WNBA Draft history: How Caitlin Clark compares to Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and other No. 1 overall picks

The 2024 WNBA Draft is upon us and the league is already preparing for the attention Iowa star Caitlin Clark will bring to the sport.

The Indiana Fever own the No. 1 overall pick and Clark is all but certain to hear her name called first. Even without the official selection, the Fever have already been scheduled for the most nationally televised games in the W this season . Opposing teams are also using Clark's likeness as a promotion to sell tickets , and league veterans are anxious to get their first shot at the incoming star rookie.

How does Clark compare to other No. 1 overall picks coming into her rookie season? The Sporting News takes a closer look below.

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Comparing Caitlin Clark to WNBA No. 1 picks Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird

Clark's name bubbled up alongside Taurasi and Bird after the legendary WNBA duo broadcast several of Iowa's Big Ten and NCAA Tournament games. They had many positive discussions around Clark's impact on women's basketball, but Taurasi, in particular, has taken a few jabs at the soon-to-be star rookie.

During Iowa's Final Four game against UConn, Taurasi, a former Connecticut star, was quick to say she'd take Paige Bueckers over Clark No. 1 overall .

After Iowa defeated UConn, Taurasi took another not-so-subtle jab at Clark in an interview with ESPN's Scott Van Pelt.

"Reality is coming," Taurasi said . "There's levels to this thing, and that's just life — we all went through it.

"You see it on the NBA side and you're going to see it on this side where you look superhuman playing against 18-year-olds, but you're going to come play with some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time."

How do Clark's college career stats and accolades compare to Taurasi and Bird entering the WNBA?

Clark's scoring average is higher than Taurasi and Bird's combined, but part of that comes from the team success that the latter two legends had at the college level.

Taurasi is a three-time NCAA champion, Bird is a two-time NCAA champion and Clark never won a title. Clark and Taurasi each won two Naismith Player of the Year awards, Bird took home one.

Clark was an AP All-American all four years, while Taurasi was a three-time AP All-American and Bird was a two-time All-American.

MORE: Caitlin Clark roasts Michael Che for women's sports jokes during SNL appearance

History of WNBA Draft No. 1 picks

Clark is in line to become the 28th No. 1 overall pick in WNBA Draft history. You can find the complete list of first picks below.