4 Final Four Players Who Would Make Perfect Sense Next to Caitlin Clark
It’s finally April, which means women’s basketball fans have one big thing happening after another. The expansion draft for the Tempo and Fire will take place on April 3. That same day, UConn and South Carolina and UCLA and Texas will battle it out in the Final Four. WNBA Free agency starts on April 12, and the draft will take place the very next day.
For Fever fans, there’s a lot to think about. Who will the Tempo and Fire snag in the expansion draft? Who can the Fever add in free agency? Who should be their first-round pick?
The answer to that last question may very well lie in the Final Four. The Fever have the tenth overall pick, which probably won’t translate to a future star, but should bring in a solid young role player who can contribute right away next to the Fever’s star trio of Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell.
Gabriela Jaquez, UCLA
With a guard like Caitlin Clark, you can never have enough big wings who can defend multiple positions, crash the boards, and drain 3-pointers. Gabriela Jaquez has been just that for the Bruins during their almost flawless run back to the Final Four. The senior is currently averaging 13.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 54.2% from the field and 39.3% from three.
The Fever have found a lot of success with Lexie Hull next to Clark, Boston, and Mitchell. Jaquez promises to bring a very similar skill set.
Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA
Speaking of 3-point shooting and the UCLA Bruins…Gianna Kneepkens is the best shooter in the draft after Azzi Fudd. She sinks 42.9% of her 5.3 attempts per game, is good in the mid-range, and provides solid defense. That’s just what the Fever want next to Clark, who can get the ball to any open shooter.
There’s one problem, though: the Washington Mystics. Washington was one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league last season and has the fourth, ninth, and eleventh picks. They will likely take Kneepkens just ahead of the Fever if she makes it that far in the draft.
Raven Johnson, South Carolina
No player has elevated their draft stock more than Raven Johnson. She proved that she’s more than just a floor general and defensive menace by doubling her points per game compared to last season. She also led her team back to another Final Four appearance. If she is still available when the Fever get to make their pick, she could be an absolute steal. Johnson could handily lead the second unit behind Clark, and her defense would be a nice addition to the Fever’s Clark-Mitchell backcourt.
Plus, we all remember when Johnson held Clark to seven points on 3-11 shooting in the National Championship game two years ago. It would definitely be in the Fever’s interest not to let another team draft her.
Madina Okot, South Carolina
Fans love Caitlin Clark for her daring 3-pointers, and she does excel at hitting big shots at just the right time. She also excels at playing with a great center. Indiana is well set up with Boston in the starting lineup, but could use a long-term backup with a higher ceiling than Damiris Dantas or Bri Turner.
Madina Okot has the kind of size that makes her an intriguing WNBA prospect, but she also backs it up with strong play. She is averaging a double-double with 13.2 points and 10.8 rebounds. Perhaps most interestingly, Okot also added a pretty reliable 3-point shot during the season. She’s 3-5 in the postseason so far.
Elaine Blum covers women’s basketball for On SI from Europe. She has been writing about women's hoops since 2023 and holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism and a master’s degree in American Studies with a focus on women’s and gender studies. She started playing basketball when she was 10 years old and won several league and state championships at the youth and senior level.