Fever Make Caitlin Clark No. 1 Pick

Indiana Starts Off Monday's WNBA Draft with Iowa Star

Apr 15, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Caitlin Clark before the 2024 WNBA Draft at Brooklyn Academy of / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana did exactly what everybody expected with the first pick of Monday night's WNBA Draft in Brooklyn. The Fever selected Iowa star guard Caitlin Clark, who leads a rookie class expected to impact the league's profile more than any other in history. Angel Reese, Cameron Brink and Kamilla Cardoso joined her here.

Clark was the headliner. The pride of the Hawkeyes became the face of college sports. She reshaped the game in terms of popularity and financial success. 

Indiana will appear on national TV 36 times this season after being on it once a year ago. Tickets are selling well for home and road games so far with single-game availability happening on Monday. 

While it might bother some folks, it's known as the Caitlin Clark Effect. All she touches turns to gold. 

Get this, the Fever hosted more than 17,000 fans for a draft watch party Monday at Gainbridge FieldHouse. Iowa sold out all of its home games this season and most of the road contests. Fans lined up hours before them, waiting for their chance to see Clark and the Hawkeyes. 

Clark has been traveling the country after losing to South Carolina in the national championship on April 7. Before Monday's draft, she toured New York City with her fellow draft picks. Then she arrived in style. 

In addition to influencing the popularity of her sport, the West Des Moines Dowling Catholic graduate rewrote its record book. Clark led the Hawkeyes to back-to-back national championship games after the program had reached just one Final Four in its history before her arrival. 

Oddsmakers have been setting lines for Clark being the WNBA MVP this season and the Fever winning a championship this season. Indiana's 13-27 record in '23 was the third worst in the league. 

The Fever took former South Carolina great Aliyah Boston with the top selection in last year's draft. She's expressed excitement about teaming up with Clark. They spoke it into existence back in October. 

Star guard Kelsey Mitchell and rising forward Nalyssa Smith help form a solid core with Clark and Boston. Sports books see the team in the middle of the pack among league teams.