Top 5 WNBA draft picks for Phoenix Mercury

Apr 2, 2023; Dallas, TX, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) stands on the court during a stop in play against the LSU Lady Tigers in the first half during the final round of the Women’s Final Four NCAA tournament at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Clark, a 6-foot guard for the Hawkeyes, helped lead her team to the 2023 NCAA Tournament National Finals where they lost 102-85 to LSU. In 35-minutes, Clark had 30 points, shooting 42% from the 3-point-line.

Since Clark’s freshman season in 2020, she has guided her team to three NCAA Tournament appearances, three winning seasons and one conference championship.

During her junior season with the Hawkeyes, Clark averaged 27.8 points per game, 8.6 assists, 7.1 rebounds and shot 39% from beyond the arc.

Angel Reese: Forward – LSU

Mar 31, 2023; Dallas, TX, USA; LSU Lady Tigers forward Angel Reese (10) reacts in the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the first half in semifinals of the women’s Final Four of the 2023 NCAA Tournament at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Reese is a 6-foot-3 forward who transferred from the Maryland Terps to the Louisiana State Fighting Tigers her junior season.

In her two years with Maryland, Reese took her team to the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinals twice where they lost in both appearances. With the Terps, Reese averaged 15.3 points per game, 1.2 blocks, 9.1 rebounds and shot 49% from the field.

In the 2023 NCAA Championship, Reese made a statement when LSU got the win over Clark and the Hawkeyes 102-85. Reese finished with 15 points, one block, five assists and 10 rebounds. 

In her first season with the Fighting Tigers, she elevated her game with an average of 23 points per game, 1.6 blocks, 15.4 rebounds and shot 53% from the field. 

Aaliyah Edwards: Forward – UConn

Mar 6, 2023; Uncasville, CT, USA; UConn Huskies forward Aaliyah Edwards (3) looks for an opening against the Villanova Wildcats in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Edwards, a 6-foot-3 forward with the Huskies, secured her starting position last season when she averaged 16.6 points, 9 rebounds, and shot an incredible 59% from the field. 

The Huskies advanced to the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinals in 2023 where she had a 28-point game, shooting 13-15 from the field in a performance against Vermont. She was aided in UConn’s tournament run by former teammate, Dorka Juhasz, who is now a forward for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA.

She has helped the Huskies make three NCAA Tournament appearances and win three conference championships.

Cameron Brink: Forward – Stanford

Jan 29, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal forward Cameron Brink (22) lines up for an Oregon Ducks free throw during the first quarter at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Brink is a 6-foot-4 forward for the Cardinal’s who helped lead a stacked team of current WNBA players in Kiana Williams, Haley Jones and Lexie Hull to the 2021 NCAA Tournament Championship. Stanford beat Arizona in a tight 54-53 win where Brink contributed 10 points, three blocks and six rebounds. 

In her three seasons at Stanford, Brink has averaged 17.4 points per game, 2.9 blocks and 8.1 rebounds, shooting 54% from the field. Brink and Stanford faced an early second round loss in the 2023 NCAA Tournament where Brink led her team with 20 points, seven blocks and 13 rebounds. 

Since Brink’s freshman season at Stanford, the Cardinal’s have made three NCAA Tournament appearances and won three conference championships. Brink is the goddaughter to Steph and Ayesha Curry. 

Paige Bueckers: Guard – UConn

Mar 26, 2022; Bridgeport, CT, USA; UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) reacts after a play against the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half in the Bridgeport regional semifinals of the women’s college basketball NCAA Tournament at Webster Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

The 5-foot-11 guard out of UConn succumbed to two significant knee injuries that have plagued her successful career with instability and left her sidelined the entire 2022-23 season. In her two seasons with the Huskies, Bueckers has taken them to two NCAA Tournament appearances. 

In UConn’s 64-49 NCAA Tournament Championship loss to South Carolina in 2022, Bueckers led her team with 14 points, two assists and six rebounds shooting 46% from the field. 

On top of two conference championships, in two years with Uconn, Bueckers averaged 18 points per game, shooting 43% from beyond the arc and added 5.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds.