Another exciting season has come and gone, punctuated by the South Carolina Gamecocks defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes to finish a remarkable undefeated season. Just a week separates the cutting of the nets from the WNBA draft. On April 15, a new rookie class will be introduced, with this year’s festivities taking place at the famed Brooklyn Academy of Music and fans attending for the first time since 2016.
The Indiana Fever are first on the clock, and their selection is the worst kept secret since, well… they selected Aliyah Boston with the no. one overall pick last April. Still, nothing is guaranteed, especially as this is the final time that all college seniors had the option to return to school for the 2024-2025 season for an extra year of eligibility, due to a COVID-19 waiver. Several potential first rounders—like Paige Bueckers, Georgia Amoore, and Ayoka Lee—exercised that right, so we’re still a year away from having their names in the draft pool. But don’t fret: There’s tons of talent for teams to add in this class.
Every year, this exercise is my favorite to put together at Winsidr. This is the fourth iteration of the Mock GM Draft, where we gathered eight of our writers and assigned each to a franchise (or, in Blake’s case, two franchises) that will make a selection (or two) in this year’s first round.
In addition to this written piece, Patreon members have some bonus content: We recorded this draft as it went live on Zoom. If you’d like to give that a watch, sign up for one of our three Patreon subscription tiers to support our work and gain access to some really exciting content this upcoming season.
Here’s how the draft order worked out, with each Winsidr writer noted in a parenthetical (along with a Twitter handle, so you can go find and yell at them when you hate their selection):
- 1. Indiana Fever (Blake Silverman, @blakesilverman)
- 2. Los Angeles Sparks (Owen Pence, @OwenPence)
- 3. Chicago Sky (Dani Bar-Lavi, @dblfluidity)
- 4. Los Angeles Sparks (Owen Pence, @OwenPence)
- 5. Dallas Wings (Justin Carter, @juscarts)
- 6. Washington Mystics (Kevin Forch, @WHWKevin)
- 7. Minnesota Lynx (Mitchell Hansen, @M_Hansen13)
- 8. Chicago Sky (Dani Bar-Lavi, @dblfluidity)
- 9. Dallas Wings (Justin Carter, @juscarts)
- 10. Connecticut Sun (Ace Pedraza, @candace_pedraza)
- 11. New York Liberty (Myles Ehrlich, @mylesehrlich)
- 12. Atlanta Dream (Blake Silverman, @blakesilverman)
Now, without any further preamble, the Fever are first on the clock.
1. Indiana Fever (Blake) – Caitlin Clark, Iowa
I rushed to turn this pick in so there wouldn’t be any backlash from my fellow mock GMs.
Indiana gets to pair last year’s first overall pick, Rookie of the Year, and WNBA All-Star, Aliyah Boston, with the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer in Iowa’s Caitlin Clark. We know what Clark can do as a scorer and shooter, averaging 31.7 points per game (PPG) and shooting 37.8 percent from three on a wild 13.7 attempts per game in her senior season.
Where I’m most intrigued with her fit in Indiana, though, is as a passer and pick-and-roll partner with Boston. On top of Clark’s insane scoring numbers, she’s averaging 9.0 assists per game (APG) as a senior, often making the right basketball play and leading her teammates to easy buckets. The sky is the limit bringing that alongside a star in the post like Boston. Not to mention, Clark gets to play with NaLyssa Smith too, who averaged a near double-double last season with 15.5 PPG and 9.2 rebounds per game (RPG).
Clark needs to improve defensively and adjust to the next level, but the Fever get another face of the franchise who brings an incredibly large fanbase nationally, centered in the Iowa native’s midwest. Perfect fit.
We already knew the pick here, so let’s get the draft properly started with the second selection.
2. Los Angeles Sparks (Owen) – Rickea Jackson, Tennessee
Whoa! First surprise of the draft and we’re only two picks in?
Look, Cameron Brink projects as a WNBA All-Star. Her defense is already special, and she has the tools to develop into a plus offensive player as a pro. Here’s the hitch—Jackson also projects as a WNBA All-Star, and I’m way more sold on her offensive floor and ceiling.
Jackson’s three-point numbers won’t knock your socks off, but she grew considerably from behind the arc in her two years at Tennessee. Jackson bumped her volume and efficiency on threes in 2023-2024, nailing almost 34.0 percent on 2.6 attempts per game. That three-point percentage isn’t amazing, but it’s nothing to scoff at for a stretch-four who can score at every level of the floor. The threat Jackson presents by proving she can hit triples puts a serious strain on the defense. As Jackson’s opponent, you’d rather she shot a three than put her head down and got to her spots in the interior, which makes it all the more backbreaking when Jackson cans one from deep.
Jackson is a serious competitor who does real damage on the boards. Per Her Hoop Stats, her 8.2 rebounds per game in 2023-2024 ranked in the 97th percentile for Division I. That’s not too shabby for someone who rarely plays center.
The fit here is perfect. Los Angeles needs versatile bigs following the departure of Nneka Ogwumike to Seattle. Selecting Jackson is the perfect way to begin this post-Nneka rebuild.
3. Chicago Sky (Dani) – Cameron Brink, Stanford
It was a no-brainer to draft Stanford’s Cameron Brink after the Sparks shocked the world by passing on the consensus second pick and letting her fall to us in Chicago. Brink has a championship pedigree and the potential to be the franchise player of this rebuilding team thanks to her on-court excellence and her off-court following, entering the league already a household name.
Brink is one of the premier defensive talents in this draft, an extremely dominant post defender (3.7 blocks per game during her senior year, leading the nation) with tremendous length and switchability to the perimeter. Brink is also one of the top rebounders in this draft, with her 11.8 rebounds per game ranking fifth in the country in that stat. Brink combines her size and defensive skills with an extremely high basketball IQ, complemented by the ability to score from all three levels (shooting just over 30.0 percent from three this season). Brink is about as full a package as you can get in a basketball player, and the Sky will be thrilled to anchor their rebuild with her in Chicago.
4. Los Angeles Sparks (Owen) – Aaliyah Edwards, UConn
When we did this exercise, I revealed my predicament: draft Kamilla Cardoso or draft Aaliyah Edwards? It was a 50/50 proposition in my eyes, so I went with the player whose offensive game is a little more stretched out—not dissimilar to my reasoning in picking Jackson over Brink.
I must say, watching Cardoso dominate the Final Four had me reconsidering my selection. Cardoso will thrive as a pro. Again, for a shooting-starved team like the Sparks, I prioritized shooting over everything, even if we’re only talking about mid-range and in.
Edwards inhales rebounds, is a nifty finisher, and has plus-touch on her jumper. She’s hung around 75.0 percent from the free-throw line over her last two seasons at the University of Connecticut, averaging over 4.0 attempts per game. Those are the type of indicators you want to be looking for when drafting fours and fives. Can they get to the line? And can they convert once they get there?
Cardoso may make me rue this prediction; nothing would make me happier. Really, this was a no-lose scenario for the Sparks, who now enter 2024 with two of the best players in college basketball.
5. Dallas Wings – (Justin) Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State
The Wings have some solid guards in the backcourt, but they still need a long-term solution to pair with Arike Ogunbowale, someone who can play defense and knock down shots. That’s where Ohio State’s Jacy Sheldon comes in. She doesn’t necessarily solve the issue of needing a true point guard beside Arike, but she does provide the defense and shooting, as she shot 34.0 percent or better from deep in all four of her full collegiate seasons. She can operate as a secondary ball handler to take some of the pressure off.
Long term, Dallas would be happy to have Sheldon as a first guard off the bench. For now, the Wings are content to take the talented Ohio State product and figure out what her role is as a rookie.
6. Washington Mystics (Kevin) – Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina
So much for the best laid plans, huh? Washington entered the draft looking to fill a void at ball handler and shooting that were left when Natasha Cloud left in free agency. However, when potentially the third-best player in the draft is available with the sixth pick, the talent outweighs the need.
Kamilla Cardoso demonstrates brilliance on the defensive side of the court, not just because of her height (which, at 6’7”, is a skill set in itself) but also because of her timing, footwork, and intelligence. All this combined makes her an All-Defense level player from the get go, with the potential to be a perennial DPOY candidate.
Cardoso, already a multi-season conference Defensive Player of the Year winner in college, will join a team featuring elite defensive talent all over the court. Her presence will allow teammate Shakira Austin to play a more power forward role and use her athleticism to guard further away from the basket, without losing protection at the rim.
Cardoso’s addition will help bolster the Mystics’ frontcourt this season, which will be without Elena Delle Donne after she opted not to come back this season following being cored by the franchise. Cardoso will need to demonstrate growth on the offensive end of the court to not only meet her potential but also to help fill the void left by Delle Donne and to fit in alongside another gifted post player in Austin. Cardoso has developed a nice touch around the rim in her time at South Carolina but does not have the same comfort with the ball in her hands outside the paint (except for a game-winning three-pointer against Tennessee in the SEC tournament, which was her only attempt behind the arc all season). If Cardoso can extend her range more consistently in the pros, she and Austin can be a formidable frontcourt pairing for years to come.
7. Minnesota Lynx (Mitchell) – Angel Reese, LSU
The Lynx front office thought long and hard between Angel Reese and Alissa Pili, who were both on the board at seventh overall, but Minnesota believes Reese will be able to step right into the roster already in place. Doing so, she will offer a much-needed boost defensively and on the glass to go along with her excitement, tenacity, and energy.
Reese fits in nicely with the Lynx roster alongside Dorka Juhász and Alanna Smith in the paint, showcasing her ability to put up double-double numbers throughout her time at LSU. Reese can rebound the ball well and is a strong defender (two things Cheryl Reeve and company value), and she will also be able to help Minnesota offensively, including getting to the free-throw line often. The Lynx don’t have a glaring need after making moves to address those needs in free agency, but the addition of Reese will add to the depth in the paint and could provide an energetic spark off the bench in 2024.
8. Chicago Sky (Dani) – Alissa Pili, Utah
In Alissa Pili, the Sky add a certified bucket-getter, the player who has been the anchor of an overperforming Utah offense for the past two seasons. Pili was one of the most productive and dynamic scorers in college this season, averaging 29.7 points per 40 minutes, good for 6th in the nation. Utah was the nation’s 13th most productive offense by offensive rating this season, scoring 108.7 points per 100 possessions, largely riding off Pili’s offensive impact. In addition to her scoring volume, Pili has been a highly efficient offensive tool in her college career, scoring 1.14 points per play according to Her Hoop Stats, good for 17th in the nation in that statistic. She also boasts a 59.9 percent effective field goal percentage, coming in at 66th in the nation.
While Pili doesn’t quite have the physical tools to start at power forward in the pro ranks, her scoring ability will make her a great fit at the four or five in smaller, offense-oriented line-ups off the bench. With this team in a rebuild, the Sky are willing to take a swing on a complete offensive package like Pili and trust that they can help her develop her defensive game and conditioning to become a more well-rounded player.
9. Dallas Wings (Justin) – Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech
If there’s one thing true about the Dallas Wings, it’s that the team loves draft picks. The problem with that is it becomes really easy to wind up with too many young players. That’s where this pick comes into play. Dallas would be better off if they draft someone here who won’t play in 2024. Maybe that’s an international prospect, or maybe it’s Elizabeth Kitley, who tore her ACL in Virginia Tech’s season finale. Kitley isn’t the ninth-best prospect in this class. She isn’t a position of need for Dallas. But she’s an effective inside scorer and rim protector who should be able to compete for a roster spot in 2025.
10. Connecticut Sun (Ace) – Taiyanna Jackson, Kansas
The Connecticut Sun are in an interesting spot right now. They have amazing vets in Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner holding them down heading into the 2024 season, and they will have back one of their rising stars from last year in Brionna Jones. Jones was sidelined after tearing her Achilles early in the year back in 2023, a huge blow to the Sun as she was averaging a whopping 15.9 PPG along with 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 steals.
However, they lost a major scoring option in Bec Allen, who signed with the Phoenix Mercury this offseason, and in Tiffany Hayes, who retired after a rich 11-year career in the league. That leaves them with a hole both in scoring options and in size.
Enter newest Sun, Taiyanna Jackson. The Kansas Jayhawk averaged an impressive double-double this season—12.6 PPG and 10.0 RPG—and a solid 57.4 percent from the field. Jackson can really move in the post and is going to be a tough player to box out for any team without a defensively minded big to battle with her down low. This is something Connecticut lost when Jonquel Jones departed, and it’s a hole they can certainly fill with Jackson.
11. New York Liberty (Myles) – Celeste Taylor, Ohio State
For the New York Liberty, who made it all the way to the Finals last year after adding Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Courtney Vandersloot in an offseason that shifted the W’s power tiers, the championship window is right now. While many of these GMs in the first round are looking for new talent to develop at a gradual pace, New York is on the lookout for a player to compete for reserve minutes as a rookie. And, as with all the other contenders, any roster reconstruction must be held up against the back-to-back champions, the Las Vegas Aces. A major reason the Liberty fell short last year was because of the team’s struggles to guard the perimeter. Because of the star-heavy (and salary-heavy) top of roster, there were limited options, so New York turns to the draft to find that second-unit stopper.
The Liberty had some preliminary trade talks (purely limited to this imaginary exercise) about moving up to try and grab Taylor’s college teammate, Jacy Sheldon, but the franchise had no chance to make it as high as five. Still, Taylor is a solid fit on this roster as a low-usage offensive player who has both the playmaking ability and the mechanics to build out a solid jumper in the pros.
Where she really excels, though, is on defense. One of four finalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, Taylor made her presence known on a Buckeyes defense that had already been one of the stingiest in the country, with their full court press suffocating opponents from the moment they crossed halfcourt. Per CBB Analytics, with Taylor on the floor, Ohio State’s defense was 12.2 points better per 100 possessions (a mark good for the 95th percentile in the country), and its opponent turnover rate clocked in at 4.3 percent higher (96th percentile).
At the top of the sport, the margins are ever so slight. The Liberty know where the Aces separated last postseason; Taylor can help to close that gap and potentially aid in bringing this franchise its first WNBA title.
12. Atlanta Dream (Blake) – Nyadiew Puoch, Southside Flyers (Australia)
First, I have to thank Myles for letting me jump back into this mock draft and play GM for Atlanta. I had to stretch my brain after picking for Indiana at number one.
However, I didn’t think too hard when I was back on the clock because Nyadiew Puoch was far and away the best prospect left on my board. She’s a 6’3” wing from Australia playing for the WNBL’s Southside Flyers. This season, she played alongside Seattle Storm center Mercedes Russell and Storm/WNBA legend Lauren Jackson.
Puoch averaged 6.2 PPG and 3.6 RPG in 27 games and 13 starts for Southside this season, according to the WNBL website. She’s debatably the most athletic prospect in this year’s draft class and can make an immediate impact as a defender. The hope is that she can make a leap as a shooter so she can effectively space the floor at her length. In the WNBL this season, she’s shot 40.9 percent from the field and 28.9 percent from three. Still only 19 years old and one of the draft’s youngest prospects, there’s plenty of time to make that jump.
The Dream could opt to go for a point guard or a traditional big here. However, after finishing with a 19-21 record and earning the fifth seed in the WNBA playoffs last season, I think they’re in a fine position to take an upside swing too. Take the best player available and let everything fall into place. I don’t love Puoch’s fit in Atlanta, but I love the player.
That concludes the 2024 Winsidr Mock GM Draft. Think we nailed it? Got a glaring omission you’ve got to cape up for? Sound off on social media to share your thoughts!
