Indiana Fever’s Triumphant Draft Night: Securing Caitlin Clark and Assessing Team Performances

INDIANAPOLIS – With the No. 1 overall selection in the 2024 WNBA Draft, the Indiana Fever proudly announced their pick of University of Iowa guard Caitlin Clark on Monday night.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Caitlin Clark to our roster. This is a monumental day for the Indiana Fever and Pacers Sports & Entertainment. I am confident that she will make an immediate impact on our team and the league. Adding two consecutive No. 1 draft selections generates immense interest and visibility,” expressed Fever General Manager Lin Dunn.

Top 3 picks in the 2024 WNBA DRAFT presented by @StateFarm are picture perfect 📸 pic.twitter.com/jrZOjpyjgw

— WNBA (@WNBA) April 16, 2024

The 6-foot guard from West Des Moines, Iowa arrives in Indiana after an exceptional career at the University of Iowa, where she achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the greatest scorer in college basketball history. Clark’s name is etched in the NCAA record books as the all-time leading scorer across men’s and women’s college basketball, tallying an impressive 3,951 points. She also holds the record for the most points scored in the women’s NCAA Tournament (480 points), the highest number of made field goals (1,293), the highest number of made 3-point field goals (548), ranks third in assists (1,144), and fourth in made free throws (817). Within the Big Ten Conference, Clark reigns as the all-time leader in points, assists, field goals made, 3-point field goals made, and free throws made.

Clark’s numerous accolades include being a four-time All-America recipient, four-time First Team All-Big Ten recipient, three-time winner of the Dawn Staley Award, three-time Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award winner, three-time Big Ten Player of the Year, three-time Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player, two-time AP National Player of the Year, and two-time Naismith Women’s Player of the Year.

“Caitlin is one of the most naturally gifted basketball players I have ever seen transition from college to the WNBA. Her shooting and passing abilities have captivated basketball fans, and her talent for elevating the performance of those around her was evident throughout her collegiate career. We cannot wait to bring her to Indiana and integrate her into our locker room with a group of players ready to make a postseason return,” exclaimed Fever Head Coach Christie Sides.

Last season, Clark led the Hawkeyes to their second consecutive appearance in the national championship game and became the only player in NCAA Division I men’s or women’s basketball history to lead their conference in scoring and assists for four consecutive seasons. She also became the first Division I player to achieve back-to-back 1,000-point seasons, finishing her senior campaign with 1,234 points.

In her penultimate season (2022-23), Clark broke the record for the most points scored by a Division I men’s or women’s basketball player after 100 career games. She made history in the Women’s NCAA Tournament by becoming the first player to have back-to-back 40-point games. In the Final Four matchup against South Carolina, Clark’s 41 points set a record for the most points scored by any player against an undefeated team in Men’s or Women’s NCAA Tournament history.

During her sophomore season, Clark started all 32 games and led the nation in points per game (27.0), total points (863), assists per game (8.0), free throws made (200), triple-doubles (5), and 30-point games (11).

As a freshman, Clark started all 30 games and received several prestigious honors, including The Athletic, WBCA, and USBWA Tamika Catchings Co-Freshman of the Year, first team All-America recognition from The Athletic, WBCA, and USBWA, and second-team honors from the Associated Press. She was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and unanimously selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and first team All-Big Ten. During her freshman year, Clark led the nation in assists (214), field goals made (266), points (799), points per game (26.6), 3-pointers attempted (286), and 3-pointers made (116).

Clark’s remarkable achievements extend beyond the college level, as she has represented USA Basketball, earning gold medals as part of the 2019 and 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup teams and the 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship team. She has been named to the 2024 USA Women’s National Team April training camp roster held in Cleveland during the NCAA Final Four.

ICYMI ⬇️

A thread of all three rounds of players who were selected in the 2024 #WNBADraft presented by @StateFarm pic.twitter.com/9d1WcRG3FK

— WNBA (@WNBA) April 16, 2024

Completing the 2024 WNBA Draft Class, the Fever also selected guards Celeste Taylor from Ohio State as the 15overall pick in the 2nd round and Leilani Correa from Florida as the 27th overall pick in the 3rd round.

Celeste Taylor, a 5-11 guard from Valley Stream, N.Y., was a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award this season with Ohio State and in 2022-23 with Duke. She was also honored as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year this season and previously received the ACC Defensive Player of the Year distinction. Taylor led the Big Ten in steals per game (2.5) this season while averaging 10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. In 2023, she set a Duke NCAA Tournament record with 10 steals against Colorado.

Leilani Correa, a 6-0 guard, spent three seasons at St. John’s before transferring to Florida in 2022. During her time at Florida from 2022-24, Correa played 59 games, averaging 14.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. She started 15 games for the Gators. As a freshman at St. John’s, she received the Big East Sixth-Woman Award and was unanimously selected to the Big East All-Freshman Team.