The Indiana Fever could have an intriguing opportunity to strengthen their roster in the 2027 WNBA Draft, but one name appearing in the latest mock draft projections is already worth watching.

Clara Strack, the 6-foot-5 center from Kentucky, is projected to land with Indiana at No. 10 in CBS Sports’ first-round mock draft. The prediction offers an interesting glimpse into how the Fever might approach their roster construction if they have an opportunity to add another talented frontcourt player.

However, the Fever are not the only team facing fascinating possibilities. Three early mock drafts from CBS Sports, The Sports Bank, and Tankathon agree on one major prediction: JuJu Watkins is projected to go No. 1 overall to the Toronto Tempo.

Beyond the top selection, the projections begin to diverge, creating questions about which prospects could rise, which teams might prioritize frontcourt depth, and where some of the biggest names in women’s college basketball could land.

With the 2027 WNBA Draft still months away, these predictions are far from final. But they provide an early look at the prospects who could shape the league’s next generation.

JUJU WATKINS EMERGES AS THE EARLY FAVORITE FOR NO. 1

All three mock drafts place JuJu Watkins at the top of the board, projecting the USC guard to become the first overall selection by the Toronto Tempo.

That level of agreement is notable this early in the draft cycle.

Watkins has attracted attention because of her scoring ability, athleticism, and potential to become a franchise cornerstone. A player with her offensive versatility could give an expansion franchise a compelling foundation to build around.

Toronto’s projected selection also raises an interesting question about how the Tempo will approach their long-term roster construction.

Expansion teams have an opportunity to establish their identities around young talent, and landing a player with Watkins’ potential would create an obvious starting point.

However, her eventual draft position will depend on her health, performance, and readiness for the professional game. The projections should be treated as early evaluations rather than a guarantee that Toronto will make this selection.

For now, the agreement among the three mock drafts makes Watkins the prospect to watch at the top of the board.

MADISON BOOKER AND HANNAH HIDALGO COULD SHAKE UP THE TOP FIVE

Although the analysts agree on Watkins, they have different opinions about what happens immediately afterward.

CBS Sports and The Sports Bank project Madison Booker of Texas to go No. 2 to the Indiana Fever. Tankathon instead projects Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo at that position.

The disagreement illustrates how difficult it can be to forecast the needs of individual teams before the draft order and roster situations become clearer.

Booker brings positional versatility and offensive potential, while Hidalgo has established herself as an exciting guard prospect with scoring ability and defensive activity.

If Indiana lands the No. 2 pick, either player could become an intriguing possibility, depending on the Fever’s needs and the direction of their roster.

Hidalgo is projected to go No. 3 to Washington by The Sports Bank and No. 2 to Indiana by Tankathon. CBS Sports places her outside its top two, projecting Kansas guard S’Mya Nichols to Washington at No. 3 instead.

These different predictions demonstrate that the top of the draft could become a major debate as the college season progresses.

The order will ultimately depend on team needs, prospect development, and which players demonstrate the greatest potential to make an immediate professional impact.

THE FEVER’S POTENTIAL CLARA STRACK PICK DESERVES ATTENTION

For Indiana fans, the most interesting name on the chart might be Clara Strack.

CBS Sports projects the 6-foot-5 Kentucky center to Indiana with the No. 10 pick. The Sports Bank places her at No. 11 to the Seattle Storm, while Tankathon projects her at No. 8 to the Minnesota Lynx.

That range suggests there is still considerable uncertainty about where Strack could land.

Nevertheless, the possibility of Indiana adding another frontcourt player is worth examining.

The Fever’s roster construction will influence whether a center becomes a priority. Aliyah Boston is already an important part of the team’s interior, so any decision to add another big would need to account for how the two players could share the floor.

Strack’s size and frontcourt potential could make her an appealing prospect if Indiana believes she can complement Boston rather than simply duplicate her role.

A larger frontcourt could provide advantages on the glass, give Indiana additional size against certain opponents, and create more options when injuries or matchup problems arise.

However, the Fever would also need to consider spacing, mobility, and defensive fit.

Drafting a center simply because she is available would not necessarily improve the roster. Indiana would need a clear plan for how Strack could contribute alongside Boston and the team’s other key players.

If the organization believes the pairing could work, the No. 10 projection offers an interesting scenario for fans to debate.

COULD CLARA STRACK FIT ALONGSIDE CAITLIN CLARK AND ALIYAH BOSTON?

The idea of adding Strack to a lineup featuring Caitlin Clark and Boston is intriguing because it would give Indiana another potential building block.

Clark’s ability to create scoring opportunities could benefit a frontcourt player who can finish around the basket, establish position, and contribute on the boards.

Boston, meanwhile, already provides Indiana with an established interior presence.

The challenge would be determining how the Fever could maximize the strengths of both bigs without compromising the team’s spacing or defensive versatility.

Playing two centers together can create advantages against teams with smaller frontcourts, but it can also make it more difficult to defend perimeter-oriented offenses.

The Fever would need to evaluate whether Strack possesses the mobility and offensive versatility required to make the combination effective.

There is also a developmental consideration.

A rookie should not be expected to transform a team’s fortunes immediately, and Indiana would need to give any young frontcourt player time to adjust to the speed and physicality of the WNBA.

My take: Strack is an intriguing name for Indiana at No. 10, but the Fever should prioritize fit and long-term potential over position alone. If the team believes she can complement Boston, the pairing could be worth exploring.

For now, the mock draft is a conversation starter rather than evidence that Indiana is targeting her.

MIKAYLAH WILLIAMS AND MILAYSIA FULWILEY ARE ALSO NAMES TO WATCH

Louisiana State’s Mikaylah Williams appears consistently near the middle of the projected first round.

CBS Sports places her at No. 5 to the Washington Mystics, Tankathon projects her at No. 5 to the Dallas Wings, and The Sports Bank has her going No. 6 to the Golden State Valkyries.

Milaysia Fulwiley, also from LSU, is projected at No. 6 by CBS Sports, No. 5 by The Sports Bank, and No. 6 by Tankathon.

Both prospects could attract attention as evaluators assess their development and potential professional roles.

Their placement also shows that the middle of the first round could be particularly difficult to predict.

Teams selecting in this range will need to balance immediate roster needs against long-term upside. Some may prioritize scoring, while others could focus on defense, versatility, or frontcourt depth.

As the college season progresses, individual performances could quickly change the order.

SOUTH CAROLINA AND NOTRE DAME COULD HAVE MAJOR INFLUENCE ON THE DRAFT

The projections also highlight the continued importance of established women’s college basketball programs.

South Carolina guard Tessa Johnson appears at No. 10 in Tankathon’s mock draft and No. 11 in CBS Sports’ projection. The Sports Bank places her at No. 12.

South Carolina forward Ashlyn Watkins is projected at No. 7 by CBS Sports and No. 9 by the other two outlets.

Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s Hidalgo is a projected top-three selection across the three mock drafts.

These placements reflect the attention surrounding players from programs that regularly compete at a high level.

However, playing for a prominent college program does not guarantee a particular draft position. Individual development, production, health, and how a prospect’s skills translate to the professional game will matter far more when teams make their decisions.

The coming college season should provide a clearer picture of which prospects are ready to compete at the next level and which still need time to develop.

THREE MOCK DRAFTS, THREE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

One of the most revealing aspects of the chart is how quickly the predictions begin to separate after the first selection.

Watkins is the only player projected at No. 1 by all three sources.

Booker and Hidalgo exchange positions near the top, while Nichols, Fulwiley, and Williams move around the first six selections.

Strack’s projected landing spots range from No. 8 to No. 11, giving Indiana fans a reason to watch her progress without assuming she will be available when the Fever select.

These differences are normal at this stage of the process.

Mock drafts are projections based on early evaluations, anticipated team needs, and assumptions about the draft order. They are not official rankings or indications that teams have committed to particular players.

In addition, the chart represents only the first 15 selections, so it does not show the full range of potential landing spots for every prospect.

The most useful takeaway is identifying which players repeatedly appear near the top and which teams could have interesting roster-building decisions ahead.

FINAL VERDICT: THE 2027 DRAFT COULD GIVE THE FEVER ANOTHER IMPORTANT DECISION

The early 2027 WNBA mock drafts provide plenty of reasons for basketball fans to start debating the next draft class.

Watkins is the consensus projected No. 1 pick, while Booker and Hidalgo could compete for the next position on the board. Several other college stars, including Nichols, Williams, Fulwiley, and Strack, are also generating first-round interest.

For Indiana, Strack is the name worth watching.

A potential selection at No. 10 would give the Fever an opportunity to consider another frontcourt prospect who could eventually complement Boston and provide additional roster flexibility.

But the organization should not make its decision based on a mock draft alone. The Fever’s eventual draft position, roster needs, player development, and available prospects will all influence the best course of action.

My prediction: JuJu Watkins will remain a major contender for the top selection, while Clara Strack could become an intriguing name for Indiana if she remains available in the middle of the first round.

The biggest question for Fever fans is whether the franchise will use its next draft opportunity to strengthen its frontcourt or address another position.

That decision could be just as important as the name Indiana ultimately selects.