'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
As per usual, we’ll run a Tankathon simulation to determine the lottery order. The Golden State Valkyries will pick fifth in the upcoming draft, sandwiched in between the lottery and the rest of the draft.
1. Dallas Wings - Paige Bueckers, G, UConn
Bueckers is the prize of the 2025 draft, reinforced by her recent scrimmage dominance. She’s a true title-winning primary initiator prospect, the most valuable commodity in modern basketball. Bueckers has the scoring, passing, and defensive chops to lead an elite offense and wreck shop on defense.
Her passing is particularly special, operating pick and rolls with the pace and timing of a veteran guard. Bueckers accesses high-level passes with her pinpoint precision, elite vision and anticipation as a playmaker. That passing flare paired with her high-level shooting and driving should let Bueckers thrive immediately at the pro level.
Trending
After the Wings’ first sub-10 win season since 2020, Dallas will hope to land a franchise-altering talent in the draft. Pairing Bueckers with a hopefully healthy Satou Sabally and Arike Ogunbowale could help the Wings begin forming a championship core.
2. Los Angeles Sparks - Kiki Iriafen, F, USC
Los Angeles’s 2024 draft class looks to be a foundational one. Cam Brink and Rickea Jackson both look like potential future stars, even considering Brink’s injury. Iriafen’s elite scoring creation could help supercharge this core.
Iriafen’s versatile post-scoring skillset will help her stand out in the pros. The 6’3 big wins with her excellent touch, crafty footwork and athletic tools when needed. When defenders sink in to punish Iriafen’s scoring, she’ll spray passes out to the perimeter to shooters, which Jackson will benefit from.
The Sparks will hire a new head coach to help direct the franchise toward a winning path. With Kiki Iriafen in the mix, that job shouldn’t be too difficult as LA’s young stars keep developing.
3. Chicago Sky - Sonia Citron, G, Notre Dame
The Sky were the WNBA’s worst three-point shooting team last season, attempting a paltry 14.9 threes per game and converting 32.3%. Citron, a career 37% three-point shooter on 3.6 attempts per game, will help remedy these issues in Chicago. Citron is best used as an off-ball scorer, moving without the ball, cutting and scoring without commanding possessions.
That makes her an ideal fit next to Chennedy Carter, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. She’s a solid perimeter defender, plugging gaps as a team defender and moving her feet If the Sky hope to contend in the near future, they must add spacing and three-point volume. Adding Citron’s versatile shooting package from deep and mid-range would be an encouraging first step
4. Washington Mystics - Olivia Miles, G, Notre Dame
As the WNBA continues to evolve, guard-sized initiators will continue to enter the league. Miles, who missed her previous season, boasts all of the traits requisite of a primary initiator: advantage generation, creative playmaking, and solid size at 5’10.
For her career, Miles shoots under 25% from deep. That will likely have to improve for defenses to pressure her from the exterior. If Miles can improve as a shooter, she has the advantage creation and passing feel to develop into a star guard at the pro level. Even if Miles can’t reach those heights, she should settle as a solid rotation guard.
5. Golden State Valkyries - Dominique Malonga, C, ASVEL
For a team starting from literal scratch, the Valkyries should seek the highest-ceiling prospect on the board. Enter Dominique Malonga, a 6’6 18-year-old big with eye-popping physical tools. She dunked in a recent game, though most of her athletic dominance comes on the defensive end at this stage of her career. She’s an excellent rim protector with the chance to develop into a modern, versatile center.
Malonga’s offense must improve, as her efficiency and skill level are low like most 18-year-olds playing in pro leagues. The Valkyries may not be able to rely on Malonga in the near future, but a franchise starting from the ground should shoot for the moon. If they’re patient, the Valkyries could find Malonga starring for many years to come.
6. Washington Mystics (via ATL) - Shyanne Sellers, F, Maryland
Sellers, a smooth-scoring wing with an improving playmaking toolkit, will add another talented and versatile piece for the Mystics. She’s one of the draft’s most potent isolation scorers, creating shots in the mid-range where she thrives and countering with drives.
At the WNBA level, Sellers must continue improving her outside and shooting and consistency on both ends, especially on defense. But creators like Sellers are worth betting on given her potential to score efficiently and playmaker for others on offense, fitting with Washington’s other talent.
7. New York Liberty (via PHX) - Azzi Fudd, G, UConn
The defending champion Liberty will work to maintain and build on this elite core going forward. That’s a challenge for any title winner, and adding another floor-spacing handler in Azzi Fudd should help build depth. Fudd’s three-point shooting and experience operating off-ball next to other stars will help her slot into the Liberty offense.
As the roster evolves over the next few years, Fudd will have a shot to evolve her own role. It’s easy to imagine her contributing as a three-point shooting role player early in her career with the potential to take on more offensive responsibility as she develops.
8. Indiana Fever - Aneesah Morrow, F, LSU
Indiana's size limitations hamstrung them in the playoffs against a large, swarming Connecticut Sun defense. The 6’1 Morrow will help alleviate the Fever’s lack of wing depth, especially on the defensive end. Morrow's lateral movement lets her mirror and move on ball, creating turnovers with her active hands.
Improving her three-point shot will help Morrow thrive as an offensive play-finisher next to Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston. Clark’s passing and Boston’s screening should let Morrow’s interior touch and mid-range scoring thrive without primary defensive attention. A two-way wing role player like Morrow will help glue Indiana’s stars together.
9. Seattle Storm - Rori Harmon, PG, Texas
Some potential roster turnover in the guard room could make a guard make sense for the Storm in the first round. Rori Harmon is an electric player, driving with elite burst and playmaking at a special volume (50.8% assist rate!). Despite her three-point shooting limitations, Harmon’s offense is worth betting on.
Her defensive prowess will make an elite Seattle defense even stronger, adding her turnover generation, quickness and activity to a team with high-end defensive bigs. Harmon’s athletic tools, feel for the game and defensive end all coalesce into an intriguing WNBA prospect.
10. Chicago Sky (via CON) - Georgia Amoore, G, Kentucky
In the lottery, the Sky drafted a dynamic shooter in Sonia Citron. Chicago continues to stack dynamic perimeter offensive talent in the form of Amoore. The 5’6 guard has been one of college basketball’s highest usage engines, reaching a 30 usage rate and near 40 assist rate last season.
When Amoore reaches the league, she won’t have to command enormous usage and draw primary defensive attention. Her future as a complementary offensive piece next to Citron and the rest of Chicago’s pieces could be bright. Her shotmaking, driving and playmaking skillset should help her succeed in the WNBA>
11. Minnesota Lynx - Janiah Barker, F, UCLA
Barker would add to the Lynx’s frontcourt depth, which teams exploited at times in the playoffs this past season. Her interior defense would be especially useful, her shot-blocking and events-creating prowess helping complement Napheesa Collier and Alanna Smith off of the bench.
Minnesota can afford patience while Barker improves her consistency, especially on the offensive end. Her two-way upside and shooting upside at 6’4 make her a worthy flier for the Lynx late in the first round,
12. Phoenix Mercury (via NY) - Te-Hina Paopao, G, South Carolina
The Mercury trotted out a bottom four last season, contributing to their playoff struggles against the Lynx. Paopao has proven herself a sturdy role player for a dominant South Carolina team, defending the ball and providing sound help.
Her three-point improvement, paired with already solid passing, will help Paopao stick in the league. She’s capable of playing her role and contributing without demanding touches, a key skill for any non-star guard at the professional level.
2025 WNBA Mock Draft: Final first-round results
