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Washington, which last won the lottery in 1999, will pick fourth. The Mystics, who need to hire a coach and GM still, had just under an 11% chance of getting the No. 1 pick.
The future of the Dallas Wings got a lot brighter as the franchise won the WNBA draft lottery on Sunday and with it the chance to draft UConn star Paige Bueckers with the No. 1 pick.
“We know what No. 1 draft picks have done to franchises and in recent years how they’ve changed the trajectory of teams,” said Wings general manager Curt Miller, who got that job nine days ago. “So super excited to earn the No. 1 pick in 2025 draft.”
Miller said he answered one text message from Wings star Arike Ogunbowale in the few minutes he had between the lottery and a Zoom call with the media.
“Can’t be happier to see her excitement,” he said. “Really exciting times, can’t wait to get off Zoom and start to connect with the players.”
Before Miller can figure out who the team will draft first, he has to hire a new coach for the franchise. He just started that process.
“The coaching search has already generated tremendous amounts of interest,” he said. “Can’t begin to tell you the interest coming from not only the WNBA but also outside the WNBA. This is only going to increase it.”
The day didn’t start out great for Miller as his flight from Los Angeles to Dallas was canceled this morning, so he had to watch the draft from a coaching friend’s office in California.
Bueckers, who is the consensus No. 1 pick, has had her career at UConn derailed by injuries. She was the first freshman to win AP Player of the Year before getting injured her sophomore season. She is healthy now and has No. 2 UConn undefeated in the early part of the season.
Dallas last had the No. 1 pick in 2021 and chose Charli Collier, who is now out of the league. That season, the Wings had the second pick in the draft before acquiring the top choice via trade. The franchise had participated in the lottery 11 times before winning it this year. The Wings had a 22.7% chance to win the lottery.
The Los Angeles Sparks, who had the highest chance at 44% to get the top choice, will pick second. The Sparks chose second last year also as well as fourth in the draft.
“We’re happy to have the second pick in next year’s… Read More
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