Aces didn't need a first-round pick to be one of WNBA Draft's biggest winners

The two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces were one of the 2024 WNBA Draft's biggest winners despite not having a first-round pick.

That's what happens when a team selects the third-leading scorer in women's NCAA history, plus one of the key cogs of Iowa's past two Final Four teams.

With their first pick at No. 16 overall, the Aces chose former Syracuse guard Dyaisha Fair. She finished her college career with 3,403 career points, the third-most all-time. In Las Vegas, she'll partner with and study under guard Kelsey Plum, who's second on the all-time list (3,527 points).

The Aces weren't done, later adding Iowa forward Kate Martin with the No. 18 pick. Considered the glue during the Hawkeyes' two national championship game appearances, Martin already proved, playing alongside Clark, that she doesn't need an offense to run through her to make an imprint on the game.

As On3's Kyle Huesmann reminded, Martin scored double-digits in 30 of 39 games in 2023-24 and averaged a career-high 13.7 points per game.