The 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament concluded on Sunday when the LSU Tigers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes, 102-85, to claim the first national championship in program history. Now, it’s officially time for the women’s basketball world to turn its attention to the WNBA.
The 2023 WNBA Draft will take place on Monday, April 10 from New York City, with top players set to be in attendance. There’s little suspense about the first pick, which will almost certainly be South Carolina center Aliyah Boston, the three-time unanimous First Team All-American and one of the best prospects to enter the league in years.
After that, however, things get murky, in large part because a number of projected first-round picks have decided to go back to school, including Rickea Jackson (Tennessee), Elizabeth Kitley (Virginia Tech) and Jacy Sheldon (Ohio State). It’s also worth noting that four teams control the draft. The Wings (three picks), Fever (two), Dream (two) and Lynx (two) have nine of the 12 picks, while the Aces, Liberty, Mercury, Sky and Sun do not have a selection.
LSU’s Angel Reese and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark — stars of the 2023 title game on Sunday — will not be eligible until the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Ahead…
