WNBA draft: Caitlin Clark selected No. 1 by Indiana Fever, while Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese are teaming up in Chicago

Excitement for women’s basketball is perhaps the highest it’s ever been.

And now, many of the stars from the NCAA women’s basketball tournament – including Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, Stanford’s Cameron Brink, LSU’s Angel Reese and South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso – are taking their talents to the WNBA.

As expected, Clark, who helped attract record-breaking TV audiences and sellouts in arenas around the country in her final collegiate season, was selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft Monday at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York.

“I got a little anxious there before the pick,” Clark said on the ESPN broadcast. She later added: “I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was in second grade. It’s taken a lot of hard work, a lot of ups and downs, but more than anything, just trying to soak it in.”

Kamilla Cardoso poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected as the third overall pick by the Chicago Sky.

Brink went No. 2 overall to the Los Angeles Sparks. The Chicago Sky, selecting third, took Cardoso, while Rickea Jackson of Tennessee went No. 4 to the Sparks. Rounding out the top five, the Dallas Wings selected Ohio State’s Jacy Sheldon.

Cardoso, who is from Brazil, was emotional when reflecting on leaving her home country back when she was 15 to pursue her professional basketball dream.

“I had a goal to be here tonight and give my family a better life, so I’m just so thankful that I was able to be here,” she told ESPN through tears.

Angel Reese celebrates with LSU head coach Kim Mulkey after being selected as the seventh overall pick by the Sky.

UConn’s Aaliyah Edwards went sixth overall to the Washington Mystics. Reese, meanwhile, landed with the Sky at No. 7, joining forces with fellow rookie Cardoso. Reese was the 2023 Final Four Most Outstanding Player when LSU won the national title, with Cardoso earning the honor this year after South Carolina completed an undefeated season and won the program’s third national championship.

“Coming back (to LSU) would have been amazing for me, but I wanted more for myself,” Reese said. “I wanted to start over. I feel like I had been on a high since (winning) the national championship, and I want to hit rock bottom.

From left, Reese, Caitlin Clark and Stanford's Cameron Brink pose for a photo before the start of the WNBA draft.

“I want to be a rookie again. I want to be knocked down by vets, and I want to be able to get up and grow and be a sponge. I’m just super excited to play with the amazing players and against amazing players.”