It’s hard to overstate the importance of the WNBA Draft for a league that’s seen steady growth and increasing visibility every year. After the NCAA season wrapped up — with all the buzzer-beaters, underdog runs, and bracket-busting drama fans live for — everybody shifted focus to the next big thing: the WNBA Draft and the newest wave of talent looking to make their mark. 

This draft felt like it had a little more attention than usual, and not without reason. Teams like the Atlanta Dream were clearly in the market for more shooting and help with ball-handling, while the Chicago Sky were desperate for a true point guard and overall backcourt depth. It felt like a lot of front offices came in with real urgency. With free agency shuffling a lot of rosters, fans were itching to see how front offices would fill in the gaps. 

Then there was the international presence — more non-NCAA players than usual were climbing draft boards, and plenty of people were wondering if we were seeing the start of a global talent surge in the league. 

But of course, the biggest headline heading in was Paige Bueckers. It’s not often we get a true “can’t-miss” prospect, but Bueckers had been on the radar for years. 

As the lights went up on draft night, the Dallas Wings — proud owners of the number one pick — were on the clock. It was no secret who they were taking. But that didn’t make the selection any less monumental.

A Moment We All Expected: Paige Bueckers Goes No. 1

Paige Bueckers has been in the spotlight since the first game that she suited up for UConn. So when the Dallas Wings snagged her with the top overall pick, nobody was shocked — but everyone still celebrated. After all, generational talents don’t come around every day.

When she got the call, Bueckers lit up like a kid on Christmas morning, telling reporters: 

“I’m just extremely excited to be there. I’ve only heard great things about the city. So excited to start that new chapter and be in a new city and explore that and give everything I have to the Wings organization. I know we’re going to do great things, and it’s a fresh start, and I think we’re all ready to do something special.”

The Wings Needed a Star

So, why does Bueckers fit the Wings so perfectly? For starters, they had just seven players under contract, leaving ample room for rookies to battle for playing time. More importantly, they needed a high-caliber point guard to orchestrate the offense and complement scoring machine Arike Ogunbowale. 

Bueckers, praised as a franchise playmaker and facilitator, arrives with a level of hype only Caitlyn Clark has experienced. She was the fastest UConn player to reach 2,000 points and now ranks third on the program’s all-time scoring list, trailing only Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi — which is elite company by any measure. Scouts have called her a “savant on the offensive end,” and it’s easy to see why. Her vision is elite, her shot-making uncanny, and she has a knack for reading defenses that you just can’t teach.

Pairing Bueckers with Ogunbowale gives Dallas one of the more exciting backcourts on paper—two playmakers who can both score, facilitate, and push the tempo. Head coach Chris Koclanes has always leaned into pace and space, and with this duo, he’ll have no shortage of ways to get creative. It’s not a finished product yet, but it’s a setup that gives the Wings a real shot to be a nightmare in transition.

The UConn Legacy Continues

Bueckers also continues the tradition of Huskies going first overall, following the footsteps of Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Tina Charles, Maya Moore, and Breanna Stewart — arguably the greatest pipeline in women’s hoops. She becomes the 50th UConn player drafted into the W, and this year was the 17th time the school has had multiple draftees in a single draft.

As if a typical rookie contract wasn’t big enough news, Bueckers made waves by signing a lucrative three-year deal with the 3x3 league Unrivaled on top of her WNBA contract. We’re talking more money than her WNBA rookie deal, which will be $78,831 in the first season. For a young star who loves challenges — and has the skill to back it up — the extra competition will only sharpen her game. The league’s new era just got a serious adrenaline boost.

First Round Fireworks: Picks 2 Through 12

Pick #2: Seattle Storm – Dominique Malonga (France)

Let’s talk about Dominique Malonga, a 6’6” phenom some described as a potential game changer. At just 19, Malonga’s game was already turning heads, and then she went and helped France win a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics — pretty impressive resume at such a young age. She’s the highest-drafted French player in a traditional draft and only the sixth top-two selection without NCAA experience.

Why take a chance on a player outside the usual college pipeline? Simple: Malonga’s length, agility, and skill level are off the charts. Seattle was thrilled to add a post player who moves like a guard. If she adapts well, the Storm might have the next big star in the Pacific Northwest.

Pick #3: Washington Mystics – Sonia Citron (Notre Dame)

The Mystics had three first-round selections, and they needed to make them all count. First up was Sonia Citron, a classic Notre Dame guard known for her strong defense and solid scoring punch. Notre Dame has built a reputation for producing tough, polished guards, and Citron is just the latest in that line. The Mystics hope she’ll grow into a major two-way contributor as they rebuild.

Pick #4: Washington Mystics – Kiki Iriafen (Southern California)

Back on the clock at No. 4, the Mystics doubled down with Kiki Iriafen, a forward out of USC who blossomed into a lottery pick in her upperclassman years. Together, Citron and Iriafen give Washington a young nucleus they can mold, shoring up backcourt and frontcourt in a matter of minutes.

Pick #5: Golden State Valkyries – Juste Jocyte (Lithuania)

Meet the first-ever draft pick in Golden State Valkyries history: Juste Jocyte, a 6’2” lefty guard from Lithuania with an uncanny feel for the game. She’s faced pro competition since she was 13, so the bright lights won’t faze her. The Valkyries, an expansion team with an international flair, are betting that Jocyte’s all-around skill set will help them build a winning culture from scratch.

Pick #6: Washington Mystics (via Atlanta Dream) – Georgia Amoore (Kentucky)

For their third first-round shot, the Mystics landed Georgia Amoore, an offensive dynamo with ties to Russell Westbrook — he even designed her draft-night outfit. Amoore is the highest-drafted Australian player since Liz Cambage, and she promises to inject a little competitiveness into the Mystics’ locker room. If all goes well, Citron, Iriafen, and Amoore could form a new, exciting trio in D.C.

Pick #7: Connecticut Sun – Aneesah Morrow (LSU)

Meanwhile, the Connecticut Sun went all-in on their youth movement, snagging Aneesah Morrow at 7. Standing 6’1” with a nose for the ball, Morrow is a walking double-double who never takes a play off. The Sun are retooling on the fly, and Morrow’s relentless style fits perfectly with the proud, hardworking culture in Connecticut.

Pick #8: Connecticut Sun – Saniya Rivers (NC State)

One pick later, the Sun doubled down with Saniya Rivers, an uber-versatile talent who can guard multiple positions and slash to the hoop. She’s known for her “elite defender” potential, and the Sun are hoping she and Morrow can grow into a tough, do-it-all combo that sticks together for the long haul.

Pick #9: Los Angeles Sparks – Sarah Ashlee Barker (Alabama)

The Sparks always seem to find ways to bring in star talent, and Sarah Ashlee Barker fits that bill. She had a career-best senior season, shooting 56% on two-pointers and 37.5% from beyond the arc. Her shooting touch and efficiency will serve LA well, especially if the Sparks push the tempo in transition.

Pick #10: Chicago Sky – Ajša Sivka (Slovenia)

Things got interesting when the Chicago Sky made a move with Minnesota for the No. 11 pick, all to accelerate their retooling process. But first, at No. 10, they grabbed Ajša Sivka, a 19-year-old forward with a smooth stroke and pro experience at UMMC Ekaterinburg. The Sky hope she’ll add some size and shooting in the frontcourt alongside Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.

Pick #11: Chicago Sky – Hailey Van Lith (TCU)

The very next pick also went to the Sky, who picked up Hailey Van Lith from TCU. A smaller guard but a fierce competitor, Van Lith soared up draft boards thanks to a strong NCAA Tournament run and a more polished playmaking skill set. She’ll have the chance to learn from Courtney Vandersloot — and maybe become Chicago’s floor general of the future. Reuniting with former LSU teammate Angel Reese is just the icing on the cake for Van Lith. If these two recapture their college chemistry, the Sky could quickly jump back into playoff contention.

Pick #12: Dallas Wings – Aziaha James (NC State)

Rounding out the first round, Dallas added another dynamic guard in Aziaha James, an electric playmaker and pure scorer who thrives on attacking the rim. With Bueckers, Ogunbowale, and James, the Wings suddenly have one of the flashiest perimeter rotations in the league. Whether it all gels is anyone’s guess, but the potential is sky high.

Second Round: Unearthing Diamonds in the Rough

The second round of the WNBA Draft doesn’t usually make headlines, but this year, it quietly delivered some really solid storylines and sneaky-good picks. One of the biggest storylines was the league's continued investment in three-point shooting and backcourt versatility. Aces head coach Becky Hammon had to be thrilled about landing Aaliyah Nye, a lights-out shooter who fits seamlessly into Vegas’ spacing-heavy offense. 

Just a few picks later, Shyanne Sellers' surprising fall to Golden State raised eyebrows, but it may turn out to be a blessing for the expansion Valkyries, who now have a versatile guard who can run the point or slot in on the wing. Teams like Dallas and Chicago leaned into athleticism and two-way potential with picks like Madison Scott and Maddy Westbeld, signaling a clear interest in adding adaptable, defensive-minded contributors to their benches.

This round also saw a solid mix of experienced college stars and interesting international names, including players from Russia and South Carolina’s tough defensive core. Te-Hina Paopao and Bree Hall brought shooting and toughness, while Sania Feagin’s soft touch in the mid-range gives the Sparks a different wrinkle inside. 

If there was a theme to this round, it was teams searching for glue players — those who might not be stars but who can do a little bit of everything, plug holes in rotations, and maybe crack a roster if they show out in camp. With more roster flexibility thanks to league expansion, a few of these second-rounders are going to stick — and they could end up being steals once the season tips off.

Third Round and Training Camp Hopefuls

The third round of the WNBA Draft is typically where teams dig for long-term projects or players with niche skill sets, and this year was no exception. What made it especially interesting was the mix of high-IQ guards, international wild cards, and legacy names trying to crack WNBA rosters. 

Serena Sundell, who led the nation in assists, could be a sneaky fit in Seattle’s system if she adapts to the speed. Kaitlyn Chen, a former Ivy League standout, was literally just there to support her friend Paige Bueckers before Golden State scooped her up — because why not roll the dice on a winner who knows how to lead? Las Vegas added Harmoni Turner, a confident scorer from Harvard, continuing their trend of targeting fearless, volume shooters. 

Meanwhile, Aubrey Griffin — daughter of NBA vet Adrian Griffin — landed in Minnesota as a raw but athletic forward with upside, and New York took a late flyer on Adja Kane, a long and athletic 20-year-old from France. There may not be any surefire stars in this group, but history shows third-rounders can carve out real roles, especially in a league that’s continuing to evolve. With training camps around the corner, these players are officially on the clock to prove they belong.

Winners, Losers, and Everything in Between

Winners? It’s hard not to love what the Dallas Wings did. They walked away with Paige Bueckers and Aziaha James in the first round, along with Madison Scott in the second — a haul that might propel them into the title conversation sooner than later if the chemistry clicks.

The Seattle Storm made a big swing with Dominique Malonga at No. 2, and if she lives up to the hype, they could be celebrating a future cornerstone in the Emerald City. Meanwhile, the Washington Mystics used three first-round picks — Citron, Iriafen, and Amoore — to kickstart what they hope to be a swift rebuild.

The new Golden State Valkyries might be the most fascinating team of all. Between Jocyte and Sellers, they’ve laid a promising foundation. If they can settle into the Bay Area spotlight, fans could see an entertaining brand of basketball in the Valkyries’ inaugural season.

Losers? Anytime a highly touted talent like Shyanne Sellers slips to the second round, you wonder if a few front offices might have outsmarted themselves. And you have to feel for those who went undrafted, like Sedona Prince — someone who once had a fair bit of hype to go in the first round but got passed over on draft day because of off-the-court issues.

Draft Trends That Mattered

1. International Boom: Whether it’s Malonga, Jocyte, or Sivka, this draft showcased a growing reliance on foreign leagues as legitimate pipelines to the WNBA. Expect that trend to continue if these players pan out.

2. Trades Were Crucial: The Chicago Sky’s deal with the Lynx shows the value of aggressive moves. Sometimes, a draft-day trade can fast-track a team’s rebuild.

3. Depth of Talent: With more programs investing in women’s basketball — and more global players making the jump — the talent pool keeps expanding. That’s great news for fans who crave higher-level competition and more balanced rosters.

4. College and Conference Dominance: Once again, the SEC showed why it's one of the most loaded conferences in college hoops, pumping out 10 draft picks this year. South Carolina, Alabama, Notre Dame, and UConn each had three players taken, continuing their run as go-to programs for WNBA-ready talent.

A Season of New Beginnings

With the draft in the books, it’s time for these new faces to prove they belong. Training camps will be fierce, rosters will be trimmed, and by opening night, we’ll see which prospects are ready to shine right away. 

Even for the top picks, transitioning to the pros isn’t easy — the speed, physicality, and mental grind all take a toll. But with generational talents like Paige Bueckers, international marvels like Dominique Malonga, and late-round hopefuls fighting to prove themselves, there’s no shortage of storylines.

Get ready, folks. The WNBA is about to show us all why it continues to rise — and honestly, the Class of 2025 might be even better than last year’s, which plenty of people were calling the best draft ever.