Cameron Brink, Caitlin Clark and Kamilla Cardoso find skilled homes

By Ben Morse, CNN

(CNN) — Not since Sabrina Ionescu in 2020 has there been as much excitement surrounding a player being taken within the WNBA draft as there may be currently Caitlin Clark.

After a historic season with the Iowa Hawkeyes – one which ultimately led to heartbreak Lost to South Carolina within the national championship game of the NCAA Tournament – Clark enters the draft because the overwhelming favorite and is chosen first overall by the Indiana Fever.

But outside ClarkThere are loads of players to regulate, so here's all the pieces it is advisable know ahead of the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Here's the best way to watch

The 2024 edition of the WNBA Draft will happen on Monday on the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York.

Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and might be streamed on the ESPN app or fuboTV.

Franchise-changing selection?

After last yr's heartbreaking loss within the national championship game, Clark's last dance with the Hawkeyes led to almost fairytale fashion.

Although Iowa ultimately fell at the ultimate hurdle again – this time to South Carolina – Clark's 2023-24 campaign made clear the impact she had Women's basketball through their popularity and unique skills.

Wherever Clark has gone, arenas are sold out in Iowa.Clarkman' swept the country.

She was named the all-time leading scorer in each Division I men's and ladies's college basketball last season Naismith Player of the Year for the second consecutive yr and was named to the 14-man squad for the US Basketball Women's National Team training camp, potentially paving the best way for a visit to the Olympics Paris 2024. However, Clark was unable to attend since it was held the identical week because the Final Four.

And now that Clark has confirmed her intention to go to the WNBA, the thrill about what she could achieve in the professionals has only increased.

Ticket prices for the Indiana Fever — the team that has the No. 1 pick within the draft and is anticipated to pick Clark — have greater than doubled, and the anticipation of watching them destroy opposing defenses from long range is greater than high doubled.

The Fever had one among the worst records within the league last season, but with Aliyah Boston, last yr's No. 1 overall pick, together with Clark, they could possibly be on the verge of a box office success.

Other big names

Aside from Clark, the 2024 WNBA Draft class is loaded with talent, and a few potential franchise cornerstones are up for grabs.

Most draft analysts agree on the following three predictions, however the order varies depending on the outlet.

Chief amongst them is Stanford forward Cameron Brink.

The 22-year-old has develop into some of the dominant defensive players in women's college basketball in recent times and was named the 2024 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.

Although her final season at Stanford led to a disappointing Sweet 16 loss to NC State, Brink recorded 32 rebounds and 18 blocks in only three 2024 NCAA Tournament games.

Many mock drafts are projecting Brink to be chosen No. 2 behind Clark, as her game-changing defensive abilities will likely provide the team that selects her with a solid foundation to construct on.

Tennessee forward Rickea Jackson can also be considered a top-five player after developing right into a dynamic scorer with the Volunteers.

Jackson, one other team whose NCAA Tournament season ended with a surprising loss to NC State, averaged 20.2 points and eight.2 rebounds per game in her final season with Tennessee and led the Southeastern Conference in scoring.

Jackson has the mixture of offensive firepower, athleticism and size that usually comes with winning teams.

Another highly sought-after player is South Carolina's Kamilla Cardoso, whose draft stock rose after winning the national championship.

The Brazilian played a key role within the Gamecocks' undefeated title team this season and her dominant performances won her the tournament's Final Four Most Outstanding Player award.

In her only season starting for South Carolina, Cardoso averaged 14.4 points and 9.7 rebounds and picked up 82 blocks over the course of the season.

Her combination of power and advantageous footwork made her an almost unstoppable force throughout the ladies's NCAA Tournament and ought to be a skill that translates to the WNBA.

Draft regulation of the primary round

Here is the entire first-round selection order of the 2024 WNBA Draft:

1. Indiana fever

2. Los Angeles Sparks

3. Chicago Sky

4. Los Angeles Sparks

5. Dallas Wings

6. Washington Mystics

7. Chicago Sky

8. Minnesota Lynx

9. Dallas Wings

10. Connecticut Sun

11. New York Freedom

12. Atlanta Dream

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