Indiana Fever’s Late 2024 WNBA Draft Pick Gets Caitlin Clark Intriguing Weapon with Significant Sleeper Potential

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Rex Villas | Last updated 4/16/24

While all eyes are understandably on Caitlin Clark after she was taken first overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever, there’s another intriguing player that the ball club took off the board before the night ended at Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York.

In the third round, Indiana selected former Florida Gators star Leilani Correa, who adds even more depth to the Fever’s backcourt.

Via James Boyd of The Athletic:

The #IndianaFever selected Florida guard Leilani Correa with the No. 27 pick in the #WNBADraft. Correa was the SEC Sixth Woman of the Year last season.

Indiana Fever Add Potential Gem to Fold With Round 3 Pick

Selected by the Fever 27th overall in the draft, Correa started her college career with the St. John’s Red Storm. After three seasons with the Red Storm, Correa went to the SEC to play for the Gators.

Fever head coach Christie Sides sounded as though she’s convinced they scored a value pick with Correa, who can seemingly shoot the ball and play solid defense.

“I started watching her early in the season but you know last year she led the SEC in scoring,” Sides said. of Correa (h/t Zion Brown of the Indianapolis Star) “She’s shooting 35% from three. She’s long, she’s athletic.”

In five seasons in college, Correa averaged 15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per outing, while posting a 41.7 field goal percentage and 33.3 percent success rate from behind the arc. She shot better from deep in his final season with the Gators, as she made 36.1 percent of her 3-point attempts. However, she’s probably not going to get plenty of touches, at least in her first season in the WNBA, but her defense can make her a valuable asset for the Fever, especially whenever she plays alongside Clark.

Florida Gators guard Leilani Correa (23) and Florida Gators head coach Kelly Rae Finley embrace against the St. John’s Red Storm during the second half at Billy Donovan Court at Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, March 21, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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