NEW YORK — Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink and other recent college stars make this one of the most anticipated WNBA drafts in recent years.
There are several impact players up for grabs, but their talent is nearly eclipsed by their popularity among basketball fans.
"Caitlin is kind of in a world of her own, but I don't know that we have seen this kind of excitement across the board," ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo said of the 6-foot guard who became NCAA Division I's all-time leading scorer during her four seasons at Iowa.
"You know, Angel Reese has a massive following. Cameron Brink has a large following of people, whether it's following them on social media or following them throughout the course of their college career," added Lobo, who won an NCAA title at the University of Connecticut and was part of the first wave of players in the WNBA. "We have women coming into the draft this year who people are very much aware of and eager to see how their game is going to translate at this level."
Clark has helped bring millions of new fans to women's basketball with her signature logo 3-pointers and dazzling passing ability. She was a big reason why a record 18.9 million viewers tuned in to watche last weekend's NCAA championship game, where her Hawkeyes lost as South Carolina completed a 38-0 season — a year after Iowa fell to Reese's LSU Tigers in the title showdown.
The next step for Clark comes Monday night, when the Indiana Fever are set to take her with the No. 1 overall pick as the draft takes place at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in front of 1,000 fans.
"This is the first time we're going to have fans at the draft, so I think that's going to be special," ESPN analyst Andraya Carter said. "For people watching at home to see and hear a crowd and fans and people there, I think it'll be really exciting."
While Clark is a lock to go first, Brink, Tennessee's Rickea Jackson and South Carolina's Kamilla Cardoso — the 6-7 Brazilian and Final Four MVP was once a prep standout for Chattanooga's Hamilton Heights Christian Academy — have all been in the discussion to be taken at No. 2 by Los Angeles. The Sparks also own the No. 4 pick, with Chicago choosing third.
"They are foundational. They're an incredible opportunity for our organization," Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley said of the pair of picks. "We definitely want to see two players that not only have the skill set to make an impact early, but also a long runway ahead of them, opportunities to develop, opportunities to not only be excellent in what they do but how they impact the other pieces around them as we continue to build this team."
Dallas will pick fifth and Washington sixth. Minnesota, Chicago, Dallas, Connecticut, New York and Atlanta close out the first round. In all, there are three rounds and 36 picks.
The WNBA invited 15 prospects to attend Monday's draft, including Brink, Cardoso, Clark, Jackson and Reese. The others are Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl (UConn), Jacy Sheldon and Celeste Taylor (Ohio State), Marquesha Davis (Ole Miss), Dyaisha Fair (Syracuse), Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech), Charisma Osborne (UCLA), Alissa Pili (Utah) and Nyadiew Puoch from Australia.
Kitley and fellow All-American Mackenzie Holmes of Indiana won't be able to play in the WNBA this season because of knee injuries.
Holmes wrote on social media that she is having surgery next month.
"At this time to ensure my body is healthy and my playing career is as long and successful as possible, I have decided to get the necessary surgery in May to prevent further issues and alleviate the pain it has caused," she said. "I have declared for the 2024 WNBA draft and pray that a team honors me with a selection knowing I will be ready for the start of 2025 training camp."
Kitley tore the ACL in her left knee in the Hokies' regular-season finale and missed both the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament and the NCAA tourney.
"Whenever you see any player go through an injury at any point in their career, but especially at that point, this special season that Virginia Tech was having. But I think she's a player that has, I'll use this word 'track' again," Pebley said. "Just a lot of runway ahead of her. She's going to, I think, have a great career with her versatility, her footwork abilities. And I think her impact around the rim."