Way early 2024 WNBA Mock Draft 3.0

[bovwa10]

Having both Van Lith and Kelly higher than Edwards seems crazy to me. I’m not convinced that either of those players will be that successful in the pros, they’re both undersized volume shooters.

 

[Centerstream]

Yeah these mocks are a joke especially with just about 98% of the draftees having the covid year lol good luck predicting a draft order without knowing if they declare lol

Very true but it seems to be pretty good clickbait.

 

[Dezoworld]

I prefer to think that Paige will stay at least 2 more years and in a perfect world her COVID year too!!!!
“You may say I am a dreamer but I am not the only one” quoting the late John Winston Lennon
Better speculation.

I also believe she will stay 2 more years the way she loves UConn,not only to be in the same class as Azzi but to get that extra year back to try to get 2 NC

 

[Dezoworld]

Mir McLean over Aubry is a head scratcher also

 

[Matthew1589]

A lot talented players on the list, but so many shorter guards (5'7 or under). I suspect many of them will stay in school as long as possible to keep their NIL vs. the uncertainty of making a roster in the W.

 

[Happydad745]

Don’t think anyone’s going before Clark in next year’s draft. If it were up to me. I’d definitely take Paige first.

Clark is a stronger candidate...she has less injuries, a bigger body, both are great at assists and 3 point shots.

 

[hoopsdiva]

For a lot of the borderline players who are not assured of making a WNBA roster, it's advantageous to take their COVID year and hope that the league expansion takes place in time for the 2024 or 2025 draft. More roster spots increases their chance of sticking somewhere.

 

[Heytherego]

I would. Why would she come back?

She’s been hinting at it

 

[toad455]

2024 WNBA Draft Preview: A deep dive into a stacked draft

The 2023 WNBA Draft wrapped up last Monday with South Carolina's Aliyah Boston as the top pick to the Indiana Fever.

www.beyondwomenssports.com

 

[JellyBean]

Did I miss Aubrey Griffin's name?

 

[Carnac]

Where’s Ricky Jackson?

She's #10

 

[Carnac]

Kamilla Cordosa will be the #1 pick in '24 IMO.

There's NO WAY she goes before Clark, Bueckers or Reese.

 

[JellyBean]

I get that it is a mock draft but there are a few international players that could impact the draft next year as well. For example, Nyiadew Puoch, a 6'1" Forward from Australia.

 

[oldhusky]

Kamilla Cardoso going 8th in the second round vs Mir McLean going 10th in the first round???

Cardosa should be 5th in my opinion. Interesting that if Mir had stayed around she probably would have played a lot two seasons ago, but she couldn't have known Aubrey would miss the season.

 

[Alydar]

Don’t think anyone’s going before Clark in next year’s draft. If it were up to me. I’d definitely take Paige first.

Clark and even Reese is certainly worthy but the media and the fans always focus on recency and Clark and Reese are the it women right now. A year from now? I know if the draft was tomorrow I'd take Bueckers without a doubt. Her BB skills and athleticism are at least as good as the other candidates but her ability to read defenses and create opportunities for the team by drawing double teams puts her over the top. Now Clarke has most if not all those things too, just not at the same levels. Bueckers will also be welcomed wherever she lands because she is content to not take a shot. With the others, they want shots, which is good for their teams but won't make the other scorers pleased.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Next year is the key year--the 4th year for the last group who can take the Covid 5th year. Will Clark or Paige even be in the draft.

 

[bballnut90]

Clark and even Reese is certainly worthy but the media and the fans always focus on recency and Clark and Reese are the it women right now. A year from now? I know if the draft was tomorrow I'd take Bueckers without a doubt. Her BB skills and athleticism are at least as good as the other candidates but her ability to read defenses and create opportunities for the team by drawing double teams puts her over the top. Now Clarke has most if not all those things too, just not at the same levels. Bueckers will also be welcomed wherever she lands because she is content to not take a shot. With the others, they want shots, which is good for their teams but won't make the other scorers pleased.

Recency bias? Clark has been among the best in the country for the last 3 years and has continually improved. Reese was a 1st Team All-American this year and a 3rd teamer last year (she has also improved each year). Both were top 5 recruits coming out of high school. Neither are new players, they've been around and have been talked about for quite some time. Neither is a selfish player despite what your post suggests. Clark has led the nation in assists 3 years in a row, Angel is an unselfish passer out of the post and a large number of her shots come from offensive rebounds.

 

[Alydar]

Love Paige, put predict that Edwards goes higher in draft. More based on the exceptional year I feel Edwards will have plus the extra year Paige will need to overcome 2 years of injuries. Both will go high based on NCAA Championship UConn will win.

It's hard to rate where a player will be a year from now. A year ago Edwards came off what most thought was a mediocre season. I didn't but that is at issue. Edwards was known as a very hard worker
ever since HS. The jump she made into this past season was mostly in being more assertive and confident along with a reliable mid-range. I expect that she will take Juhasz's two or three 3pt shots a game. And polish her defense. And continue to get stronger.

I thought the problem in her sophomore season was twofold. She was given a much bigger role at both ends and she no longer had Bueckers dropping perfect passes in her hands for easy baskets. With Bueckers' expected return Edwards could have a huge statistical season.

But I still say Bueckers will go higher.

 

[Alydar]

Recency bias? Clark has been among the best in the country for the last 3 years and has continually improved. Reese was a 1st Team All-American this year and a 3rd teamer last year (she has also improved each year). Both were top 5 recruits coming out of high school. Neither are new players, they've been around and have been talked about for quite some time. Neither is a selfish player despite what your post suggests. Clark has led the nation in assists 3 years in a row, Angel is an unselfish passer out of the post and a large number of her shots come from offensive rebounds.

My post had nothing to do with skills and everything to do with the media's short attention span.

 

[bballnut90]

If everyone eligible declares, it'll be one of the best drafts ever. I don't expect that to happen though with so many high profile NIL players. My thoughts for top 15 are:

1. Clark-no brainer here, she's the best offensive guard women's basketball has possibly ever seen with her ability to score and facilitate for others at such a high level.

2. Brink-has all the tools to be an elite 2 way forward in the pros. Great length, runs the floor well, good face up jumper, good passer. Checks every box to be an elite level pro. Needs to foul less.

3. Bueckers-similar to Clark in a lot of ways, doesn't carry the same load Caitlin does but is more efficient which is extremely appealing as a PG. Big concern is health, as she's missed most of the past 2 seasons. Could go as high as 1 with a monster year.

4. Reese-she's an unorthodox player but gets the job done. She has elite athleticism and length and is an incredible rebounder. Decent handles for a post, not the best finisher and doesn't have a strong midrange game. Gets to the line at will and stays out of foul trouble. Massive personality for better or worse. Reminds me of a Rebecca Brunson type player but I think she could be a bigger offensive contributor than Brunson was.

5. Cardoso-she'd go top 2-3 in almost any other draft class. 6-7, runs the floor well, good rebounder and shot blocker. Finishes inside. Consistent performer and was really quite unguardable most of the season. Needs to add range to her shot but is a heck of a deal at #5.

6. Rickea Jackson-great athlete and creator off the dribble. Good finisher and midrange shooter. Needs to improve perimeter shot but proved to be one of the best offensive players in the country last year.

7. Aaliyah Edwards-skilled physical 4 with great strength and a good midrange jumper. Improved leaps and bounds her junior year and has a pro ready game if she can find more consistency. Not a shot blocking threat though and needs to foul less.

8. Ayoka Lee- 6-6 skilled big who finishes well inside. Missed all of last year with an injury.

9. Elizabeth Kitley-another 6-6 big with good skills and a great step back move inside. Good fundamentals and face up game. I don't think she has the athleticism to shine at the next level but time will tell.

10. Madison Scott-long athletics 6-1 forward. Needs to develop more of a perimeter shot but she's a lockdown defender and could jump with a big season.

11. Hailey Van Lith-solid play making guard and extremely competitive. Not the most efficient player but great at creating off the dribble and finishing tough shots. Has performed very well in the NCAA tournament. Undersized to be a shooting guard and hasn't shown strong PG skills though.

12. Deja Kelly-great midrange shooter and creator, great athlete. Very inefficient though and not a strong shooter.

13. Mackenzie Holmes-elite offensive post player, not sure the physical tools are there to be a high level pro though.

14. Jacy Sheldon-just a really solid all around player. Wreaks havoc defensively, good scorer and passer. Solid length and size on the perimeter.

15. Endyia Rogers-excellent offensive player, could elevate her stock going to a premier program with more success.

 

[Orangutan]

My post had nothing to do with skills and everything to do with the media's short attention span.

Your previous post is still up...so we can read that this post is clearly inaccurate.

 

[Alydar]

Apart from their actual value as players, Reese and Clark are the media stars of the moment. That's understandable after the tournament. As a result they are picked to be the top draft pick in a year. What the media totally ignores is that 2 years ago, despite great freshman seasons they were also-rans when Bueckers was playing and it was unanimous. The media agreed. Now the media changed their minds and refer to Clark's freshman stats as clear evidence of her superiority. Bueckers is a non-entity. Fudd is less than that. And I like it that way.
A year ago Edwards was a "disappointment". Now she is a projected top 10 draft pick. Things change. That' was my point. That's why it's called "way too early".

 

[LAWDAWG]

Teams draft per need not per players “rank” Cardoso goes first if the team needs a big and so on....

 

[From France]

Hard to see when Paige will enter the draft with the covid year and a redshirt season, she is still a junior as Azzi - Will this be another one # 1 # 2 draft for UCONN if they enter in 2025 ?

 

[willtalk]

Hard to see when Paige will enter the draft with the covid year and a redshirt season, she is still a junior as Azzi - Will this be another one # 1 # 2 draft for UCONN if they enter in 2025 ?

I believe Paige will enter the draft if she has a good year. It would make sense to do so due to her injury history. If she stays another year it will not increase her draft stock and she runs the risk of getting injured an messing up her her first year in the WNBA. Smartest thing for her if she has an injury free productive year is to enter the draft.

 

[Bone Dog]

My guess is Paige will stay two years so she can play next to her bestie for two NC runs. It’s possible she’ll only stay one year if she leads a dominating run to an NC. But I think friendship wins out over career calculation. By the same token, she won’t take her Covid year because Azzi will be in the W by then.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Caitlin stays exactly as long as Paige does if only to measure herself against her and maybe get that elusive NC. She came up second in the NPOY to Paige once and her team stumbled as a sophomore while hobbled Paige carried UConn to an NC game. She finally won NPOY but Paige wasn’t in the competition. If healthy Paige comes roaring back and wins an NC and a second NPOY, it will be hard for Caitlin not to feel like there’s an asterisk next to her NPOY. No one else will think it, but she might.

 

[Charliebball]

Don’t think anyone’s going before Clark in next year’s draft. If it were up to me. I’d definitely take Paige first.

The one thing Clark does better than Paige is stay healthy............Paige's midrange game is better than Clark's as is her overall shooting accuracy and driving ability.........if Paige can stay healthy for the remainder of her UConn career (hopefully two years) she should be the number one player drafted.....

 

[hoophuskee]

Teams draft per need not per players “rank” Cardoso goes first if the team needs a big and so on....

No they don't. Not when it comes to potential superstars. Cardoso has yet to show she is a superstar. You don't bypass superstars for "need."

You're misusing the word "rank" and equating that whther the player before si a superstar or not. Not all #1 picks and #2 picks each year are the same even though there is a ranking of `1,2 3 etc.

 

[DeeHusky]

The one thing Clark does better than Paige is stay healthy............Paige's midrange game is better than Clark's as is her overall shooting accuracy and driving ability.........if Paige can stay healthy for the remainder of her UConn career (hopefully two years) she should be the number one player drafted.....

I really don’t think Clark is staying another year after this season and I don’t think Paige will stay either. When players are injury prone they don’t like to risk getting hurt again when going pro is on the line. Of course NIL has a lot to do with both staying imo.

 

[Charliebball]

I really don’t think Clark is staying another year after this season and I don’t think Paige will stay either. When players are injury prone they don’t like to risk getting hurt again when going pro is on the line. Of course NIL has a lot to do with both staying imo.

I'm not sure that Paige could earn anywhere near what she makes now if she goes pro..........I think what she does depends on her health and whether the team wins an NC next season............if she stays healthy and they win it all I could see her leaving otherwise maybe not....