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The WNBA Draft is the biggest non-basketball event on the league calendar, and the day is finally here.
With all the details set and mock drafts completed, let’s make some final predictions on what else will happen during the league’s big day.
Wheeling and dealing
Trades happen before the draft, and we got one on Sunday, just a little over 24 hours before picks start coming in.
The Chicago Sky have acquired the No. 11 pick from the Minnesota Lynx. Chicago now has the No. 10 and No. 11 picks in this draft, and Minnesota has the Sky’s 2026 first-round draft selection.
WNBA TRADE:
The Chicago Sky acquired the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. In exchange, Chicago and Minnesota agreed to end the Lynx’s right to swap the team’s 2026 first-round draft pick.
Minnesota will hold the Sky’s 2026 draft pick without having to swap their own.
— Meghan L. Hall (@ItsMeghanLHall) April 13, 2025
Chicago already had sent out the No. 3 overall pick to the Washington Mystics for Ariel Atkins. We also had the Los Angeles Sparks trading away the No. 2 pick to the Seattle Storm early during free agency as part of their deal for Kelsey Plum; that deal also resulted in the Sparks getting the No. 9 pick from the Storm. The Connecticut Sun acquired first-round picks from the New York Liberty and Indiana Fever as they underwent an active offseason. Trades prior to the 2025 offseason also saw first-round picks change hands. But I think more madness is on the way.
I believe with the trade by Minnesota to Chicago; there are now 3 teams who have their original pick in first round of WNBA draft. that’s tied for the least ever which was done a few times. #Tradesgoodforbusiness
— Doug Feinberg (@DougFeinberg) April 13, 2025
Will another team trade out of this draft and aim for the 2026 class? What are the Sky looking to do with these two picks? Could an organization jump ahead to gain their favored player? I think we’ll see some more action during the draft that will shake up the selections.
Who is going to be there?
With this event being as big as it is, there will be a lot of celebrity sightings and memorable moments. Remember when Larry Bird gave a surprise message to Katie Lou Samuelson? That was a cool moment, and who knows what basketball legends will have similar moments with these new WNBA stars.
There also will be many incredible outfits. The impromptu fashion show that takes place at the WNBA Draft every year on the Orange Carpet is a sight to see. Last year, Caitlin Clark impressed in an all-Prada outfit, and the rest of the lottery picks brought the heat as well.
None of this is about basketball, but this day is also the biggest moment of each player’s basketball career. They have achieved a dream and officially made the WNBA. It’s great that they can soak in that accomplishment and dress to impress in photos they’ll be looking back at for years to come.
The Holly Rowe Show
Our master of ceremonies, Holly Rowe, always brings it for the WNBA Draft. We’ll get jokes, puns, virality, and maybe even a little bit of cringe. Whenever she’s walking around and looking for someone to talk to, I’m holding my breath and wondering what is going to happen next.
After the dust settles, we’ll likely have Paige Bueckers as a Dallas Wing, some surprise moves and the unofficial start of the 2025 WNBA season. Following post-draft interviews, training camp will open in a couple of weeks.
So, let’s buckle up for a hectic draft and then begin the 29th season of WNBA basketball!
