WNBA Draft
WNBA Draft
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Premiered:
- Network: ESPN2
- Category: Series
- Genre: Special, Annual
- Type: Live Action
- Concept:Draft for WNBA Basketball
- Subject Matter: Sports
- Tags: basketball
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Plot Synopsis
Each year since 1997, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has held its annual WNBA DRAFT, allowing teams to select eligible college players in an order based on record and the results of a draft lottery. All round o the WNBA DRAFT are held on a single day. First held on April 18, 1997, Tina Thompson was the first No. 1 draft pick, selected by the Houston Comets. The 2001 WNBA DRAFT, held on Friday, April 20 at the NBA Entertainment studios in Secaucus, New Jersey, was the first draft to air on national television, as ESPN2 and NBA TV simulcast the first round, while only NBA TV covered the remaining three rounds. During this telecast and other early drafts, all picks were made via conference call with team representatives. From 2001 through 2012, the WNBA DRAFT was held during the afternoon (Eastern Time), with the first round televised by an ESPN channel and later rounds broadcast by NBA TV. Since 2013, the WNBA DRAFT has usually been held during primetime (Eastern Time), with the first round broadcast by ESPN2 and rounds 2 and 3 televised by ESPNU, but in 2015 the second and third rounds were streamed on ESPN3.
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On Monday, April 15, 2024 from 7:30-9:30pm ET/4:30-6:30pm PT, ESPN presented live coverage of all three rounds of the 2024 WNBA DRAFT from the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, NY. Ryan Ruocco once again hosts on site, joined by analysts Rebecca Lobo and Andraya Carter, and reporter Holly Rowe. Lobo and Carter break down the picks with reactions and in-depth analysis, while Rowe interviews the newest 2024 draftees following their selections. ESPN's telecast has cameras inside five team draft rooms: Indiana, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and Washington -- all of whom have First Round pick. Additionally, ESPN has live coverage from the Indiana Fever and Los Angeles Sparks official Watch Parties. Ruocco, Lobo, Carter and Rowe will take viewers through storylines for the upcoming offseason, including key matchups for the Indiana Fever and their presumptive first overall pick, the Las Vegas Aces' quest for a third consecutive title and much more. Iowa's Caitlin Clark is expected to be the top pick in the draft.
Cast
- Ryan Ruocco - Host (2016-2024)
- Rebecca Lobo - Analyst (2004, 2013-2024)
- Andraya Carter - Analyst (2024)
- Holly Rowe - Reporter (2013-2024)
- Matt Devlin - Host (2001-2002)
- Mark Morgan - Host (2003)
- Pam Ward - Host (2004)
- Kevin Negandhi - Host (2013-2015)
- LaChina Robinson - Analyst/Reporter (2013, 2017-2019, 2021-2023)
- Sue Bird - Host (2020)
- Ann Meyers - Analyst (2001-2004)
- Doris Burke - Analyst (2001-2003)
- Vera Jones - Analyst (2001-2003)
- Carolyn Peck - Analyst (2013-2016)
- Cassidy Hubbarth - Reporter (2017)
Settings
- NBA Entertainment Studios (1997-2005, 2009 & 2010) - Secaucus, New Jersey USA
- Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (2006) - Boston, Massachusetts USA
- The Renaissance Hotel (2007) - Cleveland, Ohio USA
- The Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club (2008) - Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida USA
- ESPN Studios (2011-2013, 2020 & 2021) - Bristol, Connecticut USA
- Mohegan Sun Arena (2014-2016) - Uncasville, Connecticut USA
- Samsung 837 (2017) - Manhattan, New York USA
- Nike New York Headquarters (2018 & 2019) - Manhattan, New York USA
- Spring Studios (2022 & 2023) - Manhattan, New York USA
- Brooklyn Academy of Music (2024) - Brooklyn, New York USA
Firsts, Lasts & Notable Notes
- April 15, 2013: First time WNBA Draft is televised during prime time.