The WNBA Draft lottery is within the books, setting the order for April’s 2025 draft. Just like the previous two years, there shouldn’t be a lot drama on the prime, contemplating the one method Paige Bueckers doesn’t get drafted first is that if she elects to remain at UConn for a further season. For probably the most half, this mock draft doesn’t embody gamers who’ve one other 12 months of eligibility, however I’ve included a few exceptions, particularly Bueckers, who stated she is treating 2024-25 as her closing season.
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The @DallasWings could have the #1 general decide within the Draft on April 14th 🙌 pic.twitter.com/l9C6zpL167
— WNBA (@WNBA) November 17, 2024
That is the league’s first draft with 13 groups, because the Golden State Valkyries will start play within the 2025 season. Nonetheless, there are nonetheless solely 12 picks within the first spherical as a result of the Las Vegas Aces misplaced their decide for offering impermissible participant advantages.
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Dallas Wings rating No. 1 decide in 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery
Let’s have a look at which gamers are the perfect match for every WNBA group.
Paige Bueckers | 6-foot guard | UConn
This can be a dream state of affairs for the Wings, who’ve tons of depth within the frontcourt with Satou Sabally, Teaira McCowan and Maddy Siegrist, however Dallas wants an organizing power within the backcourt. Bueckers has vacillated on the positional spectrum all through her UConn profession, however her playmaking has thrived no matter the place she is positioned on the court docket. She has ranked in at the least the 92nd percentile in help proportion each season whereas additionally putting within the 98th percentile or above in assist-to-turnover ratio. Even when Bueckers isn’t a prototypical level guard (and gained’t be requested to play that position with KK Arnold and Kaitlyn Chen on the Huskies’ roster this season), her selflessness means she’s always trying to create for others.
Bueckers can also be an exceptionally environment friendly scorer who finishes at an elite fee in any respect three ranges (within the paint, midrange and past the arc). On protection, Bueckers has proven the flexibility to protect one by means of 4. She is robust in isolation however a menace as a assist defender, studying the ground in addition to she does on offense to select off passes and jump-start the Huskies’ transition assault. The No. 1 recruit in her highschool class has been nearly as good as marketed, showcasing an entire set of expertise in faculty that additionally figures to translate seamlessly to the professionals.
I simply fell to my knees. THANK YOU LORD! 😭😭😭😭
— Arike Ogunbowale (@Arike_O) November 17, 2024
Olivia Miles | 5-10 guard | Notre Dame
It’s dangerous to draft for want on the No. 2 decide, and Kiki Iriafen is the higher-rated prospect, however the Sparks want a guard in a foul method, particularly since they already despatched away their 2026 first-round decide to the Seattle Storm. There may be nothing to be gained from one other 12 months of lacking the playoffs. With Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson already on the roster — in addition to a still-in-her-prime Dearica Hamby — Los Angeles wants somebody to guide its offense, and that’s Miles.
Though she missed her junior season with a torn ACL (and may technically return to Notre Dame for another 12 months), Miles has appeared spry by means of the Irish’s first 4 video games, gliding up and down the court docket and exhibiting off her trademark passing imaginative and prescient. Miles is at all times trying to generate offense in transition, and she or he creates home windows within the half court docket along with her correct ball supply. She retains defenses sincere along with her drives to the ring and appears to have used the 12 months off to refine her taking pictures stroke, as she’s making 47 p.c of her 3s and 83 p.c of her free throws. The Irish have usually relied on perimeter expertise throughout Miles’ tenure, however she ought to have minimal issue transitioning right into a post-heavy offense along with her IQ.
Miles can also be a powerful defender with good measurement for her place. It’s simple to think about her overlaying ones in isolation but in addition switching on the perimeter alongside Rae Burrell and Jackson.
Might Kiki Iriafen thrive with the Sky regardless of their bevy of bigs? (Catherine Steenkeste / Getty Photographs)
Kiki Iriafen | 6-3 ahead/middle | USC
This isn’t a perfect match for the Sky, who have already got Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese. Nonetheless, the franchise is just one 12 months out of the playoffs and may afford to be affected person within the rebuild, even when meaning overloading within the frontcourt to get one other proficient participant.
Iriafen got here on a little bit late in her faculty profession due to the glut of bigs forward of her at Stanford, however she excelled when given an everyday position. She’s a high-usage, high-efficiency scorer, and she or he improves when the lights are brighter. Iriafen’s athleticism pops on the ground, whether or not it’s her first step when going through up, her elevation on the rim or her competitiveness on the glass. Ideally, she’d harness that athleticism extra on protection, the place she hasn’t been an elite playmaker — the Cardinal’s protection wasn’t noticeably totally different along with her on or off the court docket. Nonetheless, her bodily instruments recommend she may be impactful on this finish, and USC shall be reliant on that.
Stanford’s historical past of manufacturing high-level frontcourt gamers additionally works in Iriafen’s favor. Earlier than the 2024 draft, WNBA common managers in contrast her recreation to Nneka Ogwumike’s. The 2012 No. 1 decide’s faculty profession was way more embellished than that of Iriafen, however they’ve related builds and play kinds, offering a perfect ceiling for Iriafen within the W.
Dominique Malonga | 6-6 middle | Lyon (France)
The Mystics are but to rent a GM or coach, so the decision-making falls to Michael Winger, the president of Monumental Basketball for the Mystics and the NBA’s Wizards. What we learn about Winger from his NBA expertise is that he believes in constructing patiently by means of the draft. From his two drafts with the boys’s group, it’s clear he loves younger French prospects, because the Wizards drafted 18-year-old Bilal Coulibaly in 2023 and 19-year-old Alex Sarr in 2024. That makes this the right franchise to swing large on Malonga, who will flip 20 earlier than the draft.
Malonga is a particular athlete, vertically and laterally, as the primary Frenchwoman to dunk in a recreation. She averaged 11.9 factors and eight.9 rebounds within the French league in 2023-24 regardless of being a number of years youthful than most of her competitors, and she or he improved these numbers to 19.3 factors and 13.3 rebounds throughout the playoffs. She additionally got here off the bench for France throughout the Olympics as the house group gained a silver medal. Her capacity to create with the ball in her palms can also be distinctive for a frontcourt prospect.
Dominique Malonga au dunk, c’est trop 🤯#PassionnémentBleu pic.twitter.com/VmVA90et06
— Équipes de France de Basket (@FRABasketball) October 30, 2024
The Mystics have already got Shakira Austin as a younger middle, however accidents have restricted her to 31 video games by means of the previous two seasons. Malonga’s age and the uncertainty over Austin’s well being make taking a shot on the younger French star price it.
5. Golden State Valkyries
Georgia Amoore | 5-6 guard | Kentucky
It’s difficult to select a participant for a group with an empty roster, so anticipate this spot to alter considerably till the draft. For now, let’s begin with a degree guard who is aware of how you can run a pro-style offense: Amoore. Amoore has been confidently working out of the pick-and-roll for 3 years, main one of many nation’s finest offenses at Virginia Tech. She’s an outstanding ballhandler and decision-maker, even when her aptitude generally will get her into bother.
Like one other level guard who performs for a Golden State group, Amoore additionally likes to shoot from lengthy distance, creating huge house regardless of her small body because of her side-step takeoff. Her proportion has cratered on self-created 3s, although these pictures are sometimes compelled upon her when the offense can’t generate a greater look; nevertheless, she shot 43 p.c on spot-up 3s over the previous two seasons and has nice taking pictures kind supplied she will be able to restrict her quantity.
Amoore has been studying from fellow small guard Kelsey Plum for the previous two seasons and would profit from taking part in for Natalie Nakase, Plum’s former assistant who occurs to be one other quick guard. Amoore is personable and marketable, and she or he makes a ton of sense as a constructing block for a brand new franchise.
6. Washington Mystics (from Atlanta Dream by way of Dallas)
Sonia Citron | 6-1 wing | Notre Dame
Ideally, Citron would land on a group higher positioned to compete instantly — and maybe somebody will commerce up for her — however she’s just too proficient and productive to fall under this spot. Citron is a profession 37 p.c 3-point shooter and 83.4 p.c free-throw shooter who can even drive and end by means of contact. She rebounds nicely for a fringe participant and can also be a terrific defender from one to 3. She’s overtaxed creating with the ball in her hand however is an excellent secondary choice. In a league skinny on wings, Citron could have a task to play for years.
The Indiana Fever can be an ideal touchdown spot for Citron if they’re prepared to fork over some property to Washington. Because it stands, the Mystics can be lucky to have her as a part of their rebuild.
Maddy Westbeld | 6-3 ahead | Notre Dame
The Liberty thrived with a wing-heavy, bodily id final season, notably throughout the postseason and particularly once they went with three bigs within the decisive Sport 5 of the WNBA Finals. Even when Maddy Westbeld appears positionally redundant, New York will discover a option to get her on the court docket given her toughness, capacity to defend a number of positions and 3-point taking pictures. It’s simple to think about Westbeld finally taking on for Kayla Thornton as an inside defender — no one gave Elizabeth Kitley extra issue than Westbeld throughout the All-American’s 2023-24 season. Though Westbeld doesn’t have noteworthy athleticism, her manufacturing has by no means suffered for it.
Westbeld can also be an intuitive offensive participant who strikes off the ball nicely, a necessity in New York’s system. If worse involves worst and Westbeld’s harm points to begin the season linger, New York has proved it’s among the many finest locations to rehab within the WNBA.
8. Indiana Fever
Te-Hina Paopao | 5-9 guard | South Carolina
The Fever want to enhance their protection and maybe discover a combo ahead who can enhance on what NaLyssa Smith introduced final season. Nonetheless, that sort of participant isn’t accessible at this level within the draft, so why not double down on what Indiana does nicely? The Fever have already got offensive firepower with the backcourt of Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, and bringing in Paopao as a sub for both retains the extent excessive. Paopao is one in all faculty basketball’s most excellent shooters in current reminiscence; she made 46.8 p.c of her makes an attempt final season, main the nation. She additionally runs a imply pick-and-roll, reads the ground nicely, has a growing floater and usually executes every thing you’ll need from a lead guard or two-guard offensively.
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Defensively, being at South Carolina has labored wonders for Paopao. She has improved at staying in entrance on the level of assault, and she or he positions herself nicely in assist protection. Paopao isn’t the kind of participant who will single-handedly elevate Indiana’s defensive flooring, however she will be able to earn minutes by avoiding errors.
However this decide isn’t in regards to the protection. Simply think about making an attempt to defend a Clark/Aliyah Boston pick-and-roll with Mitchell and Paopao surrounding them. It appears bodily not possible.
Shyanne Sellers is perhaps a steal late within the first spherical. (Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Photographs)
9. Seattle Storm
Shyanne Sellers | 6-2 guard/wing | Maryland
The Storm want some younger expertise with upside. They’ve Jordan Horston however nobody else who’s realistically on the entrance finish of their improvement curve now that Nika Mühl is out for the season with a torn ACL. This looks like an opportune second to herald Sellers, a participant with nice athleticism and a excessive IQ. Sellers is a dynamic downhill attacker who has a handsome soar shot. She has unbelievable tempo within the open court docket and is the muse for Maryland’s transition assault. Her level guard reps in faculty have been helpful, however at 6-2, she will be able to play a number of positions, giving her extra utility within the execs. The sky is the restrict with Sellers.
Saniya Rivers | 6-1 guard/wing | NC State
The early returns from Rivers’ senior season have indicated she is finest with the ball in her palms because the lead guard, which makes Chicago a helpful touchdown spot, since Lindsay Allen is a succesful caretaker level guard, however not the choice for the long run. Becoming a member of Tyler Marsh can also be a boon for Rivers. She is hyper-athletic and will get into the paint with ease, and being disruptive doesn’t start to explain the defensive havoc she will be able to wreak. However her jumper and decision-making want some work. Rivers’ bodily instruments call to mind a youthful Jackie Younger. Marsh helped flip the Aces star into an environment friendly offensive participant, and that would be the job with Rivers.
Charlisse Leger-Walker | 5-10 guard | UCLA
The Lynx bought high quality play out of their lead guard spot from Courtney Williams, however they might nonetheless use a real level guard to arrange their scorers. Leger-Walker is a superb passer within the half court docket — her skip passes out of the pick-and-roll demand a number of rewatches. She’s been inconsistent as a shooter, however maybe sitting out for a 12 months with a torn ACL will power her to develop her jumper. Leger-Walker hasn’t introduced a lot to the ground as a defender, however Minnesota drafted Alissa Pili final 12 months, in order that doesn’t appear to be a prerequisite.
12. Phoenix Mercury (swap with New York)
Aneesah Morrow | 6-1 ahead | LSU
Phoenix performed most of final season with no true energy ahead, which creates a gap for Morrow. She places stress on the basket, rebounds the ball higher than virtually anybody at her place, persistently makes performs on protection and will get buckets irrespective of who else is on the court docket. These attributes would profit the Mercury. The one subject for Morrow in Nate Tibbetts’ system is that she doesn’t take or make 3s, however she does so many different issues nicely that it might be arduous to go on her on the finish of the primary spherical.
Additionally in consideration: South Carolina’s Raven Johnson, Kansas State’s Ayoka Lee and Ole Miss’ Madison Scott.
(Prime picture: Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Photographs)