If you were to bet on a player in the 2024 WNBA Draft that you’ll look back on in five years and ask, “Why didn’t she get selected?” New York Liberty My pick is newcomer Markesha Davis.
Davis has flown under the radar this season. Ole Miss Plagued by numerous injuries and forced to play without a traditional point guard for nearly the entire season, it was a learning curve for the team, but Davis was able to show what he can do with the ball in his hands, especially during SEC play.
Davis is wide and slow with the ball, but she puts it all together with incredible ball control and is also surprisingly agile as a slasher given her size on the wing.
She creates space in ways that few others can — she has a devastating first step, is a consistent rim threat and works best as a scorer off the dribble — but it’s her ability to create space laterally, backwards and in multiple planes of motion that is the most intriguing part of her potential.
Davis has room to grow and improve as a more consistent jump shooter, but given her ability to consistently create meaningful space, it’s worth betting on her growth in that regard. She has a knack for hitting extremely nasty tough shots with very impressive hang time and an almost unblockable release point.
She wasn’t a great 3-point shooter in college and her mid-range numbers were a little below average, but this is an important area to claim background. Ole Miss is all about dribble drive and attacking the basket, and she was absolutely excellent there. But as a team, she was near the bottom of Division I in 3-point attempts per game and 3-point percentage.
This is important in understanding Marchesha’s space and the attack she was developing. While she was great for showcasing her drive and slashing ability, she could also lead to awkward half-court possessions or difficult relief shots when the defense was stuck in the paint area.
Importantly, when you consider the context, you can see that some of the efficiency numbers underestimate her abilities. To become a consistent shot maker and shooter, you need to develop your footwork and mechanics. Davis has the touch and creation ability, and with continued practice and repetition, his shot will hone and become a real weapon in the years to come.
Why finding talent late in the first round is important in the WNBA
In the WNBA Draft, the top pick defines and determines the ceiling and floor. Making shrewd moves around the margins can set a franchise apart, especially in a league where making impact plays on small rookie-sized contracts is paramount. Adding a prospect who can become a seventh man in the rotation midway through his second season paves the way for more creativity with contracts, allowing them to spend more on starters and giving them more flexibility with the talent they shed.
What can we learn when we look back at the history of the WNBA Draft?
Generally speaking, players selected in the lottery, or at least the top four, are automatic starters and players who are sure to become long-term rotation players or stars. Of course, this varies depending on the actual talent pool for each class, but it’s a notable difference.
When you start thinking about the middle of the draft, around the first to mid-second rounds, you start betting on talent more. While clearly skilled, he is a player lacking one or two tools to make a positive impact in the rotation. Can this player make an impact in a smaller role on a team that is likely already successful given his position? Given that he’s probably a deeper player in the rotation, could he be more productive from there? Developmental status and room for growth can sometimes obscure why some players don’t do well where they are originally drafted.
This is one of the most interesting positions in the draft to me. This range produces some really good players, some of whom end up becoming stars or starters. Can you find a player who can serve as his second or third star, or his fifth star or closer?
Some teams have had success with this. For reference:
- Sophie Cunningham, 13th place, 2019
- Bri Jones, 8th place 2017
- Natasha Cloud, 15th place 2015
- Bethnijah Rainey, 17th place 2015
- Tiffany Hayes, 2012 #14
- Jasmine Thomas, 12th place, 2011
- Alisha Clark, 17th 2010
It’s worth remembering that everyone’s development story and journey is different – some of these players didn’t reach their peak until they received new opportunities, which is natural and expected in player development – but the vast majority found smaller roles in their first few seasons and flourished once they got their chance.
Knowing how people operate, work, and develop best is essential for any organization. There are many players in every class with talent and potential. Will they land in the best conditions for them? It’s more important than the number they are drafted with.
I don’t expect Davis to be a big impact player for the New York Liberty this season. They made it to the finals, but rebuilt the benchand have Internal expectations to win everythingBut she has the skill base to play off the bench, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see her have multiple stints as part of New York’s rotation during the regular season.
She’s tall, active defensively, quick on her feet and has the room to build on an already solid foundation protecting the ball (something Liberty needs). She’s an incredibly good rebounder for her position, especially on offensive rebounds, where she excels as a cutter and opportunistic scorer. Her ability to grab defensive rebounds and run with them to create easy offense in transition was among the best in the country this past college season and was immediately put to good use in New York’s preseason.
Nothing is guaranteed in the most difficult league in professional sports, but Davis embodies the characteristics of multiple players who have fallen to similar positions in past drafts. Marketsha Davis may not make a huge impact as a rookie, or even make the biggest mark in the WNBA as a member of the Liberty. If you look back at the list of past players above, you’ll see that many of them took years and teams to find their footing.
But as she continues to grow out of her condensed role, I’m confident that when we look back in the future, Markesha Davis will be one of the most impactful players in this class.
