2024 WNBA Mock Draft: Final Mock Draft

Round 1 Picks 1-12

My first 2024 WNBA Mock Draft is up. Find out who goes where in my very first 2024 WNBA Mock Draft.

Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: April 15, 2024.

1. Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark, PG, Iowa
   
   
   The Indiana Fever have four decent scorers back. Indiana has Kelsey Mitchell at shooting guard, Erica Wheeler who averaged 9.9 points per game at the wing playing three positions at point guard, shooting guard, as well as small forward, Nalyssa Smith as a small forward/power forward, and Aliyah Boston their first overall pick in 2023 out of South Carolina as a power forward/center. Winning the 2024 WNBA Lottery allows the Indiana Fever add the final piece to their starting five for 2024 as well as the best player in Women's College Basketball the past two seasons by drafting Iowa point guard Caitlin Clark.
   
   
   
   The 6-0 155 lb Caitlin Clark might be the biggest name to enter the WNBA Draft since Diana Taurasi back in 2004 twenty years ago. Thanks to being enrolled in Iowa in prior to the Fall of 2020, Clark does have a fifth year of NCAA eligibility at Iowa, but to nobodys suprise Caitlin Clark declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft. Clark also got offered $5-million by Ice Cube to play 10 games in his league Big3.
   
   
   
   Caitlin Clark averaged 26.6 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, 7.1 assists per game, 1.3 steals per game, a 47.2% field goal percentage, a 85.8% free throw percentage, and a career high 40.6% three point percentage as a freshman in 2020-2021. Clark improved in year two with 27 points per game, a career high 8 rebounds per game, 8 assists per game, 1.5 steals per game, a 45.2% field goal percentage, a career high 88.1% free throw percentage, and a career low 33.2% three point percentage as a sophomore in 2021-2022. Caitlin Clark broke out in year three with 27.8 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game, 8.6 assists per game, 1.5 steals per game, a career high 47.3% field goal percentage, a career high 83.9% free throw percentage, and a 38.9% three point percentage as a junior while taking Iowa to the 2023 Women's Basketball Championship Game helping Iowa dethrone an undefeated South Carolina team in the Final 4 as a junior in 2022-2023. Caitlin Clark had 31.6 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, 8.9 assists per game, 1.7 steals per game, a 45.5% field goal percentage, a 86% free throw percentage, and a 37.8% three point percentage during her senior season in 2023-2024.
   
   
   
   Only three players in WNBA history drafted first overall won a WNBA Finals by their third year in the league. Those players are Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Breanna Stewart. Lisa Leslie got her first WNBA Finals Championship by her fourth year in the league and Diana Taurasi won her first WNBA Title by her fifth year in the league. I believe the Indiana Fever could be the challenger to the New York Liberty this year in the Eastern Conference as early as this season and as late as 2025. Clark has a chance to match these legends in terms of winning a WNBA Championship with the supporting cast surrounding Clark on the Indiana Fever.
   
   
   
   Everyone whose watched Women's College Basketball the last two years knows Clark will be special. She can shoot from short range, medium range, or long range, pass it, rebound effectively on offense as well as defense, and get steals. Clark can defend the 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 effectively despite being a 1 at point guard. Sometimes she flips out during games, but I'm not gonna knock her for that since she's a fearless leader that's uber competitve both on and off the court. There's a good reason why coaches love her intensity.
   
   
   
   Caitlin Clark won the 2023 James Naismith Award in Women's Basketball. She won the award once again in 2024. Caitlin Clark became the first player to repeat as the James Naismith Award in Women's Basketball since Breanna Stewart who won the James Naismith Award in both 2015 and 2016.
   
   
   
2. Los Angeles Sparks: Cameron Brink, PF, Stanford
   
   
   Los Angeles lost former number one overall WNBA Draft pick Nneka Ogwuike their leading rebounder from Stanford to the Seattle Storm and leading assist leader Jordin Canada at point guard to the Atlanta Dream. Another Stanford power forward Cameron Brink is more versatile than Nneka Oguike was coming out of Stanford.
   
   
   
   The 6-4 165 lb Cameron Brink is versatile enough to play the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center. Fixing the front court is priority uno for the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks did have all five starters get double digit points per game, but their defense was so bad that the Sparks played their small foward at center in 2023. Fixing the front court will be a big priority for the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2024 WNBA Draft since that will allow the Sparks to move their impact player at center back to small forward which is a position that suits Azura Stevens better.
   
   
   
   Cameron Brink already announced her decision to declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft. Caitlin Clark is regarded as the best scorer and playmaker in Women's College Basketball. Cameron Brink on other the hand, is the best defender, rebounder, and shot blocker in the 2024 WNBA Draft. This is why Brink is pretty much the favorite to be picked second overall by the Los Angeles Sparks.
   
   
   
   Cameron Brink only averaged 9.9 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game, 2.8 blocks per game, 0.9 assists per game, 0.6 steals per game, a career high 57.8% field goal percentage, a 64.7% free throw percentage, and a career high 36.7% three point percentage as a freshman when Stanford won the 2021 Women's Basketball Championship following Covid-19 in 2020-2021. Cameron Brink improved in year two with 13.5 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game, 2.6 blocks per game, 1.2 assists per game, 0.9 steals per game, a 55.6% field goal percentage, a 61.5% free throw percentage, and a 35.6% three point percentage as a sophomore in 2021-2022. Cameron Brink broke out in year three with 15.1 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game, 3.5 blocks per game, 1.8 assists per game, 0.5 steals per game, a career low 48.6% field goal percentage, a career high 84.8% free throw percentage, and a 21.3% three point percentage as a junior in 2022-2023. Cameron Brink had 17.4 points per game, 11.9 rebounds per game, 3.7 blocks per game, 2.8 assists per game, 0.8 steals per game, a 51.1% field goal percentage, a 83.6% free throw percentage, and a 30.4% three point percentage during her senior season in 2023-2024.
   
   
   
   The Los Angeles Sparks are getting a special player who can get double doubles on a nightly basis in Cameron Brink. Cameron Brink can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forwarrd, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center. She can make shots from short range, medium range, and long range. I expect Brink to play power forward in the WNBA, but she's goe experience at both small forward and center as stated earlier. I won't call Brink a complete player because she fouled out against Iowa State and lost to North Carolina State in the Sweet 16. She is the second best player in Women's College Basketball outside of Caitlin Clark right now.
   
   
   
   Los Angeles has a chance to add a second special player with their second top five pick in just a couple of picks. Drafting Cameron Brink should fix the front court. Cameron Brink is the only other player outside of Caitlin Clark to be nominated for the 2024 James Naismith Award in Women's Basketball.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Chicago Sky: Rickea Jackson, SF, Tennessee
   
   
   Three years ago the Chicago Sky defeated the Phoenix Mercury in the 2021 WNBA Finals. That Chicago Sky team had a good starting five. Chicago got back to the 2022 WNBA Finals with nearly the same roster before being dethroned by Becky Hammond and the Las Vegas Aces. After that, Chicago's best player at the time, Candace Parker signed with the Las Vegas Aces. All of the core players from Chicago's two WNBA Finals are gone. Marina Mabrey, a guard acquired by the Dallas Wings prior to 2023 is the only player that averaged over 10 points per game in 2023 returning to the Chicago Sky in 2024.
   
   
   
   Now Chicago owns the Phoenix Mercury's 2024 first round pick at 3 thanks to trading starting shooting guard Kahleah Copper and bench player Morga Bertsch coming off a rookie season to the Phoenix Mercury for Brianna Turner, Michaela Onyenwere, a 2024 first round pick which is this third overall pick after the WNBA's worst team in 2023, the Phoenix Mercury, finished third in the 2024 WNBA Lottery, a 2025 second round pick that Chicago previously traded to Phoenix, a 2026 first round pick, and a 2026 pick swap at some point in the second or third round of the 2026 WNBA Draft. Chicago only has two impact players in Marina Mabrey at guard and Elizabeth Williams at center.
   
   
   
   Chicago acquired some veterans in their trade with the Mercury, but an impact player at forward is needed at both small forward and power forward. Chicago can either take Tennessee small forward Rickea Jackson or Connecticut power forward Aaliyah Edwards. Rickea Jackson was more durable this season as far as staying healthy goes which is why I'm leaning towards Jackson over Edwards at 3.
   
   
   
   The 6-2 165 lb Rickea Jackson was a three year starter at Mississippi State. She transferred to Tennessee for her final two seasons. Rickea Jackson gives the Chicago Sky a star at small forward.
   
   
   
   Rickea Jackson led Mississippi State in points in all three seasons at Mississippi State and averaged a career high 20.3 points per game which led the SEC in points, 6.8 rebounds per game, 1.5 steals per game, and 1.1 assists per game as a junior after hitting a 41.4% of three point shots as a true freshman prior to transferring to Tennessee in 2022. Rickea Jackson had 19.1 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game, 1.4 assists per game, a career high 54.8% field goal percentage, a career high 79.2% free throw percentage, and a 31.3% three point percentage as a senior in 2022-2023 before using a fifth year of NCAA eligibility thanks to Covid-19. Rickea Jackson had 20.2 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game, a 48.5% field goal percentage, a 78% free throw percentage, and a 33.8% three point percentage during her extra season of eligibility before Tennssee lost to North Carolina State in the round of 32 in 2023-2024.
   
   
   
   Rickea Jackson started 105 games over the past five years for two SEC Women's Basketball Teams averaging 14 points per game in all five seasons. Rickea Jackson can make shots from short range, medium range, and long range. Rickea Jackson is great at intercepting passes that come her way. She can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, and the 3 at small forward effectively in the WNBA. I would believe that makes her a star player that could become a superstar in the WNBA with the right development and coaching in the pros.
   
   
   
4. Los Angeles Sparks: Kamilla Cardoso, C, South Carolina
   
   
   The Los Angeles Sparks have another top 5 pick at four thanks to a trade with the Seattle Storm where the Sparks aquired the fourth overall pick in this years draft and point guard Kia Nurse who takes over for Jordin Canada. Los Angeles picks fourth overall this year, but the Seattle Storm got a 2026 first round pick in exchange for the fourth pick and Kia Nurse.
   
   
   
   The 6-7 167 lb Kamilla Cardoso was described by ESPN's announcers as unstoppable during South Carolina's 79-75 win over Indiana in the Sweet 16 of the 2024 Women's College Basketball Tournament. Kamilla Cardoso had 22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks in South Carolina's four point win over the Indiana Hoosiers. Cardoso also dominated in the Final 4 against North Carolina State as well as the Championship game against Iowa before declaring for the 2024 WNBA Draft.
   
   
   
   Kamilla Cardoso left Brazil at the age of 15 to move to Chattanooga, Tennessee to pursue her dream to play professional basketball. She started for Syracuse as a freshman before transferring to South Carolina as a sophomore. After learning under top draft pick Aliyah Boston for two years, on South Carolina's 2022 Title winner and 2023 Team that went undefeated in 2022-2023 until losing to Iowa, Cardoso is now the full-time starting center on the South Carolina Women's Basketball Team.
   
   
   
   Kamilla Cardoso had 14.4 points per game, 9.7 rebounds per game, 2.5 blocks per game, 2 assists per game, a 59.4% field goal percentage, a 65.9% free throw percentage, and a 100% three point percentage. Kamilla Cardoso can hit shots from short range, medium range, and long range. She can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, or the 5 at center. Kamilla Cardoso was on each South Carolina Women's Basketball Team that made the Final 4 each of the past three seasons despite this season being her first season starting under head coach Dawn Staley.
   
   
   
   A front court with Cameron Brink at power forward and Kamilla Cardoso at center allows you to move Azua Stevens back to her natural positon at small forward. Now you hope the guard combination of Kia Nurse, Lexiie Brown, and Layshia Clarendon is good enough to get you into the top 8 of the WNBA with the additions of Brink and Cardoso to bolster this front court with Stevens moving back to small forward if two of your three guards can average 10 points per game in 2024.
   
   
   
   Los Angeles also gave up the eighth pick which they originally got from Atlanta for two bench players on the Chicago Sky that may have the experience to contribute as starters. Los Angeles also got Atlanta Dream guard Aari McDonald who was drafted third overall in the 2021 WNBA Draft by Atlanta by giving Atlanta a 2024 first round pick that originally belonged to the Las Vegas Aces at 12.
   
   
   
   Los Angeles had four first round picks at one point, but only opted to keep the two top 5 picks by opting for veterans that could help win now just in case the two top five picks drafted needed time to develop. These veteran acquisitions at guard just feel like stop gaps for this year with the Los Angeles Sparks rebuilding the front court in 2024 and focusing on improving their guard play in 2025 if things don't click at guard this season.
   
   
   
   I'm interested to see how the Sparks do with these two top five picks. The Sparks were my favorite WNBA team back in the day when they had Lisa Leslie as hard as that is to believe since the Lakers and Galaxy are my favorite NBA and MLS teams in real life too. I even continued to watch the Sparks when Candice Parker first arrived there before Nneka Ogwuike arrived. For the first time in a while it feels like a total rebuild for the Los Angeles Sparks after this franchise was fortunate enough to get superstar players with a top draft pick in 1997, 2008, and 2012. The Sparks were able to keep Leslie from 1997 to 2009, Parker form 2008 to 2020, and Oguwike from 2012 to 2023. The Los Angeles Sparks had 1 impact player for 25 years, and now with these two top five draft picks, there's a window of opportunity to add two immediate impact contributors in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Dallas Wings: Angel Reese, SG, LSU
   
   
   Dallas acquired a 2023 and 2024 first round pick from the Chicago Sky back in 2023. The Dallas Wings made major strides getting all the way to the Conference Finals with four quality starters in a starting five in terms of offense. Finding a second guard to pair with Arik Ogunbowale who led the Dallas Wings with 21.2 points per game is the only team need as Ogunbowale can play both point guard and shooting guard with her versatility.
   
   
   
   Angel Reese was the fifth player invited to the Empire State Building to light up the building along with consensus top 4 picks Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, and Kamilla Cardoso. This tells me Angel Reese might be in play for the Dallas Wings at 5.
   
   
   
   One player in the 2024 WNBA Draft that has experience playing the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center is Angel Reese. Angel Reese is currently the face of the LSU Women's Basketball team that won the 2023 Women's March Madness Tournament. Reese had two parents that played professional basketball and led her High School team to three consecutive district titles averaging 18 points per game, 20 rebounds per game, and 5 assists per game before enrolling at Maryland.
   
   
   
   The 6-3 165 lb Angel Reese is a plug-and-play player that you can put anywhere into your starting lineup. Angel Reese played at Maryland for two seasons prior and led Maryland to the Sweet 16 in 2021-2022 before transferring to LSU in the transfer portal prior to her junior season.
   
   
   
   Angel Reese had a career high 23 points per game, 15.4 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game, 1.8 assists per game, 1.8 steals per game, 1.6 blocks per game, a career high 52.5% field goal percentage, a 70.8% free throw percentage, and a 16.7% three point percentage as a junior in 2022-2023 when LSU won the 2023 Women's Basketball Tournament. Angel Reese had 18.6 points per game, 13.4 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game, 1.9 steals per game, 1 block per game, a 47.1% field goal percentage, a 72.6% free throw percentage, and a career low 11.1% three point percentage while guiding LSU to a second consecutive Sweet 16 in 2023-2024.
   
   
   
   Angel Reese can make shots from short range, medium range, and long range. Her three point percentage is probably the biggest weakness in her game film. Reese can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, or the 5 at center.
   
   
   
   Angel Reese feels like a boom or bust prospect. She can play any position and went off against Texas A&M with 26 points and 28 rebounds in a Women's Basketball game. Her maturity as a player and person is another major question mark that WNBA teams will have leading up to the 2024 WNBA Draft. Reese acused Caitlin Clark of talking trash to an LSU teammate in last years Women's National Championship Game and she also pulled the hair of South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso in the 2024 Women's SEC Championship game prior to this years 2024 Women's March Madness Tournament.
   
   
   
   These multiple incidents on the court along with a lackluster three point percentage where Reese made less than 20 percent of her three point shots in all four years of college cause Reese to fall to 5 at the earliest with Reese dropping to 10 if WNBA teams put a lot of stock into the behavior and maturity of Reese.
   
   
   
   You can also argue she has the skill set to be a 1A/1B arch rival to Caitlin Clark after besting her team in last years Championship game. Angel could go back to LSU to improve in these areas with one more year of eligibility, but my guess is Reese declares for the 2024 WNBA Draft sometime after the tournament depending on how far LSU goes.
   
   
   
   Angel Reese declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft. The Dallas Wings can gamble on Angel Reese at 5. If the Dallas Wings draft Angel Reese at 5, then the Dallas Wings can complete their starting five. The Dallas Wings also have the ninth pick in this draft and can position themselves as the clear cut challenger to the Las Vegas Aces in the Western Conference after being one of four WNBA Teams to make the Conference Finals in 2023. Maybe if we're lucky we'll get to see the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark versus Angel Reese and the Dallas Wings in a future WNBA Finals if Dallas ends up picking Angel Reese at 5.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Jacy Sheldon, SG, Ohio State
   
   
6. Washington Mystics: Charisma Osborne, PG, UCLA
   
   
   The Washington Mystics have quality starters at every position in their starting five except point guard heading into 2024. The 5-9 Charisma Moore is a combo guard on UCLA that played both point guard and shooting guard over five seasons at UCLA. Charisma Osborne had 12.2 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, 1.4 assists per game, and 1.4 steals per game in all five seasons at UCLA when looking at her averages.
   
   
   
   Charismas Osborne had 12.2 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game, 1.4 assists per game, 1.5 steals per game, a 38.2% field goal percentage, a 79.2% free throw percentage, and a 33.3% three point percentage as a freshman in 2019-2020. Chrismas Osborne had a career high 17 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game, 3.8 assists per game, a career high 1.7 steals per game, a career low 36% field goal percentage, a 86.8% free thow percentage, and a 34% three point percentage as a sophomore in 2020-2021. Charisma Osborne had 16.4 points per game, .1 rebounds per game, 3.9 assists per game, 1.5 steals per game, a 36.2% field goal percentage, a 87.5% free throw percentage, and a 33.1% three point percentage as a junior in 2021-2022.
   
   
   
   Charisma Osborne had 15.9 points per game, a a career high 5.9 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game, 1.4 steals per game, a 38.7% three point percentage, a 83.2% free throw percentage, and a career low 29.2% three point percentage as a senior in 2022-2023. Charisma Osborne had 13.9 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 4 assists per game, 1.6 steals per game, a 41% field goal percentage, a 89.2% free throw percentage, and a 32.2% three point percentage in her fifth year in 2023-2024.
   
   
   
   Charisma Osborne can hit shots from short range, medium range, or long range. She's an effective passer that can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center. Charisma Osborne is my sixth blue chip player in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Osborne has declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Angel Reese, SG, LSU
   
   
   
   
7. Chicago Sky: Jacy Sheldon, SG, Ohio State
   
   
   Chicago moved up one spot from 8 to 7. There's two blue chip guards on the board, but the guard I'm mocking at 7 is the superior defender of the two.
   
   
   
   Ohio State's combo guard Jacy Sheldon is my seventh blue chip player in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She would do well next to Marina Mabrey at point guard as the shooting guard on the Chicago Sky.
   
   
   
   The 5-10 155 lb Jacy Sheldon has been on Ohio State for five full seasons now. Jacy Sheldon only posted 9.5 points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game, 48.3% field goal percentage, a 79.6% free throw percentage, and a 34.6% three point percentage as a frehsman in 2019-2020 before Covid-19. Jacy Sheldon had 16.8 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, 2.6 assists per game, 1.8 steals per game, a 48.8% field goal percentage, a 82.4% free throw percentage, and a 34.4% three point percentage as a sophomore in 2020-2021. Jacy Sheldon had a career high 19.7 points per game, matched her career high 3.7 rebounds per game, had a career high 4.2 assists per game, 1.9 steals per game, a 50.4% field goal percentage, a 86.4% free throw percentage, and a 36.6% three point percentage as a junior in 2021-2022.
   
   
   
   Jacy Sheldon had 13.3 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists per game, a career high 3.5 steals per game, a 43.2% field goal percentage, a career high 87.8% free throw percentage, and a career low 23.7% three point percentage in 10 games before a season ending injury in 2022-2023. Jacy Sheldon used a medical redshirt and came back for a fifth and final season at Ohio State where she posted a career high 17.8 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game, 3.8 assists per game, 1.9 steals per game, a career high 50.5% field goal percentage, a 85.8 free throw percentage, amd a career high 37.3% three point percentage as a senior redshirt in 2023-2024 before Ohio State lost to Duke in the Round of 32 in the 2024 Women's March Madness Tournament.
   
   
   
   Jacy Sheldon can shoot from short range, medium range, or long range. She's an elite defender despite her size that defends well against the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Charisma Osborne, PG, UCLA
   
   
8. Minnesota Lynx: Dyaisha Fair, PG, Syracuse
   
   
   The Minnesota Lynx move down a spot. Minnesota had four of their five starters average double digit points per game and still made the 2023 WNBA Playoffs despite having a void at point guard. Minnesota might be able to emerge as a contender if they can draft a quality point guard at 8, there's a window of opportunity for the Minnesota Lynx to be WNBA Finals contenders for the first time since the Maya Moore glory days when Moore led the Lynx to 4 WNBA Titles before retiring in 2018. Minnesota gets Dyaisha Fair a point guard out of Syracuse at 8.
   
   
   
   The Minnesota Lynx draft Dyaisha Fair. Dyaisha Fair had three seasons where she scored over 20 points per game at Buffalo before transferring to Syracuse in 2022.
   
   
   
   The 5-5 Dyaisha Fair had 19.9 points per game, 4.2 assists per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, 2.4 steals per game, a 39.8% field goal percentage, a 81.8% free throw percentage, and a 36.2% three point percentage in her first year at Syracuse as a senior 2022-2023. Dyaisha Fair had 22.3 points per game, 3.6 assists per game, 4.6 rebounds per game, 2.4 steals per game, a 39.2% field goal percentage, a 79.6% free throw percentage, and a 37.7% three point percentage as a fifth year senior in 2023-2024.
   
   
   
   Dyaisha Fair is third in All Time scoring in Women's Basketball trailing only Kelsey Plum and Caitlin Clark. Dyashia Fair has the short range, medium range, long range, passing, rebounding, stealing, and defense to play against the 1 at point guard. Dyaisha Fair is my eighth and final blue chip player in this years 2024 WNBA Draft.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Aliyah Edwards, PF, Connecticut
   
   
   
   
9. Dallas Wings: Aaliyah Edwards, PF, Connecticut
   
   
   The Dallas Wings have a good starting lineup for the most part. Aaliyah Edwards would provide a defensive presence for depth with this pick at 9.
   
   
   
   The 6-3 174 lb Aaliyah Edwards is an enforcer at power forward. Aaliyah Edwards has improved her points per game and rebounds per game in each of her last two seasons at Connecticut.
   
   
   
   Aaliyah Edwards averaged 10.7 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, 0.9 assists per game, 1 steal per game, 1 block per game, a career high 68.9% field goal percentage, a career low 63.6% free throw percentage, and a career high 0% three point percentage as a freshman Connecticut when Edwards and teammate Paige Bueckers were both first year players prior to Covid-19 in 2020-2021. Aaliyah Edwards had a career low 7.9 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, 1.4 assists per game, 1.1 steals per game, 0.5 blocks per game, a career low 52.1% field goal percentage, a 74% free throw percentage, a 40% three point percentage as a sophomore in 2021-2022.
   
   
   
   Aaliyah Edwards had to transition from secondary scorer to leading scorer when Paige Bueckers was out for the season in year three. Aliyah Edwards had 16.6 points per game, 9 rebounds per game, 2.4 assists per game, 1.2 steals per game, 1.1 blocks per game, a 58.9% field goal percentage, a career high 77.3% free throw percentage, and a career high 100% three point percentage as a junior in 2022-2023. Aaliyah Edwards had 17.6 points per game, 9.2 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game, a career high 1.7 steals per game, 1 block per game, a 59.3% field goal percentage, a 74.7% free throw percentage, and a 0% three point percentage during her senior season with Paige Bueckers back in 2023-2024.
   
   
   
   Aaliyah Edwards technically does have a fifth year of NCAA eligiblity due to Covid-19. While Bueckers returned to Connecticut, many are speculating and expecting Edwards to declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft since Connecticut is the favorite to land the top recruit in Women's High School Basketball who happens to play power forward where Aaliyah Edwards currently plays. If Edwards does in fact declare for this years 2024 WNBA Draft, she could go as early as third to Chicago and get picked as late as eighth overall to Chicago.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Alissa Pili, PF, Utah
   
   
10. Connecticut Sun: Elizabeth Kitley, C, Virginia Tech
    
    
    The Connecticut Sun have four good starters at point guard, shooting guard, small forward, and power forward. Getting a center is the last thing the Connecticut Sun need to do before they become a threat in the Eastern Conference.
    
    
    
    The 6-6 195 lb Elizabeth Kitley is one of the best centers in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She's got All Star potential and you can argue without her injuries, she's a blue chip prospect.
    
    
    
    Elizabeth Kitley only posted 12.5 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, 2.1 blocks per game, 56.2% field goal percentage, a 66.7% free throw percentage, and a 20% three point percentage as a frehsman in 2019-2020 before Covid-19. Elizabeth Kitley had 18.2 points per game, 10.4 rebounds per game, 2 assists per game, 1.9 blocks per game, a 53.1% field goal percentage, a 78% free throw percentage, and a 42.9% three point percentage as a sophomore in 2020-2021. Elizabeth Kitley had 18.1 points per game, 9.8 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, 2.4 blocks per game, a 55.1% field goal percentage, a 72.4% free throw percentage, and a 16.7% three point percentage as a junior in 2021-2022.
    
    
    
    Elizabeth Kitley had 18.2 points per game, 10.7 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, 2.4 steals per game, a 55.9% field goal percentage, a 72.2% free throw percentage, and a 20% three point percentage in 2022-2023. Elizabeth Kitley had 22.8 points per game, 11.4 rebounds per game, 1.8 assists per game, 2.1 blocks per game, a 55.6% field goal percentage, a 77.4 free throw percentage, amd a career high 40% three point percentage as a fifth year senior in 2023-2024 before tearing her ACL.
    
    
    
    Elizabeth Kitley can shoot from short range, medium range, or long range. She's an elite defender despite her size that defends well against the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, and the 5 at center. Elizabeth Kitley might be the best blocker in this draft class outside of Cameron Brink.
    
    
    
    Only five players in Women's Basektball in the 2024 WNBA Draft averaged over 20 points per game this season. Those five players are Caitlin Clark, Rickea Jackson, Alissa Piley, Dyaisha Fair, and Elizabeth Kitley. The only one of those four that averaged over 30 points a game was Caitlin Clark the projected first overall pick. Still, Elizabeth Kitley provides incredible value for a team that needs a center right now like the Connecticut Sun.
    
    
    
    
    
11. New York Liberty: Alissa Pili, PF, Utah
    
    
    The New York Liberty have a good starting five. The only team with their starting five returning that had all five starters average over 10 points per game in 2023 was the New York Liberty. Drafting the right player at 11 could be the difference between repeating as Eastern Conference Champions and dethroning the two time defending Champion Las Vegas Aces versus getting the wrong player and being dethroned by either the Connecticut Sun or Indiana Fever.
    
    
    
    Alissa Pili is a three sport athlete that played football and wrestling as well as basketball growing up. Alissa Pili also won PAC 12 Freshman Of The Year at USC.
    
    
    
    The 6-2 Pili doesn't have her weight listed, but her talent speaks for itself. A lot of the weights I posted for lbs are estimates of what the player is projected to weigh.
    
    
    
    Alissa Pili had three productive seasons at USC. She really took off when she entered the transfer portal and left USC to go to Utah where she suited up for the Utah Utes.
    
    
    
    Alissa Pili had 20.7 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game, a 59% field goal percentage, a career high 79.2% free throw percentage, and a career high 42.6% three point percentage as a senior in 2022-2023. Alissa Pili had 21.4 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game, 2.4 assists per game, a 55% field goal percentage, a 82% free throw percentage, and a 40.4% three point percentage during her fifth year of eligibility in 2023-2024.
    
    
    
    Alissa Pili can shoot from short range, medium range, and long range. She passes the ball well and rebounds well. I would have liked to see more defense from her, but she's not a liability in that area like some other players in this draft. Better defense and an official weight were the only things that kept her from entering blue chip territory with my top six players. My gut is telling me Alissa Pili will have a better WNBA career than Aliyah Edwards despite the fact that Edwards is a consensus top 5 pick that will not fall any lower than 8 in the 2024 WNBA Mock Draft while Pili is a first to second round prospect rather than a sure fire first round player like Edwards.
    
    
    
    Alissa Pili feels like the biggest steal in the 7-12 range just from what I saw from her on tape against her former team USC. Pili could be a really good value pick in this draft.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Taiyanna Jackson, C, Kansas
    
    
12. Atlanta Dream: Taiyanna Jackson, C, Kansas
    
    
    The Las Vegas Aces originally traded this pick to the Los Angeles Sparks. Los Angeles traded their starting point guard to Atlanta for the eighth pick in this draft before trading that pick to the Chicago Sky and Atlanta ended up getting the twelfth pick and final first round pick that the Aces owned from the Sparks.
    
    
    
    Atlanta has the guards and forwards to compete. Getting a center to round out the starting five is the final objective for the Atlanta Dream.
    
    
    
    The 6-0 Taiyanna Jackson didn't start as a true freshman. She only averaged 8.9 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game, 3 blocks per game, and 1.6 steals per game as a sophomore in 2021-2022.
    
    
    
    Taiyanna Jackson didn't break out until her junior season. Taiyanna Jackson had 15.2 points per game, 12.7 rebounds per game, 3 blocks per game, 1.4 steals per game, 1.2 assists per game, a 66.1% field goal percentage, a 57.1% free throw percentage, and a 0% three point percentage as a junior in 2022-2023. Taiyanna Jackson had 12.6 points per game, 10 rebounds per game, 3 blocks per game, 1.1 steals per game, 0.6 assists per game, a 57.4% field goal percentage, a 49.3% free throw percentage, and a 0% three point percentage in 2023-2024.
    
    
    
    Taiyanna Jackson can defend the 1 at point guard, the 2 at shooting guard, the 3 at small forward, the 4 at power forward, or the 5 at center. She hits shots from short range and medium range. She struggles with long range shots as well as three pointers. That drops her to 12 where she can make an instant impact in Atlanta. Taiyanna Jackson has All Star potential if she can fix her three point shot and at the very worst she's a perfect player to bring in if Stewart gets into foul trouble.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Ayoka Lee, C, Kansas State