← No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
WNBA Draft Preview: Will Caitlin Clark Immediately Star for the Fever?
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- [00:02]
Sponsor Voice
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- [01:21]
Ben Pickman
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- [03:23]
Sabrina Merchant
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- [03:44]
Zena Keda
There to watch em.
- [03:44]
Sabrina Merchant
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- [04:56]
Zena Keda
For the Athletic I'm Zena Kaeda and this is the Athletic Women's Basketball Show. Welcome to the Athletic Women's Basketball show where we are here to talk all things women's basketball. It's officially time for the WNBA season. So whether you're a die hard fan of the W that eats, sleeps and breathes the game or you're just a casual fan looking to bridge the gap between The NCAA season and now going into the W season. Make sure to subscribe to this pod wherever you get your pods to stay up to date. You're going to want to subscribe to the Athletic as well, because our writers are covering this game year round in depth in a way that you're going to love. I'm Zena Kada, joined today by athletic women's basketball writers Sabrina Merchant and Ben Pickman, here to help break down what's about to happen on Monday night. Yes, the WNBA draft with a very anticipated rookie class is about to happen on Monday night. But let's first go through what we're going to cover today. Number one, we're going to set the scene a little bit. We got to understand what's going on with the WNBA draft. What are lottery picks? How did this all get set up? And then also how fast are these players having to turn around from their NCAA seasons to the W? We're going to break that down. Then we're going to go into the lottery picks. These are the top four picks in the W. We wish we could go through every single player. But people, we've got limited time. We're going to talk about some of the teams that need to make some moves, teams that are going to be on our radar at the draft and then players to watch outside of the lottery. Some people that are going to make a special splash in the W, we think. Last but not least, got to be fun. Got to make some surprise predictions what would be crazy to happen at the W. But Sabrina, Ben, thank you for joining me. Let's dive right into the fact that this draft is happening on Monday. That's not where all this started. There was a lottery, a draft lottery. So Sabrina, can you break down how we got to this draft and how the draft lottery worked?
- [07:12]
E
Right. So the WNBA draft lottery involves the four teams that missed the playoffs the prior season. So that was Indiana, Los Angeles, Seattle and Phoenix. And you know, they put lottery balls in the machine and pick them out and figure out who gets the first pick, the second pick and then the third and fourth or just by descending record. So Indiana won the first pick. Obviously. That's why we've been talking about them and Caitlin Clark for so long since December. Los Angeles moved up and got the second pick. Then Phoenix was in third and Seattle was in fourth. And partly because of Seattle and Phoenix's free agency ambitions and partly because of the uncertainty with the draft, you know, there's still the COVID year that everybody was considering back in December. Don't know who's going to declare for this draft or who's going to wait until 2025. Phoenix traded their lottery pick to Chicago to get Kalia Copper, part of a bigger deal. So Chicago will now be selecting third. And Seattle traded their lottery pick to Los Angeles in a move to clear salary cap space to sign Skyler Diggin Smith and Neko Gumaque, which worked out swimmingly for them, I would say. So now LA has two lottery picks at two and four, and Chicago is in at number three.
- [08:17]
Zena Keda
There you go. Okay, so the 2024 WNBA draft order is going to be Indiana fever first, Los Angeles sparks second, Chicago sky because they got their pick from the Phoenix Mercury, the Los Angeles Sparks, who got a pick from the Seattle Storm. Then the Dallas Wings are up there. They got a pick from the Chicago Sky. After that, Washington Mystics, Minnesota Lynx, Chicago Sky. They got theirs in a three team trade from the Atlanta Dream via the Los Angeles Sparks. Los Angeles was busy, folks. They were very busy in this off season. Then Dallas swings again. They got the ninth spot, Connecticut sun, the New York Liberty, and then the Atlanta Dream. And they got that 12th pick in the first round from Atlanta Dream. They got theirs from the Aces, who got theirs from the Sparks. Because of course, the Sparks were just giving things out all the way around. There are three rounds in the WNBA draft, three rounds of 12 picks. And so it's about to get busy. And we're going to, we're going to talk about, you know, the first four, those lottery picks. But before we do that, Ben, the championship was like yesterday. The fact that these young women have to go from the NCAA season and turn around and go straight to the draft and then go into pre camps and all the above. What does that process look like?
- [09:32]
F
Well, it's a whirlwind of a process, right? You think about someone like Caitlin Clark as an example. She will have played in the NCAA championship. On Sunday, they flew back to Iowa again. I think it was Monday morning. They spent some time in Iowa this week and you know, by the following Monday on the WNB draft, she's very much in New York preparing for the next chapter of her life. Things only get busier from there. WNBA training camps open at the end of April. Preseason starts shortly after, and this regular season begins. I believe it's May 14th. This year is when Indiana will play its first game. So Caitlin Clark will have just around a month, about a month between her last college game and her first regular season WNBA game. It was something that Lisa Bluder The Iowa head coach kind of talked a little bit about at the Final Four, just acknowledging that, like, fatigue could be a factor at the start of this debut season.
- [10:23]
Zena Keda
Right.
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F
You know, not only are you adjusting to speed of the game, different players, you know, a higher level of players, stronger players, but you're also coming off a full season. You know, something Diana Taurasi also touched on during Team USA's Olympic camp in Cleveland. Just the need for other rookies to go through an adjustment period. You know, Taurasi used the phrase, there's a period of grace that you have to give rookies when they get to the league. Now, all of that is not to say that Caitlin Clark can't come in and have a significant impact on the WNBA either. Right. You look at the last two years, the number one pick in each of those drafts, Aaliyah Boston and Ryan Howard, both made all star teams and won rookie of the year in their first season. So we could definitely see Caitlin Clark come in and be among the best players in the wnba. But there is just an acknowledgement that rookies have this transition that they're going through. Some are finishing up classes, coursework, final exams. You know, that's just part of par for the course at this point with how the two seasons are stacked up and how the cycle is kind of.
- [11:18]
Zena Keda
Set up and, oh, yeah, they got to graduate. What? This is insane. All right, well, let's get into the people that are looking to go in the top four that are the. The draft. The draft lottery picks. Of course, you've heard it before. Indiana Fever, who, by the way, kudos to their social team. They have been doing work to make sure that the public is prepared for the storm. That's going to be Caitlin Clark joining forces, especially with Aaliyah Boston bridging the gap between the college and wnba. It's been really fun to watch them really live in the moment. So first up, and this is on our 2024 WNBA mock draft, which you can see, it's live on the site right now. Shout out to Sabrina doing the work that she did to put that piece together. But in the mock draft, Sabrina, you got Indiana Fever choosing Caitlin Clark. You and the rest of the entire world, everyone got to see Caitlin Clark on full display during the tournament. Her shooting, her assists, which to me was the most impressive part of her game. But when you think about what Indiana needs in terms of supporting Boston to be able to make a run in the W, what part of Caitlin's game is going to be the most critical?
- [12:30]
E
I Think it's her ability to run the offense as a point guard like you mentioned with her passing. Indiana doesn't really have a high quality point guard. They have an all star at shooting guard and Kelsey Mitchell, they have obviously that franchise cornerstone and Aaliyah Boston at center. But they need a lead guard to run everything. And that's where Caitlin steps seamlessly right in. You know, just an outstanding passer, whether that's in transition or in the half court. And she's got really good size for a point guard too. She's six feet, which is a little bit bigger than most point guards in the wnba. So yeah, I think even if you know, she's not translating that scoring immediately to the W like she is the leading scorer in college basketball history after all, even if that's not immediately on display in her pro career, she'll be really important as a passer and I think really good as a passer right away.
- [13:11]
Zena Keda
I agree. And Ben, we've heard everyone talking about that it's not an easy transition from college to wnba and Diana Taurasi even talking about the reality that came Caitlin Clark is going to have when she gets to the W season. With Sabrina just mentioning that she made history in college, I'm imagining there's going to be a high standard for her to meet in the W. What would you say is a successful season for Caitlin on the W level?
- [13:36]
F
Well, it's funny, I think if you were going to ask her this question and people at the Fever, they would say make the playoffs first and foremost. Like they would go team. And I think that is kind of part of Caitlin Clark's MO is like she always praised her teammates and the program as a whole at Iowa before she turned to her own numbers. And so, you know, when you kind of project her, you know, pro season, I wouldn't expect her necessarily to average. I think it was like 32 points, eight assists, something like that, nine assists. The way she did this past year at Iowa. I think the thing that everyone seems to talk about is her passing ability as Sabrina alluded is that's going to translate immediately. I definitely think her shooting, her ability to stretch defenses makes her a threat right off the bat. You know, I think we're going to see opposing teams attack her defensively and really make her guard in the half court on the defensive end. That's something I think is fair to, you know, other teams will game plan for just to wear her out. But you know, Sabrina and I talked to a number eight WNBA GMs over the past month, month and a half, about different prospects in the draft. I mean, we heard effusive praise about Caitlin Clark, a generational talent. Someone said that she can be the backbone of a franchise. You know, someone else told me first story that's running on Monday that they would trade currently their whole team for Caitlin Clark, both because of what she can do to sell tickets, but also because she's such a great piece to build around. Like, I don't think there are any questions here. You know, she might not come in and be the best player in the league the way she was unequivocally in college last year, but you listen to some of these basketball minds. Becky Hammond came on our podcast back in, you know, January and said her game's going to translate. T spoon coaching the sky said the same thing. So, you know, that's why Lyn Dunn and the Fever were so happy back in December when they won the number one pick in the WNBA draft.
- [15:13]
Zena Keda
I just remember Kim Mulkey being like, I'm happy I don't have to deal with you anymore. You are no longer a problem. I'll say this Caitlin Clark, in terms of her basketball impact and what will be successful for her, don't know. There's going to be a lot, I think, you know, the playoffs, I agree, is it's definitely going to be a thing for her, but financially, I think she's already done what she's supposed to do. You're already hearing the WNBA talking about doubling their fees. You're talking about the Indiana Fever sold out their lower level back in December when they got the first draft pick and everyone was like, oh, okay, yeah, it's going to be Caitlin. We got to get in to see this action. And so the way that teams are already setting themselves up financially, Caitlin Clark is very much a contributor to that. But let's keep going because this draft, I think, is a forwards draft. Of course, Caitlyn Clark is a guard taking up all the shine up at the top, but you keep going down the list. And now the Fords get to come to play and Stanford showing up in a big way. Cameron Brink in our mock draft is going number two to the Los Angeles Sparks. And when you think about the fact that the Sparks just lost Neca Iwimeke, there's a hole. There's a hole to be filled. Sabrina, do you think that Cameron Brink could be the hole, the person that could fill those shoes?
- [16:31]
E
Yeah, it'd be interesting if Paige Beckers were in this draft class. I think The Sparks would really have to think about who they would select between Cam and Paige at that number two spot. Just because I think the way the league is moving, you know, you really want to have a super solid perimeter creator, but that's not a choice they have to make anymore. And I think it's Brink pretty clearly. You know, we've heard some rumblings about Camila Cardoso doing well to improve her draft stock because of her tournament showing. We are talking about the most outstanding player of the 2004 NCAA tournament after all. But I think this is still Brink spot. I mean you mentioned the narrative around it like one Stanford great stepping into another Stanford great shoes. She's a west coast girl, you know, born and raised in Oregon, played at Stanford, coming down to la. It all naturally makes sense. She's also just an outstanding defensive player in college, right? Just national defensive player of the year, All American. Has just insane timing on her blocks and steals and reads the floor really well. Shoots 85% on her free throws, which is a great thing to have if you're a big suggest that she can, you know, spread out her offense a little bit to the perimeter. I think the way she was used at Stanford was a little bit too interior based. So the Sparks will get to expand her game a little bit and they'll have the Runway to do that because cards on the table, the Sparks are going to suck this year. So, you know, I think, I think it all just sets up nicely for Cam to have a growing pains season here in Los Angeles. I wouldn't expect her to really contend for rookie of the year just because of the context of what the Sparks are working with. But you know, going forward, like her ceiling is as high as any big in this draft. Anybody but Caitlin, just with her defensive potential, with her shooting stroke, with everything she can do on the court.
- [18:03]
Zena Keda
There you go. And Sabrina, you call out the fact that, you know, she did go to Stanford, which is has always been, I think a post forward school. They definitely focus on their post play. Ben and you when you think about transitioning to the WNBA for Cameron Brink, her outside shot, her ability to create away from the basket, I think is a thing that comes to mind. What do you think that Cameron Brink needs to develop in her game to help her elevate as a rookie in the W. Yeah, that's a good question.
- [18:33]
F
I mean, I think, you know, we see so many bigs are very versatile right now and able to step out and shoot it from the perimeter. Cameron Brink really didn't show a Lot of that. Or if not from three, at least in college. She attempted just two per game last season, shot just 30% on those attempts. I mean, for me, some of the questions that, you know, I think executives have raised about Cameron Brink or just Flag is obviously foul trouble. That was something that kind of plagued her a little bit throughout Stanford. We saw it when she appeared on the Two Bird broadcast.
- [19:00]
Zena Keda
Oh, that was hilarious. Speaking of Fallon, there's Karen Brink.
- [19:06]
F
Exactly. And like, that is something that I think, you know, people are going to have to watch for as she transitions to the wnba. But again, this is a team, the Sparks, that is not going to be contending probably for a playoff spot, let alone for a championship this year or a top four seed. And so she's going to be able to have room to learn and grow. I think an underrated facet of her game is toughness is something people talk a lot about. Another thing people don't, I think, understand or recognize enough about Cambrink. She talks a lot of trash. That was something that Sabrina and I heard from a lot of players during the NCAA tournament. So, you know, we'll see how she fits. But, you know, Cameron Brink is a great prospect, and I think a ton of teams in this draft would be really, really excited to pick her. And it looks like Los Angeles is going to be in the driver's seat to do just that.
- [19:49]
Zena Keda
Okay. All right, well, let's move on from the west coast to the middle of the country. Chicago sky have that third pick from Phoenix, and the Athletic is predicting Rekia Jackson from Tennessee, the 6:2,4 that was trying to do any everything to keep her team moving forward when she wasn't injured this past year. But averaging 20 points, eight rebounds, she is a creator as a forward. She is going to put the ball on the deck and get to the basket. Ben, I'll start with you this time. Rekia Jackson was one of those players that you saw her game even as a junior and you're like, oh, she's ready for the W. She's the person that dropped 15 against Team USA when they came and played, you know, Tennessee. She has shown up in these spaces. She looks ready. Do you have any concerns or any hesitation on how she's going to get to the next level? Do you think she's going to be able to immediately get to the starting lineup?
- [20:46]
F
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I think she is a prospect that we, Sabrina and I had one general manager tell us, describe her like a microwave, because if her ability to score in bunches Someone else told us that they actually had Rekia Jackson as the number two player in the country, you know, as the season was coming to an end. You know, she can create off the dribble, she can score off the catch from the perimeter. She has a post game, she competes with size, like she's able to get to the basket, especially in the offensive end. I think she's going to come in and really be able to make an impact. And you know, at number three with Chicago, like them having traded Kalia Copper away to Phoenix, you know, it seems like she would slide right in and be a bucket getter and attack the basket and provide a jolt on offense and, you know, really be one of the centerpieces that they build around going forward as they, you know, chart their new course in the franchise without Copper. So Rekia Jackson, a really, you know, pro ready prospect was something that I think a lot of people believe and that's why we have her at number three going to Chicago.
- [21:46]
Zena Keda
Now. The only thing that I can think about with Rekia Jackson in terms she did have some injuries and then Sabrina, you mentioned in your piece that she had an unexplained suspension. Her college career has had a little bit of some ups and downs. It hasn't been a smooth sailing. It hasn't been Rekia Jackson on the map consistently. That is something that makes me think, hmm, how can this show up with the Chicago sky? What are your thoughts around her consistency getting to the next level?
- [22:15]
E
I think that's the main question with Rekia is like the motor and she looks great, you know, playing against Team USA and playing against South Carolina and the SEC tournament and then, then, you know, there's a game against Florida or there's a game against Arkansas and it's not the same Rekia Jackson. It's a lot of settling for mid range jumpers and not really getting to the basket or really imprinting herself on the game. And you know, as you mentioned, there was this weird case last season, 22, 23, where she was, you know, indefinitely suspended by Kelly Harper for two games. We never really understood why that happened. But you know, she came back, finished the season really well, like Ben was saying. I mean, when we did this anonymous GM scout last year, people were already saying she was pro ready and she decided to use her Covid year to come back. So the body's there, like that's not the issue. It's more which Rekia Jackson are you getting every night? I'm of the belief that she looks really good in Big games. And every day in the WNBA is gonna be a big game. She's gonna have to bring it every night. But, I mean, we don't know what those practice habits are. Right? That's something that, like, we. We're just not privy to. And there is a little bit of inconsistency in her overall output. So I can understand, like, why there would be some concern, because you just look at her box scores and like, oh, it's 22 points and eight rebounds. The best conference in the country. Like, what's not to like?
- [23:25]
Zena Keda
But.
- [23:25]
E
But obviously there's a whole picture of a player, especially when you're Chicago and you have one player on contract beyond this season in Marina Mabry. So you're really building from the studs as this guy. And so you want someone who's going to be, like, a foundational prospect that's going to anchor your team for a long time. And that's why, like, you hear a lot of Cardoso noise. I mean, if I were to publish a mock draft, like, again, before the draft, I think I'd probably have Cardoso in this third spot just because of everything she was able to do for South Carolina. The fact that, as GMs keep telling us, you can't teach 6, 7 and you cannot, you know, she's. She's the anchor of everything the Gamecocks did on both ends, right? Whether that's, you know, cleaning up everything on the glass offensively backstop for, you know, her guards who are pressuring up on defense. We'll obviously get into Cardoso right away. But, like, I'm not sure that Rekia is a guaranteed lottery pick at this point just because of the, you know, everything else that surrounds her on the court.
- [24:17]
Zena Keda
Sure. Okay. Well, I'm. Like I said, you guys are so smart. You guys perfectly transitioned me into our next topic, which was, of course, Camila Cardoso. And like I said, it's a forwards draft right now because the Los Angeles Sparks getting that fourth pick from Phoenix have a chance to choose again. And they could just go crazy with the posts picking Camila Cardoso at number four. Now, Cardoso's performance in the tournament had me saying, oh, she going number two. It's just not. It. It's not a question. Okay. The way that Cardoso shows up on the floor in terms of just one. She affects everything. She's like. Like you said, she's an anchor, but it's all. She's like a gravitational force as well, in the way that on offense, you put the ball into her. There's something else going on around her. Either she's scoring or is going back out and there's a wide open shot because she pulls so many people to her, or she could just shoot over them because she's 6, 7. I will say I would love for her touch to be a little bit better around the basket. She's missed some bunnies before, but I'm not here to analyze them. You guys are here to analyze her. So, Ben, I'll start with you. When you think about Camila Cardoso's journey from Brazil to South Carolina, which we've had some really beautiful storytelling of just how much her life has changed, going from, you know, where she came from in Brazil to come here, play without her family, and make an impact on South Carolina the way she did, and she was playing behind Aaliyah Boston. What impresses you most about the growth in her game? What part has grown to you the most?
- [25:58]
F
I mean, she's a really good passer out of the post. I think that is one thing that sticks out. And it was something you saw a lot throughout the NCAA tournament. And, you know, every time it seemed like South Carolina needed a basket during that tournament run, it wasn't necessarily Cardoza scoring that basket, but time and time again, they tried to play through her. And that was something they did throughout the regular season again. And, you know, that is a credit, obviously, not just to her ability to score in the post, but also to find open teammates when she gets, you know, two, three people going around her. I mean, the thing that sticks out most about her game is what Sabrina said. And it is the sentiment that we heard more than anything else as it relates to her, and that is that she is 6 foot 7 that you just can't. She has what you can't teach is what I think one executive put it to us. And, like, that means that, sure, there's a lot of room for development in her game still, but the fact that she's 6, 7 and that she has the strengths that she does, I think it is why she is an appealing prospect and why, you know, I think she's pretty safely gonna go within the top four on a Monday night. There's just a lot to like. And as everyone says, she has what you can't teach in that height. And she has a lot more than that, though, too.
- [27:02]
Zena Keda
I mean, I wish the way that South Carolina played through Camila Cardoso, I wish UCLA would have done that more with Lauren Betts. I feel like that was the biggest miss in Terms of being able to utilize Lauren Betts while they had her. Anywho, that's just an offside. But Sabrina, when you think about Camila Cardoso, Ben just said there's things to develop in her game. What would you say you'd want her to work on most to be able to be the most efficient at the next level?
- [27:29]
E
I think you mentioned her touch, you know, just her individual offense in the post. It's really just deep seal gonna turn right over you. There's not a lot of craft in terms of her post moves, which is fine. Like South Carolina didn't need that from her. They needed to move quick. So either that was redirect the ball out or just immediately put it up. But in the wnba, like she will be going up against taller centers, right? Like Jonquil Jones is 66 Tierra McCowan 6'seven people will be able to match her size in the post and so she'll have to, you know, develop a little post up package there. But I mean she runs the floor really well, like rebounds the ball really well. She gets good position in the post, you know, even if it's, you know, not turning that into spectacular footwork or whatever. I think defending in space, obviously something bigs always have to work on when they come to the wnba. Just because there's defensive three seconds, right. You can't just camp out right by the basket. So you know, those are all things that'll come with time in the W. I'm not concerned about Camilla learning any of that because I mean I just look at where she was last year at this point. You know, she was already even as a bench player, the best on off like metrics person on South Carolina. Whenever she got on the court, even though she was like coming in for one of the freshy starters or Victoria Saxton, like she was the one who was making the most notable impact for South Carolina. And then you just see her dominate this year. Like even looking at where she was against Notre Dame at the start of the season to how she played against Iowa to end it, like her growth has just been phenomenal and so she seems very teachable and that has to, you know, impress a lot of WNBA talent evaluators.
- [28:54]
Zena Keda
I'll tell you why I thought that Camilla Cardoso might go over Cameron Brink because as amazing of a defender Cameron Brink is, she is a foul prone post and Camilla Cardoso has an ability to defend, to block shots and not find herself in a lot of foul trouble. It feels as if she's pretty disciplined. In that regard. So I think you make a great point about the defending in space, because the way that WNBA guards come off screens, that drop coverage ain't gonna work. You're gonna have to figure out a way to contain some of these guards. All right, that is our draft lottery pick. But there's so many other players that are obviously in this draft. Let's now talk about some of the ones that are probably going to make a splash. Could make some surprises. Ben, I'll start with you. The one that sticks out to me in my mind, that is such an interesting fit. I don't know where she's going to go, what could happen, but I feel like she's going to be a steal for whoever gets her is Alyssa Peeley, especially as she's been playing forward on the college level. But she's got that footwork and she can shoot. So I feel like she can still become a versatile guard and figure it out. I want to ask you guys what your opinions are on who could make a splash that isn't in that lottery space. Ben, you go first. Sure.
- [30:12]
F
I mean, I think there's two really interesting prospects that I have my eye on. You mentioned one of them, Alisa Pealey, who, coming out of Utah, you know, has a pro ready offensive game, an ability to score in the post around the basket the way few others in college did this year. Super crafty, great footwork. I think the question that a lot of GMs posed about Alyssa Peely is who does she guard and what does she look like defensively? But, you know, on the other side of the coin, she showed too that she can score over players who are bigger than her, that might be stronger or faster than her. So where she ends up, and I think Sabrina has her going at the top. Number 10, I believe, to Connecticut right now, I think is really, you know, one of the big questions and we'll see what impact she makes. The other player that I think everyone has their eye on and we'll see where she lands is Angel Reese. Right? I mean, someone who is uber productive in college. A double, double machine every single night out, obviously, you know, a super, you know, popular player with a huge following that developed a huge fan base at LSU and around the country. A great competitor, long arms, elite rebounder. People wonder, can she stretch the floor? Is she going to be able to stretch bigs out? What position does she play on both ends of the floor? Someone who, you know, obviously produced a lot, but may have to go through a transition period. I mean, one GM Told us of angel that she's a little bit of an enigma because of how she produces, but around some of the other questions about her, I think, you know, Chicago at number eight, I think makes a lot of sense in my mind for her. I think Sabrina, in your most recent mock draft, had her at number seven to Minnesota. Those are two players for me that could make a big impact or, you know, we'll see. I think fit will be really important for both of them as they transition to the pros.
- [31:52]
Zena Keda
Alyssa Peely out of Utah averaging 21 points and six rebounds. Angel Reese out of LSU, averaging 19 and 13. Double double machine. Sabrina, who's on your map of players that can make a splash in that first round?
- [32:06]
E
Yeah, I think the UConn players really acquitted themselves well in this tournament. You know, making that run to the Final Four they had up and down regular season, you know, obviously destroying the Big east. Like, it was comical. Sometimes you would turn on a UConn Big east game and just see what was happening against these poor, hapless opponents. But they didn't collect any marquee wins during the regular season. And then obviously they make their run to the Final Four. They're one possession away from beating Iowa and returning to the national title game. So their performance, you know, in the tournament, I think has opened a lot of eyes. First to Aaliyah Edwards, who statistically, everybody I talked to says, like, the models, absolutely love Aaliyah Edwards. And I'm not sure what position she plays. She's really a center for Connecticut. She's going to have to be a power forward in the league just because of how tall she is, but super efficient, you know, smart player, knows how to run a pick and roll like sets, good screens, promise. That's not a joke. But she's just a good, good solid player. And UConn players transition really well to the pros, right? Like, you look at Nafisa Collier, Crystal Dangerfield, even Laster Dorka Yuhais, like, making an impact as a second round pick. Olivia Nelson Adota playing big minutes for Connecticut sun as a second round pick, although it was her second season. So just the, the track record, the pedigree of UConn bigs coming into the league. I think Ali Edwards could go a little bit higher than, you know, I currently have her in my mock draft. A lot of people really like just how solid she is. I think when you talk about floor versus stealing, Aaliyah Edwards, super high floor, right? Like, you know what you're going to get out of her. And obviously she excelled at a really high level during the NCAA tournament. And then Nika Mule, you know, goes from guarding D'Asia Fair in the second round of the tournament to Juju Watkins in the Elite Eight and then Caitlin Clark in the Final Four. And I feel like you could say she did what she was supposed to do in each of those matchups, right? Yeah, Connecticut doesn't beat Iowa, but I mean, you look at what Nika did to Caitlin Clark to make her uncomfortable in that matchup. 21 points. That's Caitlin's lowest of the season. In that Final Four game, she hits, you know, the big three to cut it to a two point game by, you know, in the final minute. Like, there's just very specific skills you can point out with Nika Mule. She defends really well. She's good size for a perimeter defender. She's good passer, right? Like running that UConn offense. And then she can make open threes. Maybe she's not, you know, the lead creator. Like, she's not gonna stretch defenses out with her ability to, like, run a pick and roll, but she makes a good entry pass, right? She can hit a three and she defends her ass off. So I think those two UConn players are who I have my eye on.
- [34:29]
Zena Keda
Shout out to Gino Auriemma, because it's true, the players that come out of his program find their role. They find a way to fit into whatever team or system that they're in and be effective. Okay, so those are some of the players that we're thinking are going to stand out. Going to be interesting to see where they go, how they impact the teams that they go to. But let's talk about the teams, because the Aces just won back to back. All right? The Las Vegas Aces are the team to beat. They are the standard to surpass. New York Liberty almost did it, but they still got some work to do, and the rest of the league has to catch up. What teams are you guys looking at to be able to make some significant changes? And what is that change? Ben, you go first.
- [35:14]
F
I mean, I think the reality is if we're looking for a team that is most going to improve its draft stock on Monday night and compete for a championship, that is Indiana, and that is because of Caitlin Clark more than anyone else. We should start there and we should stop there. You know, there are ways that other teams can improve around the margin. Someone like Dallas, for instance. I know we've talked about Sabrina, maybe them getting a point guard, and that's Something that they need someone like J.C. sheldon could fit there and you know, maybe elevate them a little bit and make them, you know, run their offense a little bit better and, and that could be true and that could really pay off in the long run. We'll wait and see. But a lot of the kind of heavy hitters quote unquote in the WNBA right now, I'm not sure how impactful Monday night is actually going to be. New York has the number 11 pick in the draft. It's unclear, you know, where they're going to go and if that player will even make their opening day roster. Right. They're tight on spots. I think they really only have one spot that is up in question right now, I believe. And you know, we'll see if that number 11 pick is a player who makes the team or does not make the team or maybe it's a player who they stash for next year as they look to continue to build towards the future. Las Vegas does not have a first round pick. Seattle does not have a first round pick. So you know, we'll see what really happens on Monday night that is going to influence this season. Again, Indiana and Caitlin Clark. For me, the surefire bet, I guess maybe a little honorable mention to Dallas and what they could do.
- [36:31]
Zena Keda
All right, Sabrina, Ben said we should stop there, but I got to ask your opinion too.
- [36:36]
E
I mean, I think New York is really interesting just because they were the closest to winning a title last year. Right. And they're the only team that has a, you know, Vegas isn't in the first round. Right. They sent their pick to LA in the Dear Hamby deal last year. So I mean I look at New York and perimeter defense, obviously a huge concern of theirs in last year's WNBA finals. There's an opportunity to get some perimeter defense at that 11 spot. Whether that's Nika, I mean Rebecca Lobo saying that she's never seen an players NCAA stock rise more in a loss than Nika Mule did in that final Four. Whether that's Celeste Taylor, you know, two time conference defensive player of the year, ACC and Big Ten coming into the Liberty. Like there's, you know, there's options for New York to make good with that 11 spot on their roster. But yeah, I mean it's, it's Indiana. I'm always interested to see what Dallas does because again with roster crunch, like they're going to have to stash somebody. So do we see them, you know, think more forward with like an Elizabeth Kitley or a Mackenzie Holmes, who doesn't have to play this year because of, you know, their injuries, or do we see them go international? Like, that's always interesting to me, whether it's a domestic versus European draft and Stash. But yeah, I, I don't think we're looking at the draft other than Indiana to dramatically change a team's fortunes in 2024. But, like, you know, the Sparks could set themselves really well for 2026 with who they draft this year.
- [37:57]
Zena Keda
I mean, they're getting busy in this draft.
- [37:59]
F
Sabrina, do you want to talk a little bit more about the draft and stash concept for our listeners? Because I know it's something we've talked a lot about this off season and how kind of unique or slightly different it is even from, like the NBA equivalent in the draft. And Stash.
- [38:11]
E
Yeah, absolutely. So, you know, a lot of this is an Olympic year, so a lot of international players are busy with their national teams preparing for the Olympics, potentially playing in the Olympics. Even the younger ones, ideally the younger ones, because if they're good enough to make the wnba, they're probably good enough to make their Olympic team. You know, when teams have a roster crunch, like they already have 11 signed contracts and they don't really have a spot for someone to make the team team this year, you can draft an international player, keep their rights, and then sign them later down the line to a rookie contract. Like we saw this with. Well, New York has, you know, Leonie Fibich this year who was drafted back in 2020 and has just never come over from Germany because the situation hasn't made sense for her. But she's probably going to come over this year and play and just start her rookie contract four years after she was drafted. And that makes sense with European players because the draft rules are such that an American who goes to college has to be 22 when they enter the draft, or at least 22 the year of the draft, whereas Europeans only have to be 19. So you can draft a player, I should say internationals, because that also includes Australians and everybody else, but you can draft a player who is 19, like Naidu Poch, who's in my first round. Mock and just let her develop in Australia for a couple years and then bring her over when she's the same age as every other American rookie who's going to be starting their career. So that's an option for teams if they, you know, want to collect some talent in the draft but don't have room to play them at this very moment. And then as Far as, like domestic draft and stash, right. Like there are players who are unavailable to play the season, right. Like Elizabeth Keatley just tore her ACL. In March, MacKenzie Holmes announced that she was going to undergo a surgery to fix some lingering issues that she had and she won't be able to play this season. So you can draft them, get them into your program, right? Like make sure their rehab goes as smoothly as possible, but you don't have to sign them to a contract. And then when they're ready to go next year, you know, then maybe some veterans come off the books. You have the ability to play around with your roster a little bit more, and then there's space to sign those players to actually play on your team.
- [40:05]
F
And we should say that, you know, one of the potentially most impactful rookies this year could be Stephanie Suarez, who last year was the number one pick, number four pick, rather, in the 2023 WNBA Draft. She did not play at all last year for Dallas. Rehab, a knee surgery that she had. I think it was in January or February of 2023. She's set to come back this year and could make a really big, big impact. She's someone who, again, because she didn't have to play, there's some, you know, conversation about did that actually maybe help her draft stock or just help find a place for her to go because she was not taking up a roster spot. That's the scenario. You know, Elizabeth Kitley is going to the WNBA draft on Monday night. She's hoping to get picked. Obviously, she's already made clear, I think that she. She's not going to play this year in the WNBA because of her surgery. So, you know, we'll see what happens with her and Holmes are the two kind of biggest cases of that this year.
- [40:54]
Zena Keda
Stephanie Suarez, the first iteration of the Brazilian size 66 out of Brazil. Yes. Very excited to see her make her debut in the W. Okay, so the team's up to watch some. Some things that they can do in this draft. I wanted to disclose on the. The New York Liberty, because I think that that was going to be. My pick is the New York Liberty for a team that can make a change. And I really feel between Charisma Osborne or Nica Mule, they can get them themselves some perimeter defense. So I'm definitely on the same page with you there, Sabrina. Okay, now before we go. Cause we've been talking a while, we gotta make some predictions, some surprise predictions what could happen. Let's blow up everything we just said, all right. And say what could be the craziest thing that happens on WNBA draft night? Sabrina. Ladies first. You go first.
- [41:47]
E
I think this is harder, but you know, she was a player I kind of mentioned in my mock draft, but I didn't actually get her into the first round in any of the iterations. I think Shayla Gonzalez is going to be a first round pick. She has been absolutely awesome for Texas. Fifth year senior, you know, pro ready, good three point shooter, good defender. The on off numbers for her for Texas are just unreal. I think Shayla Gonzalez, although she was not one of the 15 players invited to the green room, is going to go a lot higher than people expect.
- [42:16]
Zena Keda
Okay. And yes, Shayla Gonzalez is actually someone that the athletic Chantel mentioned this in one of her pieces on like the most nine underrated players of the tournament. And she absolutely is one of those people that sneakily will just play solid defense. Always quiet. Right. Her numbers don't jump off the charts in terms of like what she averages and such, but she does what she's supposed to do when you need her to do it. So I like that pick. I actually think Shay Holly too in that same, that same mix for Texas. All right, Ben, big surprise that could go, go down on Monday night at the draft.
- [42:52]
F
I mean, I'm not going to predict the following, but I think it's the most fun scenario that everyone on Twitter is talking about is what if Indiana didn't pick Caitlin Clark. Obviously they're going to take her, but let's be clear, like if we're rooting for anarchy, like you know, Cameron Brink coming to the WNB draft now standing at like 7 foot 4, like would be an unbelievable, you know, did she grow like a full foot in the last time we saw her? That makes her now the number one pick and suddenly like we blow everything up. Like that's an unbelievable hypothetical. Let's throw that out there. It's obviously not going to happen. If we're going for slightly more realistic bowl predictions, I'll say three international players get taken in the first round. Maybe that's, that's maybe not bold enough for some people. But you know, there's some interesting international prospects in this draft. Sabrina mentioned some of them. Layla Lacan, who is a guard coming from France, people really like her size, her ability in the pick and roll. That's one of her strengths. She was a double digit scorer last year in France. Carla Leite I believe is her name. Another French guard, a slightly smaller frame, 19 years old, another professional point guard already, you know, Someone who I think some teams are interested in and the third player who I think will be the first one taken of all this group is Nadia Potch coming from Australia. Super athletic, rangy kind of wing forward, center. She's like 6:3, but has really long arms. Someone that you know, I think could be a potential draft in stash as well. But raw athleticism. Played on a championship winning team in the WNBL this past year with a number of WMDA players on the Southside Flyers. So has some experience playing with some high level talent. We'll see if any of those players play in the WNBA this year. My guess if you're going for a follow up bowl prediction is that all three of those that I just mentioned do not. But I think that is part of the kind of intrigue for the WNBA draft at this point with roster sizes being what they are with there only being 12 teams that we might see three international players go in the first round and we might not see any of them this year. And that's frankly okay because of all the talent in the league. It just adds to the intrigue of Monday night.
- [44:51]
Zena Keda
Okay, I feel like your two predictions are actually mine kind of combined.
- [44:57]
F
Hopefully not that Caitlin Clark prediction. Xena.
- [44:59]
Zena Keda
No, in the sense that like a crazy one. Like a crazy one, but one that would be absolutely insane. Would be some sort of international player just under the radar for some reason. Right. Someone not doing their scout job and someone being better than Caitlin Clark somehow in Indiana being like, ha ha, we tricked you. We actually found this person randomly in the corners of the universe and they're coming in at the number one pick. That would be insane. No, I actually have, I have no idea what's going to happen that would be out of the norm for Monday. I'm just really excited to tune in and I'm excited that one you'll be there. So give us all the deets, Ben. That will be on the grounds in Brooklyn. And I'm really excited that there's going to be visibility on the draft. Every single year the visibility and viewership has gone up and every year the gap between the college season and the college fandom closes between them college and the W level. And now I'm particularly excited for the Indiana Fever to combine the Iowa Hawkeyes and the South Carolina Gamecocks fan base together. That is going to be wonderful. Seeing them be in Kumbaya for the Indiana Fever.
- [46:11]
F
There's two things I think fans should also look out for on Monday night. This will be the first time And I think it's eight years that there will actually be fans in attendance at the WNBA draft. So, you know, we'll see what that brings to the environment. And you know, the space that the actual draft is being held in this year is different from where it's been the past two years in the post 2020 draft, which was a virtual draft. So, you know, it could lead to some great reaction shots, some great moments. I think, you know, our own Richard Deitch has kind of predicted that it's going to set a viewership record on Monday night to just see, you know, how it all plays out. So we'll see what the environment is like. As you mentioned, Cena, I'll be there in Brooklyn and it should be pretty fun. And you know, we'll see what juice the crowd gives to all of these selections. Do they boo at any point? Do they cheer at any point? Are there any great memes or reaction shots? I think that's another thing that fans should look out for as the draft comes up.
- [47:05]
Zena Keda
I can't remember what comedian said it, but someone said that going to the draft is like going to your local high schools graduation, not knowing any of the students and just cheering for them as they cross the stage. And yes, that's how I will feel as the WNBA draft goes. I'm just excited for these young ladies to get chosen by these teams and get going on the next leg of their journey. So. All right, Brooklyn it is on Monday. WNBA draft will start at 7:30 on ESPN. There is a pregame show and definitely follow along with the Athletic. A live blog link will be posted. You'll be able to follow all the coverage, all the immediate thoughts on the show and then right after we're doing a pod on our thoughts on how the draft went. So make sure to look out for that the next morning. We'll make sure to drop that for you all and keep you up to date because that's what we do at the Athletic Women's Basketball show. We're trying to make sure that you're in the conversation, you're kept up to date and that's all we can ask. Ben, Sabrina, thank you for joining me today. All of you listening. Thank you for lending your ear again. Hit that subscribe button because you don't want to miss this show. You don't, because W season's right around the corner and there's going to be a lot to discuss. For now, I'm Zena Keda thanking you for your ear again and encourage you to keep listening keep learning and keep loving the game, because that's the only way we're going to keep growing it. All right, folks, until next time.
- [48:34]
E
As we head into the playoffs, it's safe to assume there will be a.
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Ben Pickman
Few calls made by the refs that will be hard to accept.
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E
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Ben Pickman
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F
You heard that right, 99%.
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E
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Ben Pickman
Wallet and get Discover. Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report. Learn more at discover.com credit card this.
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G
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E
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Sabrina Merchant
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F
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Zena Keda
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G
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Zena Keda
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F
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Ben Pickman
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