WNBA Draft grades; NBA postseason predictions; Team USA’s (almost full) Olympic roster

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Happy Tuesday, everyone! Hope you’re well.

Let’s get right to it.

🏀 Good morning to everyone but especially …

CAITLIN CLARK AND THE INDIANA FEVER

There was no drama surrounding who would be the first pick in the WNBA Draft, but the team that made the selection is undoubtedly ecstatic it’s finally official: Welcome to the Fever, Caitlin Clark!

The selection was a no-brainer. She’s first in Division I history in points and 3-pointers, second in triple-doubles and third in assists. She’ll join last year’s top overall pick, Aliyah Boston, to form a formidable inside-outside duo for years to come, making it an “A+” selection in Jack Maloney’s eyes.

Maloney: “Clark is one of the best offensive prospects to ever enter the league. Her 3-point range and off-the-dribble shooting are unlike anything the WNBA has seen, and she’s a dynamite playmaker. Off the court, she is a marketing dream and will raise the profile of the Fever and the league as a whole.”

Jack has grades for every first-round pick. Here’s the top five:

Indiana Fever — Caitlin Clark: A+Los Angeles Sparks — Cameron Brink: A
Chicago Sky — Kamilla Cardoso: A
Los Angeles Sparks — Rickea Jackson: A
Dallas Wings — Jacy Sheldon: A

Jack also named his three biggest winners on the night and — in addition to the Fever — he particularly liked what the Los Sparks and the Connecticut Sun did.

Maloney: “The Sparks’ rebuild is off to a great start with two potential cornerstones, and it certainly didn’t hurt that later in the night they scored a potential steal with McKenzie Forbes at No. 28. … There’s no doubt that Leila Lacan can play, but when, and for how long, she’ll do so in the WNBA remains to be seen. The French basketball federation is less amenable to the WNBA’s schedule and rules than most countries, which is why she fell to [the Sun at] No. 10. At that point in the draft, though, the possibility that she never spends significant time in the States was well worth the risk.”

Be sure to check out our live blog and the full draft results as well.

And finally, while women’s basketball is…

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/wnba/news/wnba-draft-grades-nba-postseason-predictions-team-usas-almost-full-olympic-roster/

Author : Zachary Pereles

Publish date : 2024-04-16 13:00:33

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