Caitlin Clark will headline the 2024 WNBA Draft, but she won't be the only impact guard entering the league. As the professional game modernizes, franchises are looking for more playmakers on the perimeter to improve the pace and spacing of their attacks. Clark is the most prolific and high-profile guard of this group, and she has a deep class of shooters, pure point guards, and combo guards (including several international players) looking to make an impact at the next level. (including promising players) have been added.
The draft will be held in Brooklyn, New York on April 15, just eight days after the National Championship and less than three weeks until the draft. Ahead of the event, eight WNBA general managers shared their candid thoughts on the upcoming draft class. The Athletic Before the NCAA Tournament. They were given anonymity to speak openly. On Thursday, we'll have another article with candid views from frontcourt players like Cameron Brink, Camila Cardoso and Angel Reese.
even deeper
WNBA mock draft: Where will Angel Reese land? Who will be chosen next after Caitlin Clark?
Once the tournament is over, we will publish the final mock draft and GM scout of potential 2025 WNBA Draft picks.
Players are listed alphabetically.
18.8 points per game (ppg), 6.8 assists per game (apg), 3-point field goal percentage 33.5 (3-pt fg%), free throw percentage 85.9 (ft%)
• “I think most people would be positive about playing Amoore because she has a clear position. In the worst case scenario, they might be able to turn her into a reserve player, And being able to solidify that position in this league is no small thing. A backup player who can stretch the floor is a great addition to your team. She (Jaycee Sheldon, Jaylin Sherrod, Haley (Van Lith) may be the safest choice of all.
• “The question for Amur is size. The question is, can she do the same things offensively in college that she needs to do in the pros, because she's worried about length in the pick-and-roll? I think she knows how to run a team very well.”
• “She has the ability that I think point guards at the highest level have, not just who needs the ball, but how to manipulate the defense and get the ball in the best situations to be successful. And he knows when is the best time.”
just @georgia_amoore Things👏#MarchMadness × 🎥 ESPN 2 / @hokiss_2019 pic.twitter.com/4p1yw8K8XY
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 22, 2024
Isobel Bollase | 5-11 Guard | Adelaide Lightning (WNBL, Australia)
15.6 ppg, 4.7 rebounds per game (rpg), 2.5 apg, 1.8 steals (spg)
・”Borlase has a game that suits Australia. I don't know if that will reflect in our game.”
• “I think she does a very good job in terms of creating for herself. She shows in some ways that she has what I would call international maturity. She can score. You can tell she's playing professional basketball. … From what I've seen, I think she could easily make it to the first round.”
Caitlin Clark | 6-0 Guard | Iowa State
31.8 ppg, 8.8 apg, 7.3 RPG, 37.9 3-pt fg%
• “I think like many of my colleagues: generational talent can be the backbone of a franchise. He's the clear No. 1 pick.”
• “Phenomenal player. Probably one of the most offensively prepared guards we've ever seen.”
• “What she will be most beneficial to the team, and we all know which team it will be, is her ability to pass, spread the ball around and spread love to the great players on the team.” I think she will struggle more offensively because of the strength of the guard guarding her, and the speed of that guard is something she is not used to seeing in college. But she will have the biggest impact. I think it's his passing ability.”
![Deeper](https://cdn.theathletic.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=128,height=128,fit=cover,format=auto/app/uploads/2024/03/18163212/0319_ClarksShot-1024x512.png)
![Deeper](https://cdn.theathletic.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=128,height=128,fit=cover,format=auto/app/uploads/2024/03/18163212/0319_ClarksShot-1024x512.png)
even deeper
Why is Caitlin Clark the best shooter in college basketball? The physics behind her shot
Leila Raquin | 5-11 Guard | Angers (France)
11.8rpg, 2.7rpg, 3.1rpg, 3.3rpg
• “I don't know about her speed, quickness or toughness at this level, but I think she's probably a first-rounder.”
• “I really like Layla’s size. She has a pretty complete package. I think she’s really good in the pick-and-roll. I think her vision is really good, but You can also create with her. She's an attractive prospect. It's a little difficult when you don't know much about overseas duties and national teams and all that kind of stuff.”
Carla Leite | 5-9 Guard | Tarbes (France)
15.9 ppg, 5.8 apg, 1.4 spg, 87.4 ft%
• “Although only 19 years old, he has shown the court awareness to be an elite professional point guard. Incredible ability to get to the rim, great change of tempo, great ability with the ball in his hands, and great ability to run the floor. He looks very good. Good size, gets to the line a lot for a PG, and has a good free throw conversion rate. His 3-point shooting needs to continue to improve.”
14.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.0 apg, 89.2 ft%
• “She's a combo guard. I think she's more two-one than one-two. She's shown to be good at a lot of things. 3, can she shoot midrange? She gets to the rim They can. Physical defenders. But I think for those three, I'd probably give Amoore a slight edge and then (Jaycee) Sheldon right behind her.”
• “Charisma is a solid leader, has a high basketball IQ and is willing to do whatever it takes to help her team succeed. …I think her midrange game is one of the best in the league.” I think. He's a good mid-range pull-up. He needs to be a consistent 3-second shooter, but he's a great defender.”
• “Charisma has worked very hard on her shots and has shown great growth in the first two-thirds of the season. She has struggled in this back third. She will need to find consistency.” I think she needs to take a Jackie Young growth step. She has great pull-ups. Really great pull-ups, kind of a second-layer feed off the ball screen action. In fact, she's a contest He's able to time his release really well for that. That 3-point ability has to become really consistent, the way Jackie has developed that.”
Jaycee Sheldon | 5-10 Guard | Ohio State
17.8 ppg, 3.8 apg, 1.9 spg, 37.3 3-pt fg%
• “Her ceiling may be higher than Amoore’s, but the physicality of our league may be too much for her.”
• “Great athlete. My concern with her is the physicality of her game. Ohio State is a very physical team, and when you look at her size, I'm a little concerned about her ability to handle that physicality. But Great vision, passer, shooter.”
• “Can you develop a little Allie Quigley-like game?” She is released immediately. She plays very well in an up-tempo system. I think she shows great IQ both off the ball and on the ball in the half court. I think she is an elite communicator. Her ability to move smoothly from first to third place is special. ”
• “She has a lot of discretion in choosing her shots and is able to involve the whole team. And I think they go the way she goes, too.” Obviously, the most influential part of her game One of the strong pieces is the defensive end. She's very athletic and has a great awareness of when to take risks, especially in the press, but she's a really disciplined defender and , I think that's going to be her biggest impact at the next level, at least in league play, right away.”
What a great way to get her 2000 points!congratulations @JacySheldon ! pic.twitter.com/prWeRXtTt5
— Ohio State Women's Basketball (@OhioStateWBB) March 22, 2024
Jaylin Sherrod | 5-7 Guard | Colorado
12.9 ppg, 4.9 apg, 2.2 spg, 49.8 2-pt fg%
• “A great defender. Her defensive toughness, ability to intimidate whoever she’s defending gets my attention every time I see her. She also adds some offensive skills. I like her toughness.”
• “She's not a professional shooter right now. She might be one of those players who needs to go overseas and work on her offensive game and get a consistent jump shot, because in today's league Because you can't be a guard and be a good shooter. She can attack the basket and do everything, but if she can't shoot, people learn to fool you.”
Haley Van Lith | Haley Van Lith 5-7 Guard | LSU
11.8 ppg, 3.6 apg, 35.5 3-pt fg%, 82.7 ft%
“Good outside shooter and gets to the rim well, but his midrange game is questionable. He plays hard – rough, competitive, loves fire. Hey Dana -Reminds me of Evans. Two is probably more natural than one, but due to her size she will have to play primarily with one. Still, I wonder if she can be as effective as she is. I have doubts about that.”
• “She doesn't hit the ball like people think she does. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing for her to go to LSU and be forced to play point guard. But she needed to work on her ball-handling and passing skills because the team needed them.”
(Photo of Charisma Osbourne, Caitlin Clarke, Hayley Van Lith: G. Fiume, Harry Howe, Ethan Miller/Getty Images)