Tonight, one particular of the most storied possible university classes in a technology, headlined by two-time Naismith Higher education Player of the Year Caitlin Clark, is established to get the leap to the execs. And we’ll all have a (digital) 1st-spherical seat to the motion.
The draft ideas off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Enthusiasts searching to choose in the entertaining by using streaming can tune into ESPN+, Sling Television set, and Fubo Tv.
Clark is the clear decision for the Indiana Fever’s No. 1 choose at the top of the draft. The six-foot sharpshooting position guard has piled up accolades at each individual level of the draft. In addition to that Naismith honor, she has twice been named the Associated Push Player of the 12 months and USBWA Countrywide Participant of the Year. She’s also won the Wade Trophy, John R. Picket Award, and Honda Sports activities Award twice, to boot. A four-time All-American Very first Teamer (and a few-time unanimous collection), Clark is the all-time leading scorer in NCAA basketball heritage, in possibly men’s or women’s hoops.
While she is ending her collegiate profession owning under no circumstances gained a countrywide title, Clark did guide her Hawkeyes to consecutive championship recreation berths. This past season, the 22-calendar year-aged posted averages of 31.6 points on .455/.378/.860 shooting splits, alongside with 8.9 assists, 7.4 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and .5 blocks a night time.
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Over and above the Fever, all eyes will be on the Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky. Equally golf equipment have a whopping two picks in the to start with round of this year’s draft. The Sparks, who received their final title in 2016, have the Nos. 2 and 4 options, while the Sky, who received with a star-studded veteran forged in 2021 (Candace Parker starred on both of those championship squads), have the third and seventh picks.
Clark’s leading two title activity foes are each also likely to be picked early in the 1st spherical this year, albeit just after Clark. Reigning NCAA champion Kamilla Cardoso, a 6-foot-7 senior centre on this year’s undefeated (38-) South Carolina Gamecocks, and 2023 champ Angel Reese, a 6-foot-3 senior electricity ahead on the LSU Tigers (whom Clark vanquished in an Elite 8 revenge recreation this yr) are each viewed as major-7 selections, in accordance to Michael Voepel of ESPN.
Reese is perhaps 2nd only to Clark in phrases of countrywide visibility. Her limitations as a shooter have her witnessed as additional of a afterwards top rated-10 select than some of her friends. Reese’s upside and flexibility on defense, however, plus her capability to get to the line, make her a really tantalizing prospect, and however a possible All-Star. In her 33 games as a senior final yr, she averaged 18.6 factors on 47.1% capturing from the flooring, 13.4 rebounds (second-most in the nation), 2.3 helps, 1.9 steals and a single block a night.
She was named the NCAA Tournament’s Most Exceptional Player past year, as properly as a unanimous NCAA All-American Very first Staff decide on. She was also voted a two-time All-American To start with Teamer by the United States Basketball Writers Association and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. She was a two-time First-Workforce All-SEC range, and an All-Massive 10 1st Teamer whilst with Maryland in 2022. The Affiliated Push named her to its first (2023), next (2024) and third (2022) All-American groups. She was also a two-time SEC All-Defensive Teamer and a one-time Significant Ten All-Defensive Teamer.
6-foot-4 senior Stanford electrical power ahead Cameron Brink, a person of the top rated rebounders in faculty past calendar year (her 11.9 boards a recreation rank fifth), is viewed as yet another elite pick in this year’s draft. Connecticut Huskies electricity ahead Aaliyah Edwards, Ohio State taking pictures guard Jacy Sheldon, and Tennessee smaller forward Rickea Jackson are also vying to be picked in the major 5.
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