In a surprise to no one, with the first pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft the Indiana Fever chose Caitlin Clark of the University of Iowa. Women’s college basketball’s second most noted player, LSU’s Angel Reese, was selected by the Chicago Sky with the seventh overall pick.
It was revealed that in second grade Clark wrote down her future dreams, and among them were being drafted in the WNBA. One must assume her dreams as a seven-year-old child didn’t also include a massive congratulatory billboard in Times Square from State Farm, a new Gatorade commercial, and being the first WNBA or NBA player dressed by Prada for the draft.
As people talked about this year’s super rookies and extolled Clark’s impending impact on the WNBA, Clark proved what a gracious person she is by thanking those who came before her during a pre-draft appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” She also promised to enjoy this next step of her basketball journey and said she looks forward to playing alongside Aliyah Boston and Erica Wheeler.
“I’m 22 years old, and I don’t have all the answers in the world,” said Clark on Monday at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where the event was held. “This is something new to me.
This is a new challenge. That’s something I’m excited for. But having those types of people around me to lean on and ask questions, or when things get hard, to be there for me.”
Joining Clark in Indiana is Long Island native Celeste Taylor, a 5’11” guard chosen in the second round. Taylor’s journey to the WNBA was a bit circuitous, having played her college ball at three different universities. This past year at Ohio State showed the power and range of her game.
“[I’m] obviously a very, very big defensive-minded kid, but at the same time, I’m willing to do whatever it is that a team needs me to do,” said Taylor, who previously played alongside Clark on the USA Basketball team. “I’m willing to come in there and make an impact. I’m really big on community. So just getting my hand in the community and continuing to be who I am and continuing to make an impact.”
First round picks included Cameron Brink (No. 2) of Stanford and Rickea Jackson (No. 4) of Tennessee, both selected by the Los Angeles Sparks, and this year’s Final Four most outstanding player, Kamilla Cardoso of champion South Carolina, taken No. 3 by the Chicago Sky.