If the excitement of NCAA March Madness has sparked a new interest in women’s basketball, you’re not alone. Thanks to the excitement surrounding the tournament and the spotlight it put on amazing athletes like Caitlin Clark, Paige Backers, and Angel Reese, literally millions of other Americans also participated.
The 2024 Women’s National Championship Game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and South Carolina Gamecocks drew a record-breaking 18.7 million viewers, making it the most-watched game in women’s college basketball history. and Most-watched basketball games overall (yes, that includes men’s or women’s, college or pro) since 2019, according to ESPN.
There’s no denying that we’re entering a pretty thrilling era for women’s basketball. And the best part is, even though March Her Madness is over, there’s plenty more excitement to come. The WNBA Draft will be held on April 15th, featuring some of the hottest college stars and setting the stage for the epic pro game to come.
Fair warning: The drafting process can be a little, um, nuanced, and it’s totally understandable if you’re confused about how it all works. To make things clearer, we’ve put together the Q&A below that addresses all the hot questions in an easy-to-digest format. Click here to find out what you need to know.
First of all, when and where does this happen?
Mark your calendars for Monday, April 15th at 7:30pm ET. That’s when the Draft extravaganza, held this year at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, begins. For the first time since 2016, fans will be allowed to attend the draft in person, creating a very exciting atmosphere, and we’re sure TV viewers will feel the same way.
What is the point of the draft?
I’m glad you asked! Essentially, the WNBA holds a draft that allows teams to select new players from the latest pool of eligible players, including players who are soon to graduate from college. Through a lottery and ranking process (more on that later) that favors teams with less-than-stellar records, the draft is intended to match the league’s performance, allowing struggling teams to be the best. You will have a chance to strengthen your roster with new players. . What are the benefits for us viewers? More exciting games!
How many teams are included?
All 12 teams that make up the WNBA will participate in the draft. This includes the Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm, Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics, Minnesota Lynx, Atlanta Dream, Dallas Wings, Connecticut Sun, New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces, and Chicago Sky.
So how are the picks chosen?
The draft has three rounds, with 12 picks per round. The order of team selection is based on last season’s performance, with the worst teams first and the best teams last.
There is one important exception. His first four picks in the first round were determined by the draft lottery (a weighted lottery among the four teams that did not make the 2023 WNBA Playoffs, Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, and Seattle Storm). will be done. ) – in addition to traded picks (basically, teams can decide to trade picks with each other).
What makes an athlete eligible for the draft?
There are three main groups that can participate in the draft. All college seniors who are no longer eligible to play in the NCAA. NCAA players who turned 22 this year and waived (or “waived”) their remaining NCAA eligibility. Or an international player who turns 20 this year.
How many rounds are there?
three! And each round has 12 picks.
How many players are in the pool and how many will be selected?
The WNBA has not announced the size of this year’s roster, but an April 4 press release from the organization 89 players nominated A person who has waived his/her college eligibility to become a draft candidate. A week later, the WNBA made another announcement. press release It spotlights draft headliners who weren’t named on the original list, including Caitlin Clark, Aaliyah Edwards and Camila Cardoso. Therefore, it is not clear exactly how large the final pool will be, but do Please know that only 36 athletes will be ultimately selected.
Which team has the first pick this year?
This year, the Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks, and Chicago Sky will be appearing for the first time in that order. Notably, the Fever also had the No. 1 pick last year. You’re in luck!
Who are the draft candidates?
Unsurprisingly, Caitlin Clark is widely expected to be the top pick. The 22-year-old guard, who is the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer and the highest-paid NCAA women’s basketball player in NCAA history (thanks to her NIL allowance), finished her college career with a highly impressive total of 3,951 points and 1,144 assists. I just got it. She said she had 990 rebounds in four years with the Iowa Hawkeyes. ESPN.
