Indiana Fever General Manager Lin Dunn couldn’t contain her excitement following the WNBA Draft Lottery Dec. 11 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.
“This is tremendous news for our franchise to receive another No. 1 overall pick,” Dunn said following the draft lottery.
Surrounded by her staff, players and hundreds of Fever fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the WNBA Draft Lottery Watch Party, Dunn threw her hands up in the air, rejoicing that the Indiana Fever once again secured the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2024 WNBA Draft.
If the Fever makes the first selection of the upcoming 2024 WNBA Draft, then it would be just the third time in the league’s history that the same franchise picks No. 1 overall in consecutive drafts. The most recent teams to accomplish this feat are the Seattle Storm (2015-16) and the Las Vegas Aces (2017-19).
Dunn was not the only one at the Fieldhouse boiling over with excitement as many fans were jubilated by the news, including resident Indiana Fever fan Paul Person.
“There is no way that we [the Indiana Fever] won’t dominate the league next season,” Person said. “We already have Boston, who’s turned out very well after year one, Kelsey Mitchell, NaLyssa Smith … if we get Caitlin Clark, then the league is not going to be able to do anything with us.”
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Person voiced apprehension on securing Iowa Hawkeyes standout Caitlin Clark, who is currently averaging a remarkable 29.5 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, which is justified. Thanks to name, image and likeness (NIL) deals, courtesy of State Farm, Nike and other brands, Clark rakes in more than $750,000 per year.
For reference, Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale, Chicago Sky guard Kaleah Copper and Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd currently make the most in the WNBA, with each bringing in approximately $241,000 annually. Fever guards Erica Wheeler and Kelsey Mitchell round out the top twelve highest-paid players of the 2023 WNBA season, bringing in $202,000 and $212,000 respectively.
RELATED: Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell wins Player of the Week, again
Clark is not the only player who is on the WNBA watchlist, with standouts such as Stanford forward Cameron Brink, University of South Carolina forward Kamilla Cardoso and Louisiana State University forward Angel Reese.
“I don’t know who we’ll take in the upcoming draft, but I expect to be in playoff contention as early as next year,” Person said. “I think we can win a championship once we figure out that final piece.”
The 2024 WNBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for April 15, 2024.
Contact multi-media staff writer Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846. Follow him on Twitter @3Noral. For more Indiana Fever news courtesy of the Indianapolis Recorder, click here.
