Final 2024 WNBA Draft Notebook & Update

In my final update before Monday’s WNBA Draft, I want to sift through some of the things that are top of mind around this class, development, trajectories, and more (I also have an updated Top 12 at the bottom). 

A keen reminder that this isn’t a Mock Draft, but more along my own evaluations as well as what I think teams should do, what makes sense for them, and my inkling of what they might do. This isn’t sourced. This isn’t what I expect to happen. It’s just my own way of thinking through how I project things.

Georgia Amoore Goes Blue Grass

I had Georgia Amoore going 4th to Los Angeles much of the back half of this cycle, something I’d stand by. She has legitimate potential to become a primary creator in the modern W, one that requires more out of guards as both decision-makers and scorers than it has prior. Amoore is getting into the paint more. She’s growing into those lead ball-handler abilities. The shooting and ability to move without the ball is a massive highlight. Georgia is a fantastic player and prospect.

Much of the reaction around Amoore deciding to go back for one more season was that she “was never going to have higher stock” which I get to a degree. Next year’s class, even if players who are not seniors but fit age criteria return, is stacked. There are players that I have currently projected in the early second round that I would advocate for in the lottery this Draft.

I can’t reiterate enough that opportunity matters so much more than where you go; while it’s possible that Amoore could still wind up a lottery pick in 2025 (I would not rule that out), it’s more important that she is in a place where organizations are fully committed and comfortable with her as a prospect.

She needs to come in and be able to play right away in order to keep growing, as is the case for anyone. I think that’s harder (in most cases) to do as a lead decision-maker than at any other spot. I myself was extremely high on Georgia in this class, but the opinions on her varied enough around the league that I don’t think anything was set in stone. I’m not saying it’s right, it’s just what is.

I do certainly have questions about what the roster ends up looking like in Lexington, but it’s undeniable that Amoore has grown every year as a player. Kenny Brooks and his staff have clearly played a huge part in Georgia’s growth, and I trust that she knows what’s best for her to prepare for the next level.

It will be fascinating to watch how things coalesce in what will be an insanely packed SEC next season.

• Kentucky is TBD, but with Amoore and some potential other commits, they are a strong player for the middle of the SEC.
• Oh hey, Texas and Oklahoma (both teams I’d project Top 25 next season, Texas in the Top 5) are here!
• South Carolina returns the majority of an undefeated national championship team while bringing in one of the best recruiting classes in the country.
• LSU is going to be a top team in the country again.
• Vanderbilt keeps building and brings in one of the best guards in the nation in Mikayla Blakes.
• Ole Miss returns a very strong and vet heavy core, a likely contender to make a leap in 2025.
• Alabama and Auburn both have some changes incoming, but are setting themselves up to make the NCAA Tournament again next season.
• I have no idea what to think about Tennessee yet, but I am a Kim Caldwell believer.
• There’s a lot happening in the SEC!!

Picks No. 2-4 and the Ideology of Versatility

I’ve been clear in writing and analysis throughout that I feel Cameron Brink is the clear cut No. 2 player in the draft, and I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility that she ends up the best player in the class. Development is finicky and so much is up to mindset, environment, and buy-in from both a player and organization.

That being said, there’s something to be said about how versatility is talked about and how it is viewed. On one hand, being able to do multiple things on the court is a significant plus. Having the ability to be kind of a Swiss Army Knife of sorts gives coaching staffs and front offices so many options with respect to team build and on-court play. 

That can be a double-edged sword.

Is there a true buy-in and vision to get the most out of all those skills and abilities? Does an organization view it as worth exploring all those avenues of development? Can you afford to test everything out as it takes time for versatility to translate to consistency?

Those are all things that come up for me when thinking about that upper lottery region.

Cam can shoot, but she’s not a great shooter on volume yet. She can score facing up, with her back to the basket, and excels in the middle of the floor, but is there a concrete thing that’s going to have her capable of building an offense around right away?

Cam is a 4 to me, at her best playing alongside another strong frontcourt player, with the ability to play the 5 in other lineups. Part of that versatility thing though; is she fully a realized 4 in the WNBA off rip? Is she a 5? I don’t think she’s a full time 5 now or ever, but mainly because I think there’s value in having as much size/length on the court as possible.

The fouling is a legit thing with her, but I also think some of that can be cleaned up fairly easily. It’s not often fouling because she’s ‘overmatched’ physically. I find the majority of her fouls to be charges on offense or overly aggressive blocks/tips. Learning to be 5-10% reigned in will be a huge key for her, but that’s something we’ve seen players grow into as they become pros, so I’m not that worried about it. But, it will be a barrier to immediately playing at the 5 and being a primary rim protector.

I think the whole sell with Cam is buying into expanding that versatility, while banking on the elite defensive ability and feel for the game. But, again, I think that takes a different mindset and willingness organizationally.

It’s something I would be fully invested in myself, but I could see why some may go in another direction, even if it’s not what I would do.

You add Rickea Jackson into that mix, and you get some of those same questions, but in a different build. Rickea is a clear cut 4 to me. I think she can play the 3 in some lineups and maybe grow into that more overtime, but my point is, I don’t care.

What she can do and grow into at the 4 spot is pretty unmatched outside the handful of the few best players in the league. Continuing to elevate her game, expand her skill set as a ball-handler (while giving her the opportunities there that she didn’t always get at UT), and prioritizing that could be extremely fruitful. I think in a lot of ways, her skill set and potential skill set are much easier to build around or to plug into something already in place.

Similarly, you bring in Kamilla Cardoso, and she just has a different kind of gravity at 6’7. I think there’s less of the “versatility” with Kamilla (which is not a knock, versatility isn’t just shooting), but there’s something that’s always effervescent in her play that is undeniable on both ends of the floor. You cannot replace or replicate 6’7, especially given that Cardoso has legitimate mobility to her and has grown in her assertion.

So again, I’m not saying that I personally would take Rickea or Kamilla over Cam, but I do think there are some legitimate thought processes that have to go into it (and do go into it) that don’t always get credence. It’s not just a pure talent thing, and versatility can be overused as a blanket positive term, when there are some potential drawbacks to being versatile.

Updates

• I got way too obsessed with fit the last time I did this, wanting to put every player in the best situation in my mind: That’s not how the Draft works! I wound up with Kamilla Cardoso likely too low, and with Georgia Amoore returning back to school, Kamilla is firmly entrenched in the lottery for me. Especially given Azura Stevens’ unfortunate injury (get well soon) that will likely have her sidelined for much of the season, I think it’s difficult to pass up on Cardoso for the Sparks here.
• Washington is in such a weird place. They don’t have a ton of guards, but they have a very good starting backcourt. Shakira Austin is their undoubted centerpiece of the franchise. Adding talent is a must. I think DiDi Richards is going to surprise some people this year, having performed quite well in the WNBL and refining some aspects of her game. I could see the Mystics going for Edwards or Reese here, but I think Leila Lacan is potentially one of the 3-4 best players in the Draft. Things are murky with bringing players over right now, especially in an Olympic year, but I’m betting on Lacan every day of the week. With two first round picks coming up in a much stronger 2025 Draft, focusing on the future is what I would do. That doesn’t mean tank!!! Just keep developing while competing.
• Both Isobel Borlase and Carla Leite could make sense for the Sun at 10, but I lean towards feeling this pick potentially landing them a helpful piece for the right now. Borlase could be that player someday, but I think Helena Pueyo brings immediate fit on the wing and at the guard spot as a hellacious on and off ball defender, good decision-maker, and efficient finisher and shooter. She would fit well in Stephanie White’s system, one that I don’t feel is easy for rookie players to latch onto. The Sun played 3 guard lineups often last season, and that’s only going to keep trending up across the league.
• Atlanta is also in an interesting position. They look to take a step forward as a further established playoff team this season, and there’s a ton of players who can all play on the roster. You could argue this team could benefit from a backup 5, which I totally see. Here’s my thing: Laeticia Amihere could be that player, and is likely more ready to take on that mold than anyone you draft here at 12. The Dream are fully loaded 2-4, with quite a bit of positional versatility. Charisma Osborne is more of a combo than a true lead guard, but she can run some offense, credibly guard the 1 & 2, and is a worthwhile bet for a team that is fairly devoid of true guards outside of Jordin Canada (Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard are awesome, but more straight up 2 3 wings).

Top 12

1. Caitlin Clark (IND)
2. Cameron Brink (LAS)
3. Rickea Jackson (CHI)
4. Kamilla Cardoso (LAS)
5. Jacy Sheldon (DAL)
6. Leila Lacan (WAS)
7. Aaliyah Edwards (MIN)
8. Angel Reese (CHI)
9. Nyadiew Puoch (DAL)
10. Helena Pueyo (CON)
11. Celeste Taylor (NYL)
12. Charisma Osborne (ATL)

Players Also Considered for 1st Round (No Order)

McKenzie Forbes

Jaida Patrick

Marquesha Davis

Jaz Shelley

Isobel Borlase

Esmery Martinez