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Storm get No. 4 pick in 2024 WNBA draft – The Seattle Times
The Storm had the longest odds among the quartet of teams in Sunday’s WNBA draft lottery, so it came as little surprise when Seattle ended up with the fourth spot in next year’s WNBA draft.
When the pick was revealed there was a collective groan among Storm fans at the team’s viewing party at Rough & Tumble Pub, while forward Jordan Horston smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
“You want that No. 1 pick because as a competitor, everybody’s shooting for the No. 1 pick,” Horston said. “If you’re not shooting for the No. 1 pick, then why bother?
“But at the end of the day, like I told everybody, No. 4 is still good. We still can build around a great player that’s coming out of the draft. We don’t even know who’s coming out. We’ll just wait, but at least we know what pick we’ll get and I’m pretty happy with that.”
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For the second straight year, the Indiana Fever won the draft lottery and are expected to select Iowa star Caitlin Clark, who is the presumptive top pick if she chooses to declare for the draft.
Pairing Clark with Aliyah Boston, last year’s No. 1 pick and the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, would be a dream scenario for Indiana, which hasn’t made the playoffs since 2016.
The Los Angeles Sparks, who had the third-longest odds, landed the second pick and the Phoenix Mercury are third.
The draft order of selection for the remainder of the first round, as well as the second and third rounds, is determined by inverse order of the 2023 regular-season finish.
Following the Storm, the remaining picks are: 5. Dallas Wings (via trade with Chicago Sky), 6. Washington Mystics, 7. Minnesota Lynx, 8. Atlanta Dream, 9. Dallas, 10. Connecticut Sun, 11. New York Liberty and 12. Los Angeles (via trade with Las Vegas Aces).
The Storm will draft fourth for the first time in franchise history. It’s also Seattle’s highest draft pick since the team selected Breanna Stewart first overall in 2016.
So, what type of player can the Storm draft at No. 4?
“It’s someone who is going to be able to play a valuable role,” general manager Talisa Rhea said. “There’s always a learning curve for someone coming into the league, but as that player adjusts maybe they’ll have the opportunity to start at some point. Maybe they become an All-Star.
“We took Jordan last year at nine and she ended up being incredibly valuable. The draft pick number isn’t always an indication of how valuable that player is going to be once they come into your system and have the opportunity to transition. We’re looking to get a really talented and impactful player to play a significant role hopefully next year and for many years to come.”
Notable players taken fourth in the WNBA draft include: Alyssa Thomas (2014), Gabby Williams (2018), Lindsey Whalen (2004) and Noelle Quinn (2007).
Early mock drafts project Los Angeles taking Stanford forward Cameron Brink and Phoenix nabbing Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers.
Seemingly, the Storm will have a choice between top prospects including South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso, UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards and LSU forward Angel Reese.
Interestingly, the three post players are seniors with the option to return to college for a fifth year via a COVID-19 waiver.
“There’s a lot of variables that will come into play,” Rhea said. “We’re going to do our homework to be prepared for a number of players that could be available at four.”
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