Bueckers Goes No. 1, Malonga No. 2

There might not have been a surprised face in the room, but there was no shortage of excitement when Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced Paige Bueckers as the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings.

The announcement came on the heels of Bueckers winning the NCAA tournament less than two weeks ago, making her the first player since Breanna Stewart in 2016 to be drafted No. 1 and win the national championship in the same year. She joins a select group of only six to do so in WNBA history, all from only two schools: Connecticut and Tennessee.

Although there were no doubts that Bueckers would land the first overall spot in the draft, concerns had been raised regarding the Wings being able to keep their lottery pick, since the only Texan franchise in the league has navigated rough waters both on and off the court in recent seasons.

Missteps and disappointments such as having to pull their Rebel-edition jersey from the stores due to its homage to a military program that excluded Black women, to not making the playoffs in 2024 after being a semifinalist in 2023, fueled speculations about Dallas not being appealing enough for someone with such stardom.

Potential trades and scenarios were considered as alternatives by media and fans, but for newly appointed general manager Curt Miller, that was never on the table.

“No, we were never going to trade the pick,” Miller stated during the post-draft media availability. “We knew we had a special opportunity, and very early on, it was Paige, and Paige only. And she’s such a special player. So, very fortunate. Takes us all the way back to that draft lottery where we knew we had an incredible opportunity.”

The Seattle Storm, which held the No. 2 overall pick, was one of the main teams brought up in trade scenarios as some deemed the four-time WNBA champion a more desirable destination for players like Bueckers. Despite a rocky start to the offseason that saw franchise player Jewell Loyd request a trade following harassment and bullying allegations against the coaching staff, recent investments raised the team’s stock.

Seattle has its own brand-new practice facility and hosts games in the recently renovated Climate Pledge Arena, with capacity for 18,300 fans—over 10,000 more than that of Dallas’ home court, College Park Center, in Arlington, Texas. With a maximum capacity of 7,000, the Wings held the second-lowest attendance in the WNBA in 2024, according to Across the Timeline.

With its lottery pick, the Storm selected 19-year-old French prodigy Dominique Malonga at No. 2. The 6-foot-6 center became the favorite for the second overall selection after the now TCU guard Olivia Miles opted to stay in college and enter the transfer portal rather than declaring for the draft. Although not fulfilling an immediate need in Seattle, Malonga is considered the type of talent that a team can’t pass on.

“She’s a unicorn. She is one of one, in my opinion. Her ability to do multiple things on a basketball court, guard multiple positions, whether it is the five, whether it’s the four, I think her versatility lends to a successful career in our league,” head coach Noelle Quinn said. “The thing that is very intriguing about her is just the way that she’s grown rapidly over the last few years. And so, if you think about her ability to go inside-out, stretch her game, but also her defensive prowess—you know, there’s some versatility to her game that won’t have me say she is this or that. She is 100% an amazing athlete.”

Malonga’s professional experience internationally at such a young age gives her an edge over collegiate athletes, who have mostly faced only players untested at the highest level. In addition to representing France in the Olympics, she geared up for LDLC ASVEL Feminin in the EuroCup 2024-25, finishing with a double-double average of 18.5 points and 11 rebounds per game. Those numbers beat those of Dana Evans, of the Chicago Sky, and Temi Fagbenle, of the Indiana Fever.

Deemed by San Antonio Spurs and French legend Tony Parker “the female Victor Wembanyama,” Malonga now has the chance to follow in the footsteps of her fellow countryman and expand Europe’s surge in American professional basketball to the women’s league.

The No. 1 and No. 2 pick in the WNBA draft will face each other on May 19, when Seattle travels to Dallas for their first meeting of the season.

Complete 2025 WNBA Draft Board

First Round

Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers, Connecticut
Seattle Storm: Dominique Malonga, France
Washington Mystics: Sonia Citron, Notre Dame
Washington Mystics: Kiki Iriafen, USC
Golden State Valkyries: Juste Jocyte, Lithuania
Washington Mystics: Georgia Amoore, Lentucky
Connecticut Sun: Aneesah Morrow, LSU
Connecticut Sun: Saniya Rivers, NC State
Los Angeles Sparks: Sarah Ashlee Barker, Alabama
Chicago Sky: Ajsa Sivka, Slovenia
Chicago Sky: Hailey Van Lith, TCU
Dallas Wings: Aziaha James, NC State

Second Round

Las Vegas Aces: Aaliyah Nye, Alabama
Dallas Wings: Madison Scott, Ole Miss
Minnesota Lynx: Anastasiia Kosu, Russia
Chicago Sky: Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame
Golden State Valkyries: Shyanne Sellers, Maryland
Atlanta Dream: Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina
Indiana Fever: Makayla Timpson, Florida State
Indiana Fever: Bree Hall, South Carolina
Los Angeles Sparks: Sania Feagin, South Carolina
Chicago Sky: Aicha Coulibaly, Texas A&M
Washington Mystics: Lucy Olsen, Iowa
Minnesota Lynx: Dalayah Daniels, Washington
Connecticut Sun: Rayah Marshall, USC

Third round

Seattle Storm: Serena Sundell, Kansas State
Dallas Wings: JJ Quinerly, West Virginia
Los Angeles Sparks: Liatu King, Notre Dame
Seattle Storm: Madison Conner, TCU
Golden State Valkyries: Kaitlyn Chen, Connecticut
Dallas Wings: Aaronette Vonleh, Baylor
Washington Mystics: Zaay Green, Alabama
Indiana Fever: Yvonne Ejim, Gonzaga
Seattle Storm: Jordan Hobbs, Michigan
Las Vegas Aces: Harmoni Turner, Harvard
Atlanta Dream: Taylor Thierry, Ohio State
Minnesota Lynx: Aubrey Griffin, Connecticut
New York Liberty: Adja Kane, France