’t know most players who will come out, and we believe there is still a trade or two to be made that could shake things up, so this is subject to change.
1. Indiana Fever
Post-Free Agency Team Needs: Shooting
Mock 1.0 Selection: Caitlin Clark
Matt’s Pick: Caitlin Clark
I mean, who else was it going to be? Caitlin Clark has proven all she needs to in college, having recently declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft. Her confidence, shooting gravity, and competitiveness will be welcomed by the upstart Indiana Fever. The pick-and-roll combination of Clark and Aliyah Boston is going to put butts in the seats. She’s the generational talent Indianapolis has been searching for, a dream landing spot on a team that just so happens to need some backcourt scoring.
Rachel’s Pick: Caitlin Clark
I love the fit for both Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. Keeping Clark and her core fanbase in the Midwest is a win-win outside. Indiana built and revitalized this roster through the draft and with this pick, the Fever can continue to take the right steps to propel the franchise back to consistent winning ways. Clark is generational with not just her ability to score the ball but also her knack for setting up those around her. Securing her and her fanbase in Indiana is the ultimate no-brainer, win-win for the Fever.
2. Los Angeles Sparks
Post-Free Agency Team Needs: Shooting
Mock 1.0 Selection: Paige Bueckers
Rachel’s Pick: Cameron Brink
The second pick in this draft allows the Sparks to cast a wide net in terms of their draft preparations and really survey what is a key cornerstone this franchise can build around in the future. Cameron Brink is the perfect selection for this spot. Brink has added to her arsenal every year and when you combine the fact that she has yet to reach her ceiling with her overall skill set and her 6’4” length and frame, Brink would be a no-brainer selection for anyone in this league.
Matt’s Pick: Cameron Brink
With Bueckers announcing she’s returning to the Huskies for the 2024-2025 season, this shakes up the post-Clark draft pool. While I don’t think there’s an immediate post need, it’s hard for me to see LA passing on Cameron Brink. She has taken her game to another level for the Cardinal this season. Her offensive skill set is expansive, and her defensive rim protection is unmatched. Brink brings poise, character, coachability, and an impressive finishing package at the rim. Brink will flourish under Curt Miller’s tutelage, and even with a team packed with bigs, LA cannot pass on the best overall talent after Clark.
3. Chicago Sky (via PHX)
Post-Free Agency Team Needs: Shooting, Backcourt Depth
Mock 1.0 Selection: Cameron Brink
Matt’s Pick: Rickea Jackson
A wing player to replace Kahleah Copper should be the Sky’s priority in this draft. They could go point guard, but a wing player who can do a little bit of everything would fill a glaring hole in their roster. Enter Rickea Jackson, the best wing player in this draft. Jackson is the type of two-way player this team needs and will offer Chicago a way to rebuild on the fly. Jackson is a strong dribble-drive creator who can work well alongside Marina Mabrey’s outside shooting prowess.
Rachel’s Pick: Rickea Jackson
The Chicago Sky need a lot right now. The good news is they’ve found themselves relevant in the 2024 draft again. The Sky need scoring and cornerstone players capable of coming in and making an immediate impact. To me, nobody fits the bill better than Rickea Jackson. The 6’2” power forward has found herself at the top of mocks for the last couple of years but opted to remain at Tennessee for her fifth year. Jackson has a pro-ready frame, athleticism, and experience. She can score it, create shots for herself and others, rebound the basketball, and defend multiple positions.
4. Los Angeles Sparks (via SEA)
Post-Free Agency Team Needs: Shooting
Mock 1.0 Selection: Angel Reese
Rachel’s Pick: Kamilla Cardoso
I love the idea of Los Angeles loading up with two of the best interior players in the country in this class. With the loss of Nneka Ogwumike and a true end of an era in Los Angeles, the Sparks have committed to rebuilding through the draft and I just don’t see how they can pass up Cardoso’s rare size, paint presence, and rim protection—assuming she does declare for this year’s draft.
Matt’s Pick: Alissa Pili
You didn’t expect me and Rachel to agree on every pick, did you? Now that LA has found its foundational big, it needs to fill out its backcourt. A two-guard with shooting is a safe bet, and the best on the board is Alissa Pili. My love for her game is no secret, as she can get her shot from just about anywhere on the court. She’s experienced and polished, and for a team like LA who will want to rebuild quickly, Pili is a wise choice alongside Brink to get that off on the right foot.
5. Dallas Wings (via CHI)
Post-Free Agency Team Needs: Defense, Fixing the Roster Crunch
Mock 1.0 Selection: Rickea Jackson
Matt’s Pick: Jacy Sheldon
Dallas has to fix its roster crunch before anything else, which might mean this pick—along with other players—gets traded. If not, considering the glut of bigs they currently have, I say the Wings go backcourt. They could really use a facilitator and some extra scoring and leadership to take some pressure off Arike Ogunbowale. Jacy Sheldon is that player. She has managed to improve tremendously post-injury, impressing with her ability to play on or off the ball. Dallas doesn’t need another Arike in the backcourt, just someone with a high IQ who can drain shots when needed and draw some attention away from Ogunbowale.
Rachel’s Pick: Alissa Pili
It’s hard for me to look at this Dallas Wings roster right now and not question how long they will even have this pick. Assuming they do, I don’t see anything wrong with strengthening their wing/small forward presence to compliment their dynamic guard play and big interior presence.
I see Pili as a Swiss Army knife with a great combination of skill that makes her very versatile at the next level. The 6’2” power forward can score in a variety of ways. She can play with her back to the basket, stretch the floor, and create some mismatch problems at times.
6. Washington Mystics
Post-Free Agency Team Needs: Facilitator, Wing Depth
Mock 1.0 Selection: Aaliyah Edwards
Rachel’s Pick: Georgia Amoore
Georgia Amoore has established herself as one of the top point guards in the country with her playmaking, basketball IQ, and ability to shoot the ball. The Mystics are currently undergoing a major roster overhaul with the departure of Natasha Cloud at the guard spot and will require a young lead guard they can build around. Amoore is the type of player who can have an impactful future as a pro regardless of her size. Amoore is averaging career-bests in points per game (19.2 PPG), assists per game (6.9 APG), and field goal percentage (41.8 percent).
Matt’s Pick: Aaliyah Edwards
Another team I question whether they will still have their pick come April, the Washington Mystics require a new point guard with Natasha Cloud leaving for the desert and some wing depth to compliment Ariel Atkins and Shakira Austin. While I could see the Mystics taking Georgia Amoore here, I like what forward Aaliyah Edwards can bring to this team. She’s a terrific rebounder and post player, working both sides of the ball to her advantage. She hasn’t shown out this year like I had hoped, especially with a fully healthy Paige Bueckers, but she remains a well-rounded big who can flourish alongside Austin.
7. Minnesota Lynx
Post-Free Agency Team Needs: Size, Shooting
Mock 1.0 Selection: Alissa Pili
Matt’s Pick: Taiyanna Jackson
With Pili taken earlier, the Lynx can focus on rounding out some size and toughness on the block with their pick. If you don’t know her name, it’s time to. Taiyanna Jackson has been one of the most underrated storylines of the college season. She’s been a complete force for Kansas and will provide plenty of athleticism, size, punishing physicality, at-the-rim scoring, and rim protection. How head coach Cheryl Reeve chooses to rotate Dorka Juhász, Napheesa Collier, and Jackson will be a problem for another day. Fill out your frontcourt with this imposing presence of a player.
Rachel’s Pick: Aaliyah Edwards
Minnesota has an opportunity to strengthen and deepen its post presence with this pick, and Aaliyah Edwards is one of the top post players in this draft class with her efficiency and shot-making ability. Edwards is tough. She understands her assignments and rebounds the ball as well as anyone in the country. She has really evolved into a well-rounded player capable of helping a lot of teams in this upcoming draft class.
8. Chicago Sky (from ATL via LA)
Post-Free Agency Team Needs: Shooting, Backcourt Depth
Mock 1.0 Selection: Taiyanna Jackson
Rachel’s Pick: Jacy Sheldon
Sheldon has continued to impress during her fifth year at Ohio State. As one of the most experienced and well-rounded guards in the draft class, she is playing the best basketball of her career at the right time. Sheldon has an elite defensive presence and is averaging 18.1 PPG, 3.8 APG, and is shooting a career-best 38.3 percent from the three-point line, making her a solid option for the rebuilding Sky if she were to drop this far.
Matt’s Pick: Kamilla Cardoso
Okay, so your team has a sharpshooter, some capable frontcourt players, and a new wing to round out the roster. What do they do now? Plan for the future. In looking at the Sky’s cap sheet, they have several bigs who come off their books after the 2024 season. It would behoove them to find a player who can fill in in the frontcourt, even if she’s a project for the first couple of years. I don’t love the prospect, but I can understand the thinking, and if that’s the case, I can see Chicago taking Kamilla Cardoso here. She can back up Williams and Turner and play an impactful role, certainly on the defensive end.
9. Dallas Wings
Post-Free Agency Team Needs: Defense, Fixing the Roster Crunch
Mock 1.0 Selection: Jacy Sheldon
Matt’s Pick: Georgia Amoore
Even if the Wings snag Sheldon earlier (although, if I’m Greg Bibb, I’m asking around to see which established backcourt player I can get with that pick), they still need a true point guard. I love Veronica Burton, but I’m not sure if she’ll be more than an occasional starter with terrific defensive chops. Dallas fans, meet your new floor general in Georgia Amoore. Blacksburg is over 1,000 miles from Dallas, so if you don’t know her, let me introduce you. She’s a wizard off the dribble, runs a masterclass in the pick-and-roll game with her favorite big, and can add plenty of three-point shooting. If the Wings are serious about challenging New York and Las Vegas, they will need to add depth and reliable facilitation to orchestrate their offense.
Rachel’s Pick: Charisma Osborne
Osborne is a fifth-year guard who has been in talks of first-round potential for two years now. She is a valuable weapon on both ends of the floor with her ability to facilitate, score, and defend. The Wings have a lot of young players they have drafted in recent years, and it will be interesting to see who they choose to move forward with, but I feel they could use some added depth and playmaking ability at the point guard spot. Osborne would be a great option for just that.
10. Connecticut Sun
Post-Free Agency Team Needs: Size, Shooting
Mock 1.0 Selection: Hailey Van Lith
Rachel’s Pick: Angel Reese
Connecticut needs to start eyeing the future when it comes to bringing in and developing top-tier talent through the draft. Who better to do that with than Angel Reese, who has established herself as one of the most dominant forwards in the country in the last couple of seasons at LSU. It’s hard to speculate where she may go in this draft, but if available at No. 10, she sure would be a player the Sun would have difficulty passing up. There are a lot of questions surrounding Reese: Does she return for a fifth year? How will she translate to the WNBA? But any team would find major value in her flat-out nose for the ball and ability to pursue the glass.
Matt’s Pick: Angel Reese
Reese has dropped some since the early days of the college basketball season due to both on- and off-court factors. When locked in, Reese is a terrifying player to play against. However, her motor and work ethic have been questioned in the past, and coming into a league with plenty of physically gifted players, she will need to fill out physically to accompany her athleticism. On a team like Connecticut, where she doesn’t have to be the focal point (especially right away with players like Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones in the paint, with the occasional appearance from DeWanna Bonner), Reese can take her time acclimating to a new system and league as she learns the ropes while simultaneously adding more size and depth to the Sun bench.
11. New York Liberty
Post-Free Agency Team Needs: Backcourt Defenders, Youthful Depth
Mock 1.0 Selection: Elizabeth Kitley
Matt’s Pick: Elizabeth Kitley
I’ve been high on Kitley for some time, and this year is no exception. Kitley has been the driving force of everything Virginia Tech wants to do, as she’s the offensive fulcrum and defensive anchor that makes the Hokies so good. Injury or not, Kitley will be a draft selection, despite what’s been said about her athleticism or the history of true centers. How high is anyone’s guess, but I believe she’ll be a valuable player in the W that can help a team’s bench right away. The Liberty need some youthful, energetic depth to fill out their bench. Kitley can offer just that with her size, court vision, footwork, and offensive bag that will create matchup problems for opposing teams’ second units.
Rachel’s Pick: Elizabeth Kitley
If Liz Kitley were somehow available at No. 11, what a steal for the Liberty. Kitley was just named three-time ACC Player of the Year and is one of the most dominant and productive post players in the country. Kitley is efficient around the rim to 17 feet, has a rare skill set with her footwork and ability to fade away and create separation on her shot, and rebounds the ball at an elite rate. Despite her unfortunate injury keeping her out of the ACC Tournament and future unknown at this time, Kitley’s overall skill with her size makes her a viable option for the future.
12. Atlanta Dream (from LV via LA)
Post-Free Agency Team Needs: Facilitator, Size
Mock 1.0 Selection: Georgia Amoore
Rachel’s Pick: Taiyanna Jackson
There’s something to be said about a player with elite length and a ceiling, and that is exactly what I believe Jackson to be. At 6’6”, she has elite length and athleticism and has been a consistent double-double for Kansas the last three seasons. While her range is limited, she has touch and is efficient around the rim offensively with a great ability to run the floor. Arguably one of the best assets to her game is her ability to block shots and provide valuable rim protection. The Dream have lacked size and post depth for a while, and Jackson could be a nice addition to continue to develop for the future.
Matt’s Pick: Charisma Osborne
I’ll be honest: I don’t love Osborne as a prospect, but she’s been a huge reason why UCLA has been as good as they’ve been this season. Additionally, the Dream need someone to help facilitate, score, and overall just play well off Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, and Osborne can be that player. If Jackson falls, I agree with Rachel in that I can see the Dream taking her here, as I did in my first mock this year, but I feel that Osborne rounds out the backcourt and can contribute in multiple ways to solidify what will be one of the top backcourts in the league.
All stats as of 3/13. Unless otherwise noted, stats courtesy of team websites and Herhoopstats.com.
