2025 WNBA Mock Draft 1.0 » Winsidr

The 2024 WNBA season has ended and congratulations to the New York Liberty for winning their first championship in team history. I’m looking forward to the 2025 WNBA season and excitement is building around the draft. The upcoming draft will be the last one with players benefiting from extended COVID-19 eligibility, and it promises to feature an exceptional group of talented players. Will the top picks reshape their franchises and turn the league on its head? 

As it stands, there are an unusual amount of unknowns across the league. Head coaching and front office vacancies remain, leaving much uncertainty around the league’s direction for this draft. Buckle up, because we’re diving into a mock draft that promises to be as unpredictable as a last-second buzzer-beater!

The fine print is succinct. Rather than emphasizing which player is better than another, I focus on identifying players who are the best fit for the drafting team. To wit, number two isn’t necessarily better than three, but rather a better fit for the team. Enjoy!

Note: While there would normally be 13 first-round selections with the addition of the Golden State franchise, the league rescinded the Las Vegas Aces’ first-round selection in the 2025 draft.

1. Dallas Wings — Paige Bueckers, Guard, Connecticut

WNBA Team Needs: Shot Creation, Perimeter Shooting, Backcourt Defense, Ball Handler/FacilitatorPlayer’s Best Fit: Any of the lottery teams

Bueckers is the top prospect in this draft and will make an immediate impact not just on the lottery teams but across the entire league. She can score from anywhere on the floor and is as instinctive and crafty a facilitator as anyone not named Caitlin Clark. 

Bueckers has exceptional court vision and can create spacing with her deep shooting, though occasionally it can be inconsistent. She excels in the pick-and-roll, combining an impressive pull-up shot with dynamic driving and finishing at the rim. Bueckers is a cornerstone player, the type of player you select 1:1 and don’t bat an eye. Her ability to play in the pick-and-roll with Satou Sabally and the other Wings bigs will be a sight to behold. Dallas has been searching for their permanent point guard for what seems like decades. Pairing Bueckers with Arike Ogunbowale will be magic. Ogunbowale finally has the facilitator she’s been missing, and the ability for Bueckers to score too means the backcourt for the Wings will finally stop being its Achilles heel. 

2. Los Angeles Sparks — Kiki Iriafen, Forward, USC

WNBA Team Needs: Shot Creation, Backcourt Defense, Ball Handler/Facilitator, Wing DepthPlayer’s Best Fit: Dallas, Minnesota, Seattle, Los Angeles

It doesn’t do the Sparks any good to be poor in 2025. They traded their 2026 draft pick to the Seattle Storm in the Kia Nurse deal, so their goal for this draft, no matter where they’re selecting, will be getting a player who can make an immediate impact.

That immediate impact is Iriafen. Over the next two seasons, much of the Sparks’ front court could be moving on, giving the team time to work Iriafen into their system. She won’t need much though. Pairing Iriafen with her former college teammate in Cameron Brink would create, well, sparks, from day one. Despite her limited shot range, Iriafen’s floor is higher than most. She has such a crafty ability to find buckets in different ways. She can beat you off the dribble and her midrange game has gotten better each season. If she can expand her shooting prowess at USC and polish her rim package, she can be the next explosive Sparks piece alongside Rickea Jackson, Dearica Hamby, and Brink. 

3. Chicago Sky — Olivia Miles, Guard, Notre Dame

WNBA Team Needs: Backcourt, Shot Creation, Defense, Ball Handler/FacilitatorPlayer’s Best Fit: Chicago, Washington, Dallas, Los Angeles

Chicago has its frontcourt set for the near future, so they’ll focus on the backcourt. A true facilitator needs to be at the fulcrum of this offense to unleash its efficiency, but a player of Miles’ profile, even if not a true facilitator yet, cannot be passed up.

While more of a combo guard, Miles can handle the assist-machine task just fine. Despite her injury history, her ability to pass, score, and play alongside other big players in Notre Dame’s system means she should be able to step into a similar role in the WNBA. Miles has a big motor and embodies the high-risk, high-reward playing style that energizes a team. Playing alongside Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso should open plenty of room for Miles to operate. In time, she should form into equal parts facilitator and scorer. This is, of course, assuming her health can withstand the college season and carry over to her professional career. Either way, operating in newly named head coach Tyler Marsh’s system should pay dividends quickly.

4. Washington Mystics — Sonia Citron, Guard, Notre Dame

WNBA Team Needs: Ball Handler/Facilitator, Depth, Wings, LeadershipPlayer’s Best Fit: Dallas, Phoenix, Indiana, Washington

I’m going back-to-back Fighting Irish here. Washington has had a Natasha Cloud-sized gap that they genuinely tried to address last season. While inconsistent, it wasn’t a total mess. Still, for this team to grow together, they will need a floor general to run the new-look offense from a yet-to-be-identified coach, getting their teammates into actions that allow for more fluid offensive production. Hopefully, the next coach will have the offensive creativity to maximize Citron’s potential.

Washington could use some energy and depth to invigorate the squad. Look to Citron to provide some of that, a player who carried the Irish on her back for stretches when Miles went down with her injury. Citron is one of college’s premier lane penetrators, which, and apologies to her defenders, has made her one of the best rim finishers amongst guards. 

Citron can provide the spacing and dynamic offensive energy that this team needs. For all its talent, the Mystics too often looked flat and unimaginative on offense last season. Citron’s unyielding motor and competitive spirit will fit well in the capital, offering the spark for this team.

5. Golden State Valkyries — Aneesah Morrow, Forward, LSU

WNBA Team Needs: Whatever they don’t get from the expansion draftPlayer’s Best Fit: New York, Minnesota, Las Vegas, Phoenix

Interestingly, so many lottery teams in 2024 need backcourt play while the playoff teams need more size. Since Golden State didn’t exist in 2024, they will need both. They need able-bodied players to fill out the inaugural roster, and whatever they don’t scrape up from its 12 other competitors in the expansion draft will need to be filled here and in free agency. While I don’t put too much stock into first-ever draft picks for new franchises, the Valkyries will want to establish the proverbial culture and identity with their first-ever pick.

Morrow has been a problem for college basketball since she arrived at DePaul. A relentless rebounding, punishing post player, Morrow still has room to grow in filling out her frame. I want to see more gravitas and body control, as she can find herself in foul trouble too frequently. Nevertheless, Morrow will add size and tenacity to a team that may need help identifying the difference-making big in the expansion draft. Morrow is also the high-character player you need to start a franchise; an old-school, back-to-the-basket player who doesn’t quit. If her three-point game ever develops, she can be the league’s next Jonquel Jones. 

6. Washington Mystics (from DAL via ATL) — Serena Sundell, Guard, KSU

WNBA Team Needs: Ball Handler/Facilitator, Depth, Wings, LeadershipPlayer’s Best Fit: New York, Minnesota, Las Vegas, Phoenix

Even if the Mystics take Miles with their first pick, I still love the Sundell fit. Sundell is a brilliant and confident basketball player much of the country doesn’t know about yet. Of the scoring point guards last season, Sundell was 11th in RAPM, a plus/minus metric against the league average. She was fourth in effective field goal percentage (eFG%), 15th in three-point percentage (3PT%), eighth in two-point percentage in the midrange, and sixth in at-the-rim percentage. Sundell can legitimately score efficiently at all three levels. Don’t forget she was only 30th in usage at her position, and on a team with Ayoka Lee and Jaelyn Glenn, she’s still putting up top-notch numbers, a testament to her skilled game. 

Sundell is also a fantastic facilitator, ranking in the 99th percentile in assists per game (APG) each of her collegiate seasons, per Her Hoop Stats. If Citron is drafted to orchestrate, Sundell can play the opposite style, allowing her to create many opportunities to facilitate. Citron’s ability to drive and open up space will give Sundell, Ariel Atkins, Karlie Samuelson, and Stefanie Dolson plenty of room to spread the floor. Sundell is the pick here to solidify the backcourt for the Mystics for years to come.

7. New York Liberty (via swap with PHX) — Dominique Malonga, Center, France

WNBA Team Needs: Backcourt Depth, Size, Draft-and-Stash PlayersPlayer’s Best Fit: New York, Connecticut, Washington, Atlanta

Sign the big-name free agents to play in your big-name city. Sign the athletic and lengthy defenders to wreak havoc. Draft the international gems, wait for them to blossom, and win championships. The formula for the Liberty to win their first championship was clear. After several heartbreaking efforts over the years, the Liberty utilized their defensive cohesiveness, tenacity, and size to raise the banner in the rafters. With seven players under contract for the 2025 season, the team is faring better than most recent champions not named the Aces. 

As a result, their needs won’t be too high—keep the size that made them champs, likely core Breanna Stewart, rinse and repeat. I believe they’ll find whatever they’re searching for in the backcourt in free agency, so a potential draft-and-stash type player might serve them as they look to extend their widest-open championship window in their history. 

Malonga is an imposing (6’6”), untamed and forceful player, using explosiveness and excellent hands to work on both ends of the floor. She can guard multiple positions in different offensive sets, using her length and agility to disrupt actions. As noted, like many players of her caliber, she is still inexperienced and could benefit from more time overseas, especially at just 19 years old. A team like New York, with the track record and current roster talent to be patient, should snatch Malonga.

8. Indiana Fever — Ajša Sivka, Forward, Slovenia

WNBA Team Needs: Spacers and Movers around Clark, Bench ConsistencyPlayer’s Best Fit: Indiana, Washington, Seattle, Dallas

I think the team will probably trade NaLyssa Smith because her fit has been problematic since Aliyah Boston arrived. While it is understandable for new head coach Stephanie White to want to assess the situation before making significant changes, I think everyone knows Smith’s strengths and weaknesses, and bringing in new talent at the forward position could benefit all parties involved. 

Sivka is a 6’4” forward who can play the three or four in the W. She’s averaging 15.9 points per game (PPG) and 9.3 rebounds per game (RPG) through seven games of FIBA play. Those rank her sixth and fourth overall. Sivka can do a bit of everything on the court, providing the type of efficient production Caitlin Clark needs beside her to be most effective. Her three-point volume isn’t excessive, but she’s shot nearly 47 percent from deep on the season. A player that size who can rebound and shoot from deep is near the top of every coach’s wishlist. With her penchant for steals and contributing the occasional assist, Sivka can round into form and be a formidable tertiary scorer for the Fever.

9. Seattle Storm — Georgia Amoore, Guard, Kentucky

See Also

WNBA Team Needs: Facilitator, 3-and D Wing, FrontcourtPlayer’s Best Fit: Indiana, Washington, Seattle, Dallas

If Amoore has the outstanding curtain call of a college career many predict, she may be the exact type of player the Valkyries would want to begin their franchise. If not, and she falls to the Storm, it would be a terrific pickup.

Amoore is one of the more experienced players in college basketball. Coming into the 2024-2025 season, she has played in 136 games, including 10 NCAA Tournament games, and in all but two of those she has started, peer Her Hoop Stats. She’s the proverbial sparker, the type of pick-and-roll tzar most teams with a talented big crave. She isn’t afraid to fire from deep, averaging over seven attempts per game for her career. Despite not having the highest efficiency from deep, Amoore is a microwave shooter that opponents should not leave open. To her credit, her facilitating skills are only beginning to develop, too. 

Especially with Nika Mühl out for the 2025 season with an ACL injury, the Storm require backcourt depth. They could also benefit from a player who can score and serve as a floor general to manage the offense, allowing Skylar Diggins-Smith to play more freely off-ball, which could further unleash her diverse skill set and create additional opportunities. Amoore can either start alongside her or more likely back her up, and her knowledge and court vision will make her a matchup nightmare once she acclimates to the professional level. 

10. Chicago Sky (via CON) — Te-Hina Paopao, Guard, South Carolina

WNBA Team Needs: Backcourt, Shot Creation, Defense, Ball Handler/FacilitatorPlayer’s Best Fit: Indiana, Washington, Connecticut, Los Angeles

Paopao is an explosive and highly athletic guard whose 5’9” frame plays much more like a fullback than her petite stature might forecast. She’s a deadly deep threat, but can really attack you in any offense scheme. Her midrange needs some improvement, but there’s no question Paopao’s offensive ceiling is far from reached. Of the scoring point guards in college last season, Paopao was third in RAPM and eFG% and second in three-point percentage.

We should expect Marsh’s system to be somewhat modeled after what he helped build in Las Vegas. This means the importance of effective two-guard play. If they acquire Miles, pairing her with the spacer shooter Paopao still makes sense, even with Chennedy Carter returning next season. 

I would imagine the Sky would want to bring in as many talented backcourt weapons as they can, especially instinctive drivers and crafty finishers like Paopao. This would open space for their frontcourt duo and provide even more spacing for Paopao to hit her threes in rhythm when they feed their bigs. Chicago can confidently establish their young core with these two picks, and Paopao could be the engine that drives what this Sky team wants to become in short order. 

11. Minnesota Lynx — Ayoka Lee, Center, KSU

WNBA Team Needs: Depth, especially in the backcourt, Wings, BenchPlayer’s Best Fit: Minnesota, Atlanta, Phoenix, Connecticut 

The best true center in college basketball and this draft, Lee’s prospect star hasn’t dimmed despite her injury history. Lee put up some terrific numbers last season, proving that her ACL injury is behind her. Among the true centers in the league last season, she was second in RAPM, fifth in eFG% and overall two-point shooting percentage, had the lowest turnover percentage, and the second-best at-the-rim shooting percentage. Lee has one of the more extensive rim packages in the league, using her agile feet, experience, and dominant size to finish any way she wishes at the rim. At 6’6”, she is also a lockdown defender, with an above-average midrange game for a player of her type.

Minnesota may not need her, but her skills will assuredly be useful in head coach Cheryl Reeve’s system. Preventing Napheesa Collier from banging in the paint and letting her shoot from deeper out can keep her healthier. Allowing Lee to absorb more attention with more post-touches will open more shots for their shooters. She likely isn’t a starter right away, but her presence on both ends of the floor will quickly move her up the depth charts. For the runner-up Lynx, bringing in more size and a physical presence in the paint could provide the added depth the team will need for the postseason.

12. Phoenix Mercury (via swap with NYL) — Azzi Fudd, Guard, Connecticut

WNBA Team Needs: Offensive Igniter, Depth, SizePlayer’s Best Fit: Dallas, Phoenix, Indiana, Washington

Although Phoenix will fall five spots in the draft, they still have the opportunity to land a player who can make an immediate impact. Given that they owe their 2026 first-round pick to the Sky from the Kahleah Copper trade, making a strong selection is crucial, providing them with every incentive to excel in 2025. Furthermore, by the time of the draft, the Mercury will gain clarity on Diana Taurasi’s potential retirement and Brittney Griner’s return, making their decisions pivotal for the team’s future.

A player of Fudd’s ilk can instantly electrify this fanbase that will need a weighted blanket if DT does retire. Her midrange game is on point, and she is capable of pull-ups and off-the-catch jumpers that could make her a Courtney Williams-type midrange warrior. Her three-point shooting has dropped each year of her career, and there’s no telling how much of that has to do with her injury history. She must show she can stay healthy for a full season, but Fudd’s dynamic play fills needs for Nate Tibbetts’ system.

All stats through 11/13. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of collegiate team websites, ESPN.com, and WNBA.com.