Caitlin Clark, the former Iowa star, fulfilled her childhood dream by being selected as the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever. Clark expressed her excitement and gratitude, acknowledging the hard work that led her to this moment. She is set to join forces with Aliyah Boston, last season's top pick, to help revitalize the Indiana franchise.
Clark's selection by the Fever was widely anticipated since she announced her decision to turn professional. The draft event at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis drew a massive crowd, with nearly 17,000 tickets claimed. Clark's popularity soared during her record-breaking college career, attracting millions of fans to the women's game with her remarkable skills.
Following the draft, Clark embarked on a whirlwind journey, receiving accolades such as the John R. Wooden Award and making an appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” The draft, held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, saw Los Angeles picking Stanford's Cameron Brink at No. 2, while Chicago selected South Carolina's Kamilla Cardoso at No. 3.
Cardoso, fresh off a national championship win with South Carolina, joined the Gamecocks' victory parade before heading to New York for the draft. The draft also featured notable picks like Ohio State's Jacy Sheldon to Dallas, UConn's Aaliyah Edwards to Washington, and LSU's Angel Reese to Chicago.
Las Vegas, the two-time defending champion, made the most of their three second-round picks, selecting talents like Syracuse's Dyaisha Fair and Iowa's Kate Martin. The Aces also drafted Virginia Tech's Elizabeth Kitley, who is currently recovering from a torn ACL.
Charisma Osborne, the final player invited to the draft, was chosen by Phoenix with the first pick of the third round. Osborne, a UCLA standout, expressed her excitement about joining the Phoenix team and is eager to contribute.
The WNBA draft showcased the next generation of talent, with top prospects finding new homes in various teams across the league. Fans can look forward to seeing these rising stars make their mark in professional basketball.
