Analysis: 2024 WNBA Draft Class Re-Evaluated After Championship Season

The 2024 WNBA draft class has changed how teams value talent, according to a new re-draft analysis released as the league enters its offseason. The evaluation comes after the Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 of the 2026 WNBA Finals to win their first championship. That series drew a record 3.3 million viewers, a surge in interest driven in part by star players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese who helped secure a historic collective bargaining agreement.

Indiana would still select Clark with the first overall pick. Her historic rookie season, All-WNBA First Team honors, and role in turning the Fever into a playoff regular keep her at the top. However, the Los Angeles Sparks would likely swap their original selection, Cameron Brink, for Reese. Brink has played only 65 games because of an ACL injury, while Reese has won Defensive Player of the Year and established herself as a top-tier rebounder for the Dream.

The Chicago Sky would choose Carla Leite at number three instead of Kamilla Cardoso. Leite, originally taken by Dallas, has become the franchise point guard for the Valkyries. She finished third in voting for Most Improved Player after a breakout season. Her age and international status caused hesitation in 2024, but her recent performance has proven her worth.

The Sparks would also use their second lottery pick to select Leila Lacan over Rickea Jackson. The 22-year-old French guard has been highly impactful for the Connecticut Sun, particularly on defense. Her presence correlates with better team records, which would address a long-standing weakness for Los Angeles.

Other shifts include Dallas selecting Brink at number five to prioritize rim protection over Jacy Sheldon. Washington would choose Jackson at number seven, valuing her offensive creation despite injury history. The Sky would take undrafted free agent Sydney Taylor at number seven, a player who earned All-Rookie Team honors after playing in Europe.

Minnesota would select Aaliyah Edwards over Alissa Pili to fit their system. The Wings would draft-and-stash Isobel Borlase, an Australian who has shown promise in the WNBL and recently for the Dream. Connecticut would choose Emma Cechova, a Czech player who tore her ACL last season, as a long-term investment. New York would take Cardoso, while the Dream would select Sheldon based on current roster needs.

This re-draft shows how early injuries and international timelines have shifted player value. The original draft had its logic, but three seasons of play have revealed that Reese, Leite, and Lacan offer a combination of durability and impact that the original picks did not fully deliver.