2024 WNBA Draft: FAQ and Things to Know

WNBA Staff

More Draft info and FAQs will be posted as information becomes available.

Below you can find answers to some of the main questions regarding the 2024 WNBA Draft Presented by State Farm.


When is the 2024 WNBA Draft?

The WNBA Draft 2024 presented by State Farm will be held on Monday, April 15 at the famed BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music). WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the draft picks live on ESPN with exclusive coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. The draft, along with the WNBA Countdown Presented by Google (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET) will also be available live on the ESPN App. 


Where is the 2024 WNBA Draft?

New this year, the draft will be held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York. 


Can fans attend the 2024 WNBA Draft?

Yes! This marks the first time the draft will be a seated event with fans in attendance since the 2014-16 drafts were held at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

Tickets are now sold out.


Can I buy a ticket for Draft on a third-party site?

The WNBA looks forward to welcoming fans to Draft Day to witness this exciting new class of draftees enter the league. Tickets for WNBA Draft 2024 went on sale on March 7 through WNBA Experiences – the only place fans are able to purchase official tickets for the event. Digital tickets purchased through third-party sites will not be accepted at Draft. Fans who purchased tickets through WNBA Experiences will receive physical tickets to the address linked to their purchase to gain access to the event. Fans who arrive at Brooklyn Academy of Music to attend Draft without a physical ticket will not be allowed entry. Fans who cannot attend can watch WNBA Draft 2024 live on ESPN at 7:30 pm ET.


Which team has the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft?  

The Indiana Fever won the first overall pick at the 2024 WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm held on December 10, 2023.  

This marks the second consecutive year in which the Fever won the right to select first in the upcoming draft. The Fever won the Lottery for the 2023 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm and used the No. 1 overall pick to select Aliyah Boston, who went on to be voted as the 2023 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year. 


Which teams were eligible for the 2024 WNBA Draft Lottery? 

By missing the 2023 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google, Indiana, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Seattle qualified for the 2024 Draft Lottery presented by State Farm. 

The Los Angeles Sparks, which had the third-most chances to win the top pick, will have the second selection. The Phoenix Mercury, with the second-most chances to land the top pick, won the third selection, but traded it to the Chicago Sky, thus the Sky now possess the pick. The Seattle Storm received the fourth overall pick, however, traded that pick to the Los Angeles Sparks, so the Sparks will now be selecting both second and fourth in the 2024 WNBA Draft. 


Which picks have been traded in the 2024 WNBA Draft? 

The 3rd, 4th, 8th, 12th, and 19th overall picks were impacted due to trades.  


What is the 2024 WNBA Draft order? 

First Round

  1. Indiana Fever
  2. Los Angeles Sparks
  3. Chicago Sky (from Phoenix)
  4. Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle)
  5. Dallas Wings (from Chicago)
  6. Washington Mystics
  7. Chicago Sky (from Minnesota)
  8. Minnesota Lynx
  9. Dallas Wings
  10.  Connecticut Sun
  11. New York Liberty
  12. Atlanta Dream (from Las Vegas, via Los Angeles)

Second Round

  1.  Chicago Sky (from Phoenix)
  2.  Seattle Storm
  3.  Indiana Fever
  4.  Las Vegas Aces (from Los Angeles)
  5.  New York Liberty (from Chicago)
  6.  Las Vegas Aces (from Washington)
  7.  Connecticut Sun (from Minnesota)
  8.  Atlanta Dream
  9.  Washington Mystics (from Dallas)
  10.  Connecticut Sun
  11.  New York Liberty
  12.  Las Vegas Aces

Third Round

  1.  Phoenix Mercury
  2.  Seattle Storm
  3.  Indiana Fever
  4.  Los Angeles Sparks
  5.  Phoenix Mercury (from Chicago)
  6.  Washington Mystics 
  7.  Minnesota Lynx
  8.  Atlanta Dream
  9.  Dallas Wings
  10.  Connecticut Sun
  11.  New York Liberty
  12.  Las Vegas Aces

What is the format of the 2024 WNBA Draft? 

The WNBA Draft shall consist of three rounds, with each round consisting of twelve picks all taking place on April 15th. 

The order of team picks in each round are the inverse order of the standings from the last regular season, except for the first four picks of the first round, which are determined by the Draft Lottery and any picks traded.  

Draft picks can be traded among teams, so the order and number of picks per team can change significantly. They can continue to be traded until the order is locked in at 5 p.m. ET the day before the draft (April 14th). 

Exercised draft picks can be traded during or after the Draft.


Who is eligible to enter the 2024 WNBA Draft? 

All NCAA players who are turning twenty-two years old in 2024 are eligible to renounce any remaining NCAA eligibility (including extra eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the pandemic) in order to opt into the 2024 WNBA Draft.

College seniors who have exhausted all eligibility are not required to renounce. 

All international players who are turning twenty years old in 2024 are also eligible for the 2024 WNBA Draft. 


What are other important dates to know about the Draft process?  

Players not competing in Elite Eight have until April 1 to renounce remaining eligibility (two weeks before Draft). Any player competing in the Elite Eight or beyond has until 48 hours after the conclusion of their final game to renounce. 


Who are the No. 1 overall picks from past WNBA Drafts? 

          Year | Team with No. 1| Player Taken 

  • 2023: Indiana Fever | Aliyah Boston 
  • 2022: Atlanta Dream | Rhyne Howard  
  • 2021: Dallas Wings | Charli Collier  
  • 2020: New York Liberty | Sabrina Ionescu 
  • 2019: Las Vegas Aces | Jackie Young 
  • 2018: Las Vegas Aces | A’ja Wilson 
  • 2017: San Antonio Stars | Kelsey Plum 
  • 2016: Seattle Storm | Breanna Stewart  
  • 2015: Seattle Storm | Jewell Loyd 
  • 2014: Connecticut Sun | Chiney Ogwumike  
  • 2013: Phoenix Mercury | Brittney Griner  
  • 2012: Los Angeles Sparks | Nneka Ogwumike 
  • 2011: Minnesota Lynx | Maya Moore 
  • 2010: Connecticut Sun | Tina Charles 
  • 2009: Atlanta Dream | Angel McCoughtry 
  • 2008: Los Angeles Sparks | Candace Parker  
  • 2007: Phoenix Mercury | Lindsey Harding 
  • 2006: Minnesota Lynx | Seimone Augustus 
  • 2005: Charlotte Sting | Janel McCarville 
  • 2004: Phoenix Mercury | Diana Taurasi 
  • 2003: Cleveland Rockets | LaToya Thomas 
  • 2002: Seattle Storm | Sue Bird 
  • 2001: Seattle Storm | Lauren Jackson