WNBA draft: Caitlin Clark selected No. 1 by Indiana Fever, while Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese are teaming up in Chicago | CNN (2024)

New York CNN

Excitement for women’s basketball is perhaps the highest it’s ever been.

And now, many of the stars from the NCAA women’s basketball tournament – including Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, Stanford’s Cameron Brink, LSU’s Angel Reese and South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso – are taking their talents to the WNBA.

As expected, Clark, who helped attract record-breaking TV audiences and sellouts in arenas around the country in her final collegiate season, was selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft Monday at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York.

“I got a little anxious there before the pick,” Clark said on the ESPN broadcast. She later added: “I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was in second grade. It’s taken a lot of hard work, a lot of ups and downs, but more than anything, just trying to soak it in.”

Brink went No. 2 overall to the Los Angeles Sparks. The Chicago Sky, selecting third, took Cardoso, while Rickea Jackson of Tennessee went No. 4 to the Sparks. Rounding out the top five, the Dallas Wings selected Ohio State’s Jacy Sheldon.

Cardoso, who is from Brazil, was emotional when reflecting on leaving her home country back when she was 15 to pursue her professional basketball dream.

WNBA draft: Caitlin Clark selected No. 1 by Indiana Fever, while Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese are teaming up in Chicago | CNN (1)

Kamilla Cardoso poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected as the third overall pick by the Chicago Sky.

“I had a goal to be here tonight and give my family a better life, so I’m just so thankful that I was able to be here,” she told ESPN through tears.

UConn’s Aaliyah Edwards went sixth overall to the Washington Mystics. Reese, meanwhile, landed with the Sky at No. 7, joining forces with fellow rookie Cardoso. Reese was the 2023 Final Four Most Outstanding Player when LSU won the national title, with Cardoso earning the honor this year after South Carolina completed an undefeated season and won the program’s third national championship.

“Coming back (to LSU) would have been amazing for me, but I wanted more for myself,” Reese said. “I wanted to start over. I feel like I had been on a high since (winning) the national championship, and I want to hit rock bottom.

“I want to be a rookie again. I want to be knocked down by vets, and I want to be able to get up and grow and be a sponge. I’m just super excited to play with the amazing players and against amazing players.”

WNBA draft: Caitlin Clark selected No. 1 by Indiana Fever, while Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese are teaming up in Chicago | CNN (2)

Angel Reese celebrates with LSU head coach Kim Mulkey after being selected as the seventh overall pick by the Sky.

Utah’s Alissa Pili went to the Minnesota Lynx at No. 8. Two players from France completed the top 10: The Wings selected Carla Leite at No. 9, and the Connecticut Sun with the 10th pick chose Leila Lacan.

The crowd roared for the hometown New York Liberty’s pick, going with Marquesha Davis of Ole Miss at No. 11. To complete the first round, the Atlanta Dream selected Australian Nyadiew Puoch with the 12th pick.

The buzz around Clark, who will be paired with last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Aliyah Boston, comes with weighty expectations – and potential for more national audiences. On Wednesday, the WNBA announced 36 of the Fever’s 40 games will be featured by the WNBA’s national broadcast and streaming partners.

“Caitlin is one of the most naturally gifted basketball players I have ever seen enter the WNBA from the college level,” Fever head coach Christie Sides said. “Her shooting and passing abilities captivated an entire audience of basketball fans, and her ability to make those around her better was even more evident during her collegiate career. We can’t wait to bring her to Indiana and incorporate her into our locker room with a group ready to get back to the postseason.”

The Fever had one of the worst records in the league last season, but with a tandem of Boston and Clark, it could be one of the hottest tickets in sports.

“I certainly know the pressure is there. I’m aware of it,” Clark told CNN on the Orange Carpet ahead of the draft. “There’s never any running away from it. But I think for myself, all my confidence comes from the work I put in, comes from my teammates. I know this is a team sport; that’s why I love basketball. It’s not an individual sport and that’s where all my confidence comes from. That’s always what I rely on when moments feel tense or things feel under pressure. It’s like that’s what I just fall back to.”

A hyped draft class, but the women who came before ‘are the trailblazers’

Clark is not the only reason why interest in the sport has grown. Far from it.

In the regular season and NCAA tournament, there were several college stars who delivered on the big stage – like Cardoso, Reese and Brink.

Meanwhile, the WNBA has been full of stars since the league’s inception. That hasn’t changed as the league enters its 28th season.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MARCH 08: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts after making a 3-pointer to break the NCAA single season 3-point record for any gender during the second half of a Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament quarter finals game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Penn State Lady Lions at Target Center on March 08, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images Related article Women’s college basketball: How Caitlin Clark rewrote the rules

But a big difference in recent years at the professional and college level is how much more accessible they are to watch (and the amount of media coverage they get).

“I know people keep saying it’s a historic draft class, but I think we need to look back at the draft class(es) before us as well because they’re the women we grew up watching,” Brink told CNN on the Orange Carpet. “So, we do it for them. They are the trailblazers and while this draft class is amazing and I could not be more proud of us, it’s the women before us who have really been doing it.”

Tickets for Monday’s WNBA draft sold out in less than 30 minutes.

Ahead of Monday’s draft, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league’s goal is to expand to 16 teams and said she is “pretty confident” that could happen by 2028. Currently at 12 teams, the league will expand to 13 in 2025 with a team being added in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In 2023, the WNBA had its most-watched regular season in 21 years, and the season-ending WNBA Finals was the most-viewed Finals in 20 years. WNBA attendance was up 16% for the 2023 season compared to 2022.

WNBA draft: Caitlin Clark selected No. 1 by Indiana Fever, while Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese are teaming up in Chicago | CNN (4)

From left, Reese, Caitlin Clark and Stanford's Cameron Brink pose for a photo before the start of the WNBA draft.

“I love where the game is going right now and I just want to be a part of the growth,” Reese told CNN on the Orange Carpet. “Whatever happens, I just want to be a part of it.”

Meanwhile, theNCAA women’s tournament title game between South Carolina and Iowa drew nearly19 million average viewers, shattering records to become the most-watched women’s college basketball game ever measured by Nielsen.

The game not only eclipsed the men’s final between Purdue and UConn by more than four million viewers, but it was also the most-viewed basketball game of the past five years, outpacing any NBA contest during that period, according to Nielsen.

Franchise-changing pick?

After last year’s heartbreaking national championship game defeat, Clark’s last dance with the Hawkeyes almost ended in fairytale fashion.

Although Iowa eventually fell at the final hurdle again – this time at the hands of undefeated South Carolina – Clark’s 2023-24 campaign highlighted the impact she’s had onwomen’s basketball through her popularity and skillset.

WNBA draft: Caitlin Clark selected No. 1 by Indiana Fever, while Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese are teaming up in Chicago | CNN (5)

Clark enjoyed a historic 2023-24 season with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

She became the all-time leading scorer in both men’s and women’s Division I college basketball during the past season, was namedNaismith Player of the Yearfor the second consecutive season and had been named to the USA Basketball Women’s National Team’s 14-player training camp roster, perhaps paving the way for an Olympics appearance atParis 2024. However, Clark was unable to participate because it was held the same week as the Final Four.

And now, with Clark in the WNBA, that excitement has been pushed forward to what she could achieve in the pros.

Will Clark’s game at the professional level translate to rising interest? Signs point that way. But other players make that happen, too.

This story has been updated with additional information.

WNBA draft: Caitlin Clark selected No. 1 by Indiana Fever, while Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese are teaming up in Chicago | CNN (2024)

FAQs

How much does Caitlin Clark get paid a year? ›

The Indiana Fever selected Caitlin Clark as the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft. Her four-year rookie contract is worth a base of $338,056 and will pay about $76,000 in year one. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said there's a "false narrative" around Clark's salary.

How much will Caitlin Clark make going to the WNBA? ›

Caitlin will make about $76k during her first year in the WNBA. Caitlin signed a four-year, $338,000 contract with the Indiana Fever, according to Spotrac. It will pay $76,535 this year and increase through 2027, maxing out at $97,582 in her fourth year.

Did Angel Reese get drafted? ›

CHICAGO (April 15, 2024) — The Chicago Sky announced today that they have selected Angel Reese from Louisiana State University with the 7th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm, airing this evening on ESPN.

What is the most watched WNBA draft? ›

The Caitlin Clark experience delivered another television milestone as ESPN's coverage of the WNBA draft on Monday night averaged a record 2.45 million viewers. Viewership peaked at 3.09 million, ESPN said in a release Tuesday.

How much does Nike pay Caitlin Clark? ›

Caitlin Clark reportedly signing a $28 million endorsement deal with Nike, includes signature shoe - CBSSports.com.

Is Caitlin Clark a millionaire? ›

Basketball has already made Clark a millionaire as she inked more than $3 million in name, image and likeness deals in college with Nike, Gatorade, State Farm and Buick.

How much money does Angela Reese make? ›

7 overall pick. Now hooping with Chicago Sky, former LSU forward Angel Reese is set to make $324,383 over the next four seasons, according to On3. Reese's rookie contract starts her off at $73,439 for the year with gradual increases, and an expected $93,636 in her fourth season.

What is Caitlin's salary? ›

Despite a record-shattering college career and a no-doubt No. 1 overall selection by the Indiana Fever in this week's WNBA draft, Clark's salary her first season will be just over $76,000. Clark's pay will escalate over the course of her four-year rookie contract, leaving her with total earnings of $338,056.

Who is the highest paid WNBA player? ›

The Top Earners
RankPlayerTeam
1Jackie YoungLas Vegas Aces
2Jewell LoydSeattle Storm
3Kahleah CopperPhoenix Mercury
4Arike OgunbowaleDallas Wings
22 more rows
Apr 19, 2024

Will Caitlin Clark play in the WNBA in 2024? ›

Entering the franchise's 25th season, the Indiana Fever chose Iowa senior Caitlin Clark with the first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Clark is Indiana's second straight No. 1 overall pick, and it is also the second top pick ever for the Fever, as the organization took Aliyah Boston with the top spot in last year's draft.

Who has the first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft? ›

The 2024 WNBA Draft is in the books, and, as expected, the Indiana Fever selected Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 overall pick.

What grade is Paige Bueckers in? ›

Bueckers is a redshirt junior with the Huskies. The 22-year-old is listed as one of four juniors on UConn's roster, joined by Caroline Ducharme, Azzi Fudd, and Aubrey Griffin, per UConn's athletic department.

Who's the all time leading scorer in WNBA history? ›

Diana Taurasi, the WNBA's all-time leading scorer.

Who has the highest shooting percentage in WNBA history? ›

Sylvia Fowles holds the WNBA record for career field-goal percentage at 59.9%.

What is the highest WNBA salary? ›

In terms of average salary ranking, Las Vegas Aces star Jackie Young is alone at the top, making $252,420 a year going into 2024.

How much does the WNBA make a year? ›

Since the deal was signed, the revenue generated by the WNBA has grown — yet it still pales in comparison to those generated by the NBA. Last year, a Bloomberg News report found the WNBA was projected to make $180 million to $200 million for the 2023 season.

What does Caitlin Clark's parents do for a living? ›

Brent Clark, Caitlin's father, works in sales at Concentric International. He was a multi-sport high school athlete and played basketball and baseball in college. Anne Nizzi-Clark, Caitlin's mother, graduated from the University of Nebraska Omaha with an English degree.

How much does Stephen Curry make? ›

Stephen Curry salary 2023-24

He started a four-year extension worth over $215 million in 2022-23, paying him over $48 million in salary. In 2025-26, the final season of this extension, he will earn nearly $60 million.

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