The party’s just starting for the 2024 WNBA Draftees as the season tip-off approaches
The GIST: As you read, the Indiana Fever won the Caitlin Clark lottery at Monday night’s historic WNBA Draft, which saw 30 NCAAers turn pro. With league enthusiasm (and lewks) at an all-time high, what comes next for the W’s newbies (besides upcoming final exams and graduation, of course)?
The timeline: With just 27 days until the W season starts, the draftees have only a week and a half to haul ass to their new home cities before training camps open on April 28th. Since there are only 144 WNBA roster spots, these camps are cutthroat tryouts — only about half the drafted players will make opening day rosters when the season tips off on May 14th.
Training camp rivals: The rookie vs. rookie competition can be fierce in the battle for a roster spot. Case in point? Former SEC rivals and new Chicago Sky teammates Kamilla Cardoso (South Carolina) and Angel Reese (LSU) play similar positions, meaning they could be each other’s biggest competition. At least they already know how to go at it.
- The NY Liberty drafted four players, but with their stacked roster, they likely have only one or two available spots. In other words, first-rounder Marquesha Davis (Ole Miss) and three others are about to enter a four-woman Hunger Games. May the odds be ever in their favor.
New teammate dynamics: Assuming they all survive preseason, rookies face a massive transition ahead, and some will have to learn to play nice with former college foes, like Cardoso and Reese. Similarly, Clark and new Fever teammate Celeste Taylor, also a point guard, will have to bury their Iowa–Ohio State blood rivalry.
- Expect others to make big changes from their college game. For instance, after five seasons as UCLA’s go-to guard, Phoenix Mercury rookie Charisma Osborne will likely have to adapt to avoid being cut as she goes up against one of the best to ever do it, Diana Taurasi.
