WNBA 2024 Re-Draft Analysis: Clark Retains Top Spot, Reese Rises

The 2024 WNBA draft class has fundamentally altered the landscape of the league. The arrival of star players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese helped drive the attention necessary to secure a historic collective bargaining agreement. This surge in interest culminated in a record-breaking viewership of 3.3 million for the 2026 WNBA Finals, where the Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream in a Game 7 thriller to claim their first championship.

As the league enters a new offseason, it is an appropriate time to evaluate the 2024 selections with the benefit of hindsight. Next season will be the final year of rookie contracts for this cohort, and Clark and Reese are eligible for EPIC extensions. While Clark would undoubtedly remain the first overall pick, the re-draft reveals significant shifts in how other teams might have approached their selections.

At the top of the board, the Indiana Fever would still select Caitlin Clark. Her historic rookie season, All-WNBA First Team honors, and ability to transform the Fever into a playoff regular solidify her status. The Sparks, however, would likely swap their original pick, Cameron Brink, for Angel Reese. Brink has played only 65 games due to an ACL injury, whereas Reese has become a Defensive Player of the Year and a top-tier rebounder for the Dream.

The Chicago Sky would also alter their strategy, selecting Carla Leite at number three instead of Kamilla Cardoso. Leite, who was originally taken by Dallas, has found success with the Golden State Valkyries. She recently finished third for Most Improved Player after a breakout season that saw her emerge as a franchise point guard. Her age and international status previously caused hesitation, but her recent performance proves her value.

The Los Angeles Sparks would utilize their second lottery pick to select Leila Lacan over Rickea Jackson. Lacan, a 22-year-old French guard, has been highly impactful for the Connecticut Sun, particularly on defense. Her presence correlates with significantly better team records, and her defensive prowess would address a long-standing weakness for the Sparks.

Other notable changes include the Dallas Wings selecting Cameron Brink at number five, prioritizing her rim-protection abilities over Jacy Sheldon. The Washington Mystics would likely choose Rickea Jackson at number seven, valuing her ability to create offense despite her injury history. The Sky would take Sydney Taylor at number seven, a player who went undrafted in 2024 but earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team after playing in Europe.

The Minnesota Lynx would select Aaliyah Edwards over Alissa Pili, betting on Edwards' fit with their system. The Wings would draft-and-stash Isobel Borlase, an Australian who has shown promise in the WNBL and recently for the Dream. The Sun would choose Emma Cechova, a Czech player who tore her ACL last season, as a long-term investment. The Liberty would take Kamilla Cardoso, and the Dream would select Jacy Sheldon, both as strategic moves based on current roster needs and player development trajectories.

This re-draft underscores how early injuries and international timelines have shifted the value of key players. While the original draft had its logic, the subsequent three seasons have revealed that Reese, Leite, and Lacan offer a combination of durability and impact that the original picks did not fully deliver.