4 Talented Basketball Players with Lottery Pick Potential

Caitlin Clark, a senior at Iowa, is one of the top prospects for the 2024 WNBA Draft. (G Fiume/Getty Images)

The upcoming WNBA draft lottery scheduled for Dec. 10 features four teams vying for the No. 1 overall pick — the Indiana Fever, Phoenix Mercury, Los Angeles Sparks, and Seattle Storm.

While the Mercury ended the 2023 season with the worst record, the WNBA accumulates the previous two seasons to determine the odds for the No. 1 overall pick. This means the Fever, having won the lottery for the first time in 2023, have the best chance of securing the No. 1 pick again in 2024.

So, who will each team select when the draft commences in April? Just Women’s Sports offers projections of the four lottery picks based on the team odds for the draft lottery.

1. Indiana Fever: Caitlin Clark, Iowa

Clark is arguably the biggest star in college basketball.

Last year’s consensus player of the year, the senior from Iowa proved herself to be an elite shooter, leading the NCAA in 3-pointers with 140 and finishing second in scoring with 27.8 points per game. She also exhibited her ability to make her teammates better by leading Division I with 8.6 assists per game. Clark’s performances remain impressive this season with a 44-point game on her stat sheet. Although Clark has one more year of NCAA eligibility for the 2023-24 season and has hinted at the potential use of it, if she opts for the WNBA she’ll be a strong contender for the No. 1 overall pick.

Paige Bueckers has two years of eligibility remaining for UConn, but she is also a top WNBA prospect. (Lance King/Getty Images)

2. Phoenix Mercury: Paige Bueckers, UConn

Bueckers is another elite shooter and playmaker. She secured national player of the year honors as a freshman in 2021, and her shooting ability is nearly unmatched.

Though the Huskies guard has fewer college appearances than other players qualified for the 2024 draft due to injuries, including a torn ACL that sidelined her for the entire last season, she is still considered a top prospect. As a redshirt junior, Bueckers has played just 46 games for UConn and is eligible to remain with the program through 2026. However, given her lackluster season in 2022 and the overall poor record in 2023, she may be a risk worth taking for the Mercury.

Stanford’s Cameron Brink averaged 3.47 blocks per game last year. (Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)

3. Los Angeles Sparks: Cameron Brink, Stanford

Brink, a versatile big, brings both offensive and defensive strengths to the table.

While she may not be as prolific a scorer as Clark or Bueckers, her defense makes up for it. The 6-foot-4 senior averaged 3.47 blocks per game last year, ranking her third in the league. She can also score from the post and the perimeter, making her a valuable addition to any team. Brink showcased her scoring prowess against No. 9 Indiana on Nov. 12 when she recorded 20 points and 17 rebounds.

Aaliyah Edwards has been leading UConn in scoring so far this season. (G Fiume/Getty Images)

4. Seattle Storm: Aaliyah Edwards, UConn

The departure of Breanna Stewart has left the Storm in need of a strong post presence, and UConn’s leading scorer could provide just that.

Edwards led the Huskies in scoring last season, averaging 16.6 points per game, and she currently leads the team again through four games this season, with 18.0 per game. Her physical stature is also an advantage — the 6-foot-3 power forward is a force on the court and a fearsome defender and rebounder, collecting an average of 9.0 rebounds per game last season with top-notch one-on-one defense.

Kamilla Cardoso averaged 9.8 points and 8.5 rebounds for South Carolina last season. (Grant Halverson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Honorable mentions

The following players would also be great choices in the first round:

• Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina
• Angel Reese, LSU
• Hailey Van Lith, LSU
• Rickea Jackson, Tennessee
• Georgia Amoore, Virginia Tech
• Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State