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NEW YORK — There’s no doubt who’s going first in the WNBA draft next Monday when the Dallas Wings go on the clock with Paige Bueckers the consensus top pick.
After that it gets interesting with Olivia Miles’ decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal instead of the draft.
The Washington Mystics, with a new coach and general manager, control the direction of the draft with the third, fourth and sixth pick.
Five teams don’t have picks in the opening round as New York, Indiana, Phoenix and Atlanta all traded away their picks. Las Vegas forfeited its pick following an investigation by the league in 2023 that found the franchise violated league rules regarding impermissible player benefits and workplace policies.
Here’s a look at how the first round could look on April 14:
A generational player who averaged 20.0 points and shot 42.4% from behind the 3-point line this season. Bueckers is one of the most efficient players in college basketball and will pair with Arike Ogunbowale in the Wings’ backcourt.
Related:Paige Bueckers is poised to be next face of women’s basketball. And it might be in Dallas
2. Seattle Storm: Dominique Malonga, France
The 6-foot-6 center played for the French Olympic team last year and has a bright future in the WNBA. She averaged 15.0 points and 10.3 rebounds so far this season while playing for Lyon. While Seattle has a solid frontcourt with Ezi Magbegor and Nneka Ogwumike, it’s hard to pass up on this talented 19-year-old.
3. Washington Mystics: Sonia Citron, Notre Dame
She averaged 14.3 points and 5.8 rebounds during her career at Notre Dame and also improved her defense to become one of the top defenders on the team. She would be the first of three first-round picks for a rebuilding Washington team and is in need of a solid wing. Citron has shot over 90% from the free throw line the past two seasons, one of the best percentages in the country.
4. Washington Mystics: Kiki Iriafen, USC
Was a star at Stanford before heading to USC for her last season. She’s risen her game since JuJu Watkins went down with an ACL tear and helped get the team to the Elite Eight. She averaged 18.2 points and 8.3 rebounds this season and will be another nice addition to a rebuilding Mystics team.
5. Golden State Valkyries: Aneesah Morrow, LSU
Morrow led the nation in double-doubles, averaging 18.7 points and 13.5 rebounds a game. She is second all-time in that category, behind only Oklahoma great Courtney Paris, having more than 100 in her career at LSU and DePaul.
The 6-foot-1 Morrow has a toughness and nose for the basketball.
6. Washington Mystics: Shyanne Sellers, Maryland
The Mystics will have had a lot of chances to see Sellers play in college with the Terrapins right up the road. She has size at 6-foot-2, but also plays the guard and wing spot. Her versatility makes her an attractive pick for the Mystics. She was the first player in Maryland history to have 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists in her career.
7. Connecticut Sun: Juste Jocyte, Lithuania
Jocyte showcased her scoring skills with a 22-point effort against Belgium in the EuroBasket qualifiers. She’s a versatile player who can play any of the guard positions and is really effective on the pick and roll. Has a toughness about her and is fundamentally sound. Sun coach Rachid Meziane, who has spent time coaching in the French league, is well aware of her talents.
8. Connecticut Sun: Sania Feagin, South Carolina
Dawn Staley has produced a plethora of talented post players over the last few years, from A’ja Wilson to Aliyah Boston to Kamilla Cardoso. The South Carolina coach believes Feagin could be the next one to have an impact in the WNBA, predicting over the weekend that she’ll be a lottery pick. At 6-3, Feagin has size and shoots over 60% from the field.
9. Los Angeles Sparks: Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame
Westbeld missed the first half of this season while recovering from a foot injury, and with Miles and Hannah Hidalgo getting the majority of the shots, it was difficult for the 6-3 forward to get back to the numbers she put up the year before. Westbeld averaged 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 2023-24.
The Sky could pair Amoore with veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot to help the Australian learn the pro game. She averaged 19.6 points and 6.9 assists for Kentucky this season after transferring from Virginia Tech to play for Kenny Brooks, her former Hokies coach before he took the job in Lexington.
Van Lith became the first player to play on three different teams in the Elite Eight after seeing her college career revitalized at TCU. She averaged 17.7 points and 5.5 assists to help the Horned Frogs reach the Elite Eight for the first time in school history. She also has some pro experience helping the U.S. win a bronze medal in 3-on-3 at last year’s Paris Olympics.
12. Dallas Wings: Ajsa Sivka, Slovenia
Sivka is a multi-level scoring forward with efficient shot-making ability. She made over 42% from the 3-point line. At 6-4, she is a difficult matchup to defend.
Other players to watch out for who could be taken in the first round or early in the second include: Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina; Sedona Prince, TCU; JJ Quinerly, West Virginia; Sania Rivers, N.C. State; and Makayla Timpson, Florida State.
Find more WNBA coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
