The 2025 WNBA Draft Was One for the Books

It is that time of the year: the WNBA draft. The league welcomes a new set of ladies looking to begin the next part of their journey as professional athletes. Like last year’s draft class, the 2025 WNBA draft was filled with many talented players.

The Wings Get a Star

The Dallas Wings had the first pick of the draft, and selected Paige Bueckers out of UConn. She is the sixth player from UConn to be selected number one overall. The previous five are Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Tina Charles, Maya Moore, and Breanna Stewart.

The Wings were expected to compete for a championship last year, but suffered the injury bug which led to several key players missing time. They would go on an eleven-game losing streak, which quickly pushed them down the standings. They had a chance to get back in the playoff race after Satou Sabally and Natasha Howard made their returns, picking up some crucial wins. But their playoff hopes were crushed after going winless in the month of September. They finished the 2024 season with a 9-31 record.

With the Wings winning the first overall pick in the draft lottery, it was a no-brainer that they were taking Paige Bueckers. Adding someone like Bueckers next to Arike Ogunbowale is a potential combination for a new star-studded duo. Bueckers can not only take some of the workload off Ogunbowale, but she can get things done on the defensive end.

A New Deadly Frontcourt

The Seattle Storm had the second pick of the draft, which they obtained from the Los Angeles Sparks due a three-team trade with the Aces. That deal sent Jewell Loyd to the Aces, Kelsey Plum to the Sparks, a 2026 second-round pick to Vegas, and the ninth pick in this year’s draft to the Sparks (originally Seattle). The Storm also received Li Yueru from the Sparks.

Olivia Miles was originally projected to be the second pick of the draft until she decided to forgo the draft and return to college. Seattle shifted their attention to Dominique Malonga, a basketball star from France. Her talent and versatility on both ends of the floor made it hard for the Storm to not select her.

The Storm already have Ezi Magbegor, Nneka Ogwumike, Li Yueru, and Gabby Williams in the frontcourt. Adding Malonga in the mix just makes them more dangerous. Malonga and Williams were teammates on the French national team for the Olympics, so the connection is already there.

The Future is Set

The Washington Mystics held three picks in the first round of the draft. Their first pick was the third, and they selected Sonia Citron out of Notre Dame. She joins a list of stars selected as the third overall pick from Notre Dame: Kayla McBride (2019), Skylar Diggins-Smith (2013), and Devereaux Peters (2012).

With back to back picks, the Mystics selected Kiki Iriafen out of USC. She is the first player out of USC to be selected in the first round since Ebony Hoffman in 2004. They would then select Georgia Amoore out of Kentucky with the sixth pick.

Two months ago, the Mystics traded Ariel Atkins to the Chicago Sky in exchange for the third pick in this year’s draft, a 2027 first-round pick, and the rights to swap 2027 first round draft picks. And just hours before the draft, they traded Karlie Samuelson to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for a 2026 first round pick.

Elena Delle Donne also announced her retirement earlier this month. The Mystics are in full rebuild mode, and it would not be a surprise if they make any more moves before the season starts.

First Round

1. Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers, G

2. Seattle Storm: Dominique Malonga, C

3. Washington Mystics: Sonia Citron, G

4. Washington Mystics: Kiki Iriafen, F

5. Golden State Valkyries: Justé Jocytė, G

6. Washington Mystics: Georgia Amoore, G

7. Connecticut Sun: Aneesah Morrow, F

8. Connecticut Sun: Saniya Rivers, G

9. Los Angeles Sparks: Sarah Ashlee Barker, G

10. Chicago Sky: Ajsa Sivka, F

11. Chicago Sky: Hailey Van Lith, G

12. Dallas Wings: Aziaha James, G

Second Round

13. Las Vegas Aces: Aaliyah Nye, G

14. Dallas Wings: Madison Scott, G

15. Minnesota Lynx: Anastasiia Olairi Kosu, F

16. Chicago Sky: Maddy Westbeld, F

17. Golden State Valkyries: Shyanne Sellers, G

18. Atlanta Dream: Te-Hina Paopao, G

19. Indiana Fever: Makayla Timpson, F

20. Indiana Fever: Bree Hall, G

21. Los Angeles Sparks: Sania Feagin, F

22. Chicago Sky: Aicha Coulibaly, G

23. Washington Mystics: Lucy Olsen, G

24. Minnesota Lynx: Dalayah Daniels, F

25. Connecticut Sun: Rayah Marshall, F

Third Round

26. Seattle Storm: Serena Sundell, G

27. Dallas Wings: JJ Quinerly, G

28. Los Angeles Sparks: Liatu King, F

29. Seattle Storm: Madison Conner, G

30. Golden State Valkyries: Kaitlyn Chen, G

31. Dallas Wings: Aaronette Vonleh, C

32. Washington Mystics: Zaay Green, G

33. Indiana Fever: Yvonne Ejim, F

34. Seattle Storm: Jordan Hobbs, G

35. Las Vegas Aces: Harmoni Turner, G

36. Atlanta Dream: Taylor Thierry, F

37. Minnesota Lynx: Aubrey Griffin, F

38. New York Liberty: Adja Kane, F