NCAA Ladies’s Event: Prime 2024 WNBA Draft prospects to observe in March Insanity by area

The 2024 NCAA Ladies’s Event will tip-off Wednesday with a pair of First 4 video games in Columbia, S.C. between No. 16 seeds Presbyterian and Sacred Coronary heart and No. 12 seeds Columbia and Vanderbilt. From there, it is going to be a dash to the Last 4, which is ready for April 5 and seven in Cleveland. 

As soon as the event wraps up, it is going to be time for the ladies’s basketball world to show its consideration to the skilled sport. The 2024 WNBA Draft is ready for April 15, and opening evening for the 2024 season will comply with a month in a while Could 14. Iowa star Caitlin Clark goes to be the No. 1 total decide to the Indiana Fever, however she’s not the one massive identify collaborating in March Insanity. 

Forward of all of the NCAA Event motion, listed here are 15 totally different prospects to observe, damaged down by regional. Observe: This solely contains gamers who’re eligible for the 2024 draft or have declared. Thus, star freshman similar to JuJu Watkins should not included, nor are gamers who’ve already mentioned they’re going again to highschool, together with Paige Bueckers. 

Albany 1

Kamilla Cardoso: C – South Carolina

• 2023-24 stats: 14.0 factors, 9.5 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 58.4% FG
• First spherical opponent: No. 16 Presbyterian/Sacred Coronary heart, Friday, 2 p.m. ET — ESPN

Cardoso is suspended for South Carolina’s first-round sport towards both Sacred Coronary heart or Presbyterian attributable to her function within the SEC championship sport scuffle, however the Gamecocks ought to advance with out a lot bother. As soon as Cardoso is cleared to return, she’ll present why she’s a probable lottery decide if she declares this season. Standing 6-foot-7, Cardoso can management video games on the defensive finish together with her rim safety and rebounding, and he or she finishes effectively across the basket. 

Draft vary: Lottery

Mackenzie Holmes: F – Indiana

• 2023-24 stats: 20.0 factors, 6.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 66.7% FG
• First spherical opponent: No. 13 Fairfield, Saturday, 1:30 p.m. ET — ESPN2

Holmes has been a power within the Huge 10 for years because of her extraordinarily environment friendly paint scoring and hard-nosed protection. However like many undersized, back-to-the-basket bigs which have come earlier than her, she may have a tough time discovering her place on the subsequent degree. She suffered a knee damage towards the tip of the common season, however has returned to observe forward of the Hoosiers’ opening-round sport towards Fairfield. 

Draft vary: Late second spherical or third spherical

Deja Kelly: G – North Carolina 

• 2023-24 stats: 16.7 factors, 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 steals
• First spherical opponent: No. 9 Michigan State, Friday, 11:30 a.m. ET — ESPN2

Kelly is a particularly easy guard with the flexibility to create her personal shot at any level. When she has it going, she’s extraordinarily tough to protect, however her pictures simply do not go in as typically because it looks like they need to. It will be fascinating to see her in a unique state of affairs the place she would not have to take action a lot self-creation. 

Draft vary: Late second spherical or third spherical 

Albany 2

Caitlin Clark: G – Iowa

• 2023-24 stats: 31.9 factors, 7.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 38.1% 3FG
• First spherical opponent: No. 16 Holy Cross/UT-Martin, Saturday, 3 p.m. ET — ABC

What else is there to say about Clark at this level? The all-time main scorer in Division I historical past, males or ladies, Clark is without doubt one of the finest prospects to ever enter the WNBA. As Steph Curry famous in a current interview with CBS, Clark’s 3-point capturing is her “tremendous energy,” however she additionally leads the nation in assists. She is a game-breaking offensive expertise and the assured No. 1 total decide. 

Draft vary: No. 1 decide

Angel Reese: F/C – LSU

• 2023-24 stats: 19.0 factors, 13.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals
• First spherical opponent: No. 14 Rice, Friday, 4 p.m. ET — ESPN

Reese is a terrific faculty participant who makes use of her measurement, athleticism and tenacity to overwhelm opponents at instances. She makes the largest affect on the defensive finish, the place she will be able to guard in and out when vital, and is a relentless rebounder. Her offensive sport stays undefined, nonetheless, which is why there are questions on how impactful she may be on the subsequent degree. 

Draft vary: Mid-to-late first spherical

Charisma Osborne: G – UCLA

• 2023-24 stats: 14.4 factors, 4.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.6 steals
• First spherical opponent: No. 15 Cal Baptist, Saturday, 9:30 p.m. ET — ESPN2

Osborne is one other participant who determined to make use of her COVID eligibility extension this season, so she can not return to highschool. She is a powerful, well-rounded guard finest identified for her work on the defensive finish. The questions with Osborne are totally on offense, the place she’s neither an environment friendly scorer nor a real level guard. Maybe much more so than most gamers, Osborne might want to get to the fitting state of affairs within the execs. 

Draft vary: Late first spherical or early second spherical

Portland 3

Jacy Sheldon: G – Ohio State

• 2023-24 stats: 18.0 factors, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 38.0% 3FG
• First spherical opponent: No. 15 Maine, Friday, midday ET — ESPN

After an injury-riddled senior season, Sheldon used her COVID eligibility extension to return to Ohio State and reminded everybody why she’s a surefire first-round decide. Sheldon has nice defensive instincts and loves to leap into passing lanes for steals. On the opposite finish, she’s a combo guard who can actually shoot. Perimeter protection and shot-making are two of probably the most desired expertise on the subsequent degree. 

Draft vary: Mid-first spherical

Aaliyah Edwards: F – UConn

• 2023-24 stats: 17.8 factors, 9.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 59.4% FG
• First spherical opponent: No. 14 Jackson State, Saturday, 1 p.m. ET — ABC

The starpower on the prime of this class is overshadowing Edwards, who has been one of the vital constant performers in faculty basketball all season lengthy. Her offensive versatility is her most fun high quality. Whereas she would not shoot 3s (but), she’s snug spacing to the mid-range for jumpers, can put the ball on the deck and has a easy put up sport. She’s additionally a powerful rebounder. 

Draft vary: Mid-first spherical

Georgia Amoore: G – Virginia Tech

• 2023-24 stats: 19.2 factors, 6.9 assists, 34.0% 3FG
• First spherical opponent: No. 13 Marshall, Friday, 3:30 p.m. ET — ESPN 2

Amoore is a particularly thrilling participant. She’s an elite catch-and-shoot menace who launches 3s at each alternative, and operates with an actual aptitude as a playmaker, generally to her detriment. The primary situation for Amoore is that she’s solely 5-foot-6. That does not imply she will be able to’t make it within the WNBA, however it does make it a lot tougher. Final season, solely 5 gamers 5-foot-6 or shorter had been within the league. 

Draft vary: Late first spherical

Elizabeth Kitley: C – Virginia Tech 

• 2023-24 stats: 22.8 factors, 11.4 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 55.6% FG
• First spherical opponent: No. 13 Marshall, Friday, 3:30 p.m. ET — ESPN2

Kitley has not performed since Virginia Tech’s common season finale attributable to a knee damage, and her standing for the event stays unclear with the Hokies set to face No. 13 seed Marshall within the first spherical. When wholesome, Kitley is a strolling double-double and one of the vital productive facilities within the nation. She is extra of a conventional put up participant, although, and there are considerations about how she’ll adapt to the WNBA, particularly on protection. 

Draft vary: Late first spherical or early second spherical

Nika Muhl: G – UConn

• 2023-24 stats: 7.1 factors, 4.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 40.5% 3FG
• First spherical opponent: No. 14 Jackson State, Saturday, 1 p.m. ET — ABC

The Croatian level guard formally declared for the draft earlier this month, forgoing her further yr of eligibility. Muhl has by no means put up massive numbers throughout her time at UConn, however she’s extraordinarily dependable. She is aware of tips on how to run an offense, is a strong 3-point shooter and actually will get after it on the defensive finish. Although she would not have the upside of a few of these different prospects, she may have an extended profession within the league.

Taiyanna Jackson: C – Kansas

• 2023-24 stats: 12.6 factors, 9.8 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, 58.7 FG%
• First spherical opponent: No. 9 Michigan, Saturday, 2 p.m. ET — ESPNEWS

This class is extraordinarily deep with frontcourt gamers, and the 6-foot-6 Jackson is one more prospect that has been fairly productive in faculty. Although not tremendous expert offensively, she scores effectively across the basket and wreaks havoc on the offensive glass. On the opposite finish, she’s a big-time shot blocker — no less than when she stays out of foul bother. 

Draft vary: Second spherical 

Portland 4

Cameron Brink: C – Stanford

• 2023-24 stats: 17.8 factors, 12.0 rebounds, 3.5 blocks, 51.2% 
• First spherical opponent: No. 15 Norfolk State, Friday, 10 p.m. ET — ESPN2

Brink is the very best frontcourt prospect on this class and the doubtless No. 2 total decide to the Sparks. She’s been a powerful defender from the primary day she arrived in Palo Alto, and has grown into a completely harmful power on that aspect of the ball. At 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, Brink is an intimidating presence on the rim who leads the nation in blocks, and in addition has the mobility to get across the courtroom. 

Draft vary: No. 2 decide

Rickea Jackson: F – Tennessee

• 2023-24 stats: 19.4 factors, 8.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists
• First spherical opponent: No. 11 Inexperienced Bay, Saturday, midday ET — ESPN 

Jackson used her COVID eligibility extension to return to Tennessee this season, and he or she seems to have solidified herself as a lottery decide within the course of. An enormous, bodily, athletic wing, Jackson’s major means is placing the ball within the basket. She will be able to create her personal shot from anyplace on the ground, whether or not that is pulling up for a jumper or working her means into the paint to bully a smaller defender. Her 3-point capturing stays a piece in progress, nonetheless. 

Draft vary: Lottery

Alissa Pili: F – Utah

• 2023-24 stats: 20.8 factors, 6.5 rebounds, 54.8% FG, 39.4% 3FG
• First spherical opponent: No. 12 South Dakota State, Saturday, 10 p.m. ET — ESPNU

Pili is, undoubtedly, one of the vital fascinating prospects on this class. She’s a pure scorer who can actually fill it up, and has had some large video games towards elite opposition this season. There isn’t any query she will be able to play, however how she matches in, notably defensively, as an undersized ahead is an enormous query. In some unspecified time in the future within the draft, her expertise can be too tantalizing to move up, however when precisely stays to be seen. 

Draft vary: Late first spherical or early second spherical