The first big event of the offseason is here, with the 2024 WNBA Draft Lottery now just hours away. We’ll soon learn which lucky team gets the No. 1 overall pick in what is projected to be one of the best draft classes of all time. The event is set to take place in between the Utah vs. South Carolina and North Carolina vs. UConn games at the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase.
This year, the lottery will feature the Indiana Fever, Phoenix Mercury, Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm. While the Mercury finished with the worst record in the league, the WNBA uses the combined records of the previous two seasons to determine lottery odds, so the Fever have the best chance of winning the first pick.
Ahead of the big day, here’s everything you need to know:
The Fever won the No. 1 pick for the first time in franchise history last year, and they used it to select Aliyah Boston, who went on to win Rookie of the Year unanimously. Thanks in large part to Boston, they won more games in 2023 than they did in 2021 and 2022 combined, as they appear to finally have some hope for the future. Adding another lottery pick will only further solidify that fact.
This was another rough season for the Mercury, as their streak of 10 straight playoff appearances — which was the longest active streak in the league — came to an end. That was probably for the best long-term, however, as this team needs a reset and will now get to do so with a new GM, new head coach and, potentially, the No. 1 overall pick.
Despite hiring two-time Coach of the Year Curt Miller and adding a number of veterans to the roster, the Sparks missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season, which is the longest drought in franchise history. The good news is they actually own their lottery pick this year and will finally get a chance to add a top-tier young talent to the roster.
As expected, the Storm struggled to cope with the loss of Sue Bird (retirement) and Breanna Stewart (free agency), and, by winning percentage (0.275), had their second-worst season in franchise history. They’re back in the lottery for the first time since 2016, when they drafted Stewart, and will be hoping for similar luck this time around.
Top prospects
The 2024 draft class has a chance to be one of the best ever, though it remains to be seen which of the top prospects will enter the draft and which will use their COVID years to remain in school. For now, here’s a quick look at some of the biggest names (in alphabetical order):
Cameron Brink — C, Stanford
Paige Bueckers — G, UConn
Kamilla Cardoso — C, South Carolina
Caitlin Clark — G, Iowa
Aaliyah Edwards — F, UConn
Rickea Jackson — F, Tennessee
Elizabeth Kitley — C, Virginia Tech
Angel Reese — C, LSU