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The 2025 WNBA Draft is just days away, and this year’s talent pool is intriguing, featuring proven college players and high-upside international prospects. The draft landscape is clear at the top, with UConn’s Paige Bueckers projected to be selected No. 1 overall after concluding her impressive collegiate career with a national title run.
Following Bueckers, there is more uncertainty, as front offices can explore multiple avenues to fill out their rosters. Here is our 2025 WNBA Mock Draft in anticipation of the real thing on Monday night.
2025 WNBA Mock Draft: Projecting Round 1
1) Dallas Wings
Paige Bueckers, G, UConn
Bueckers is the unquestioned top prospect in the 2025 WNBA Draft, and she further solidified this during UConn’s impressive title run. She averaged 24.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists during the NCAA Tournament, flashing her elite playmaking ability.
Bueckers can take over a game at any time, as evidenced by her three 30-plus point performances during the tournament. She can score at all three levels and create offense not only for herself but also for her teammates. She possesses great size for a guard and shows tenacity on the defensive end of the floor.
Bueckers has the natural gifts to be a legitimate two-way player in the WNBA, and she gives the Dallas Wings a dynamic backcourt. Arike Ogunbowale is one of the league’s premier scorers (22.2 PPG last season). Bueckers can be the primary ball-handler, which will allow Ogunbowale to play her natural position and do what she does best.
2) Seattle Storm
Dominique Malonga, C, France
The Seattle Storm had an interesting offseason, trading away six-time All-Star Jewell Loyd and also moving on from Sami Whitcomb. However, they did re-sign Nneka Ogwumike and Gabby Williams. While the front office didn’t make any big splashes, they set themselves up to add pieces around their core, which includes Ogwumike, Williams, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and Ezi Magbegor.
Dominique Malonga is not only a building block herself, but she has the upside of a franchise player for the Storm for years to come. The MVP of the EuroCup, Malonga dominated the French league. There’s a lot to like about her game. She’s a versatile big who has eye-popping athleticism and ball-handling ability for her size. She can score in a multitude of ways, with a soft touch around the basket and an improved three-point shot.
At 6-foot-6, Malonga visibly has one of the longest wingspans the WNBA has ever seen. Her length and athleticism allow her to be a playmaker on defense as well. The 19-year-old’s two-way skill set is undeniable, and you can’t teach her physical tools. It will be interesting to see how she fares against WNBA competition, but she joins a strong group of veterans who can help her maximize her potential.
3) Washington Mystics
Sonia Citron, G, Notre Dame
The Washington Mystics enter the 2025 WNBA Draft needing to add depth and talent across the board, but most notably on the wings. Sonia Citron is as well-rounded as it gets, and she’s one of the most WNBA-ready prospects in the class. She was a consistent contributor throughout her career at Notre Dame, averaging 14.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game over four years.
Citron has no definitive weaknesses in her game. She’s a quality shooter (48.4% from the field and 37.2% from deep in 2024) and a solid passer. Citron is a true wing and can use her size against smaller guards. She also moves well without the ball in her hands. She’s one of just 219 players among the former Power 5 to play 3,000 minutes with at least a 20% usage rate and a sub-15% turnover rate, according to Sports Reference.
The Mystics ranked in the bottom half of the league in both offensive and defensive rating a season ago. Adding Citron to the mix immediately elevates this team on both ends of the floor. She plays a clean, efficient brand of basketball and doesn’t make many mistakes. She also displays a willingness to take tough assignments on the defensive end. Citron and Brittney Sykes give Washington a strong two-way backcourt.
4) Washington Mystics
Kiki Iriafen, F, USC
The Mystics must take advantage of these back-to-back picks and continue to inject this roster with talent. After addressing the backcourt, Washington could solidify their frontcourt by drafting Kiki Iriafen, who enjoyed a breakout junior season alongside Cameron Brink at Stanford before transferring to USC.
Iriafen put together a solid senior season with the Trojans, averaging 18.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. However, her efficiency numbers took a dip from the previous season. She shot 49% from the field in 2024 (54.6% in 2024) and 28.6% from behind the arc (33.3% in 2023). Where she did improve, though, was from the free-throw line, making just over 81% of her attempts.
Iriafen can be a dynamic post player when she wants to be. She’s not very physical in the paint, nor is she an explosive rim protector. Still, she has the potential to be one of the best scoring bigs in the game. She’s a good finisher at the rim and has above-average versatility for her size on the perimeter. Adding Iriafen to a group that features Shakira Austin, Aaliyah Edwards, and Stefanie Dolson forms a dynamic and promising frontcourt.
5) Golden State Valkyries
Aneesah Morrow, F, LSU
There’s not another player quite like Aneesah Morrow in this draft class. She’s an exciting offensive prospect and probably the best pure rebounder of the group, averaging 12.3 rebounds per game for her career. From an advanced perspective, she grabbed 15 rebounds per 40 minutes. She can score from any spot on the floor, and she averaged 23.8 points per game in two seasons at DePaul. While she wasn’t asked to be the primary scorer for LSU, she still scored 18.7 points per game as a senior.
Morrow possesses a rare combination of strength and quickness, which creates matchup problems given her versatility. However, at 6’1″, she’s relatively undersized for the 4 spot. She also wasn’t the most efficient shooter this past season. Despite her flaws, Morrow has the tools to be a steady contributor who brings a high motor and competitive spirit night in and night out.
The Golden State Valkyries are entering their first season as an expansion team, and they need to add talent and culture builders to their locker room. Morrow checks the box in both of those categories. Her relentlessness on the glass and spurts of being unguardable as a scorer are enticing. For a team with limited depth and talent, Morrow could become the face of the franchise from Day 1.
6) Washington Mystics
Shyanne Sellers, G, Maryland
The Mystics are on the clock yet again. In Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, Washington added talent inside and out. With the sixth pick, they select a do-it-all player in Shyanne Sellers. The Maryland product is a versatile combo guard with a proven ability to create plays for herself and her teammates.
Sellers is coming off the most efficient season of her collegiate career. She averaged 14.4 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds last season while shooting 46.2% from the field and 40.8% from deep. The improvements behind the arc are notable, as her second-best mark was 34.7% as a sophomore. Sellers is now a true three-level scoring threat. She’s also improved her free throw shooting every year (86.8% in 2024).
Sellers has an injury history, with multiple lower-body injuries, which could concern some teams. However, that didn’t hamper her when she exploded for 28 points in Maryland’s double overtime win over Alabama in the NCAA Tournament. Sellers is a big guard whose combination of size, athleticism, and passing skills could make her a solid wing contributor out of the gate.
7) Connecticut Sun
Saniya Rivers, G/F, NC State
The Connecticut Sun underwent a massive overhaul this offseason, losing all five starters from their playoff team, including All-Stars Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Brionna Jones and Most Improved Player, Dijonai Carrington. Marina Mabrey also requested a trade, but the team denied the request. This is a franchise in full rebuild mode. Why not start by adding one of the superior athletes in this year’s class?
Saniya Rivers’ calling card is defense, and she’s a stalwart on that end of the floor. She averaged 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks as a senior and had an 83.0 career defensive rating. Her elite combination of length, athleticism, and awareness should make her a highly coveted prospect. She has the size and quickness to put the clamps on opposing ball-handlers and take on the challenge of guarding the best perimeter scorer on a nightly basis.
Rivers isn’t a flawless prospect, though. She’s not an efficient scorer, shooting under 42% from the field. However, she’s a solid passer and good in transition. If she was more consistent on the offensive end, she could be a top-five pick. Her defensive prowess will allow her to make an immediate impact while she works on her offensive game. Rivers has All-Defense upside, which is a start to providing stability to a team that lost so much.
8) Connecticut Sun
Justė Jocytė, G, Lithuania
The Sun enter the draft as a team that looks nowhere near ready to compete in 2025 despite making the playoffs last season. Since they’re rebuilding, they’re in a position to bet on potential. That’s exactly what they’d be doing by drafting Justė Jocytė — one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Jocytė is 19 years old, but she’s a promising young prospect. She averaged 12.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while playing alongside Malonga in France. Jocytė brings with her robust overseas playing experience, having joined the Lithuanian national team at 13 years old. She’s a smooth ball-handler and passer who excels in the pick-and-roll. Jocytė offers rare size for her position, which allows her to see over defenses and create. She’s not much of a threat going downhill, though.
Jocytė has weaknesses in her game, most notably on the defensive end. However, Connecticut grabbed an elite defender just one pick prior. Her international experience and physical tools are enticing. She could be a draft-and-stash prospect or an immediate contributor for a depleted Sun team. Head coach Rachid Meziane is also from France and familiar with Jocytė.
9) Los Angeles Sparks
Georgia Amoore, G, Kentucky
There’s plenty of hype building around the Los Angeles Sparks heading into the 2025 season after acquiring three-time All-Star Kelsey Plum from the Aces. With a nucleus that includes Plum, Rickea Jackson, Dearica Hamby, Rae Burrell, and Brink (when healthy), the Sparks accelerated their rebuild. Los Angeles can continue to build out its roster by taking one of the most polished offensive guards in the class.
Georgia Amoore is a big-time playmaker on the offensive end. Her instincts and basketball IQ jump off the screen when watching her play. She can pick defenses apart with her ball-handling skills, and she has continued to improve as a scorer. Amoore posted a career year in her lone season at Kentucky, averaging 19.6 points and 6.9 assists per game, both career highs. She also finished with the highest offensive rating of her career (110.0).
The biggest knock on Amoore is her size. At 5’6″, she could have trouble with bigger guards, making her a liability on the defensive end. However, she plays with heart and effort, so the size disadvantage won’t deter her. Amoore’s combination of elite court vision and shooting range is among the best in the draft.
10) Chicago Sky
Hailey Van Lith, G, TCU
The 2024 season was disappointing for the Chicago Sky, who fired head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. They also moved on from Chennedy Carter, the team’s leading scorer last season. There are reasons for optimism, though. Angel Reese has been working with Lisa Leslie, and she showed flashes of being a better player during the Unrivaled season. Chicago also added veterans Courtney Vandersloot, Rebecca Allen, and Kia Nurse.
The Sky could help offset the loss of Carter by adding Hailey Van Lith, who offers a scoring punch herself. After a down year with LSU, Van Lith enjoyed a resurgence at TCU, scoring 17.9 points per game. Her performance down the stretch helped raise her draft stock, including a 26-point effort against Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament.
Van Lith made tremendous strides as a point guard this season. She’s not overly athletic, but she’s crafty with the ball in her hands. She can score off the dribble and find ways to get to the rim. Van Lith has been a liability defensively throughout her career, and those lapses are why other teams may pass on her earlier. Still, she has the toughness and intangibles you want in your locker room. Reuniting Van Lith with Reese could be fun.
11) Minnesota Lynx
Te-Hina Paopao, G, South Carolina
The Minnesota Lynx came oh-so-close to winning a championship last season. The heartbreaking Finals loss has surely motivated Cheryl Reeve’s squad to retool and run it back. Te-Hina Paopao brings a championship pedigree and a skill set that would mesh well with the talent on the Lynx roster.
Paopao was one of the best shooters in the country during her two years at South Carolina. During the Gamecocks’ 2023 championship season, she had the nation’s best three-point shooting percentage (46.8%). Minnesota led the WNBA in three-point shooting last season (38%), and she would fit right in with this unit.
Another area of Paopao’s game that improved under Dawn Staley was her defense. She excels as an off-ball defender because of her instincts, and she’s serviceable overall. Offensively, she profiles as more of a secondary ball-handler at the next level, which won’t be a problem for the Lynx, who already have Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride in the backcourt. Paopao’s versatility to play on and off the ball is a valuable asset. Led by Napheesa Collier, this team is already a contender, and Paopao makes them even stronger.
12) Dallas Wings
Ajša Sivka, F, Tarbes/Slovenia
After winning the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes, the Wings dip their toes into international waters and grab Ajša Sivka, who comes with plenty of upside. Sivka profiles as a 6’4″ combo forward who can stretch the floor. Her ability to knock down the three-ball makes her a very intriguing offensive prospect.
Don’t confuse Sivka with a one-trick pony, though. She moves well without the ball and is a gifted passer. Her size, length, and footwork offer upside as to what she could be as a defender. Sivka’s performance overseas has talent evaluators excited about her potential, as she won FIBA U18 EuroBasket MVP honors and landed a spot on the Slovenia national team at 15 years old.
With Bueckers, Ogunbowale, and Carrington, Dallas has a solid foundation on the wings (pun intended). Taking a chance on a developmental player with upside to join NaLyssa Smith, Teaira McCowan, Maddy Siegrist, and Myisha Hines-Allen in the frontcourt could be worthwhile.
