Advertisement

WNBA Draft Lottery: Dallas Wings get No. 1 pick, right to draft Paige Bueckers

cassandra negley
Women's basketball reporter
·5 min read
102

The Dallas Wings on Sunday won the No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft and with that the right to select Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers, an early contender again to win the Naismith and Wooden Player of the Year awards.

The Los Angeles Sparks surprisingly got the No. 2 pick, with the Chicago Sky following at No. 3 and the Washington Mystics at No. 4.

The Sparks held the best chances (44.2%) at the No. 1 overall pick with a 25-55 cumulative record over the last two years. Dallas and Chicago, both of which went 31-49, each had a 22.7% chance at the top selection. But Dallas held the right to swap its first-round pick with Chicago after the February 2023 trade that sent Marina Mabrey to the Windy City. The Wings likely won't be doing that now. And Washington (33-47) held a 10.8% probability.

Though Bueckers is the headliner, the draft could be deep with backcourt talent. It comes at a moment of transition for the league, which experienced rapid growth behind the Indiana Fever’s 2024 No. 1 pick, Caitlin Clark. Seven of 12 teams parted ways with their head coaches in recent months and expansion club Golden State will make its first collegiate draft pick in franchise history.

The 2025 WNBA Draft will be held April 14. The location has not been announced. Golden State will first build its team via the expansion draft on Dec. 6 (ESPN).

*Have option to remain in school

Paige Bueckers, UConn (6-foot point guard): Bueckers, initially a member of the 2024 draft class, has spent her entire collegiate career as a presumptive No. 1 pick. She’s the most league-ready of the prospects, showcasing defense and versatility while playing at the 4 last season.

Kiki Iriafen, USC (6-3 power forward): Iriafen won Pac-12 Most Improved honors after averaging 19.4 points and 11 rebounds at Stanford while playing next to Cameron Brink, the 2024 No. 2 overall pick to Los Angeles. The USC transfer has strength in the post and credits her improved play to a mindset shift in being more confident and fearless.

Aneesah Morrow, LSU (6-1 small forward): Morrow was a double-double machine as a junior, finishing fifth in Division I with 22. That’s five fewer than former LSU teammate Angel Reese. Morrow, who started her career at DePaul, is averaging 21 points and 11.9 rebounds per game over her collegiate career and can further break out this season for the Tigers.

Azzi Fudd*, UConn (5-10 shooting guard): Fudd is an elite shooter with one of the best jumpers in the college game. Health is the biggest concern. The senior played in only 42 games coming into 2024-25 due to various injuries. The former No. 1 recruit can return to UConn for a final season but has not made a commitment.

Olivia Miles*, Notre Dame* (5-10 point guard): Miles is an electrifying offensive leader with elite court vision. She has four triple-doubles, and her passing ability makes for long highlight reels. Miles is coming off a knee injury that kept her out last season and could use a redshirt to return to Notre Dame.

Sonia Citron, Notre Dame (6-1 shooting guard): Citron completes one of the nation’s best collegiate backcourts with Miles and sophomore Hannah Hidalgo. She has the benefit of prestige as Notre Dame is known for sending talented guards to the WNBA.

Shyanne Sellers, Maryland (6-2 point guard): Sellers is a versatile guard who can pack the stat sheet. She can boost her draft stock with a solid senior season. Head coach Brenda Frese ducked into the transfer portal to put talent around Sellers after an early NCAA tournament exit.

Rori Harmon*, Texas (5-6 point guard): Harmon returned to action less than 11 months after sustaining an ACL injury. The All-American is a strong two-way player and ferocious defender in head coach Vic Schaefer’s system. She has two years of eligibility remaining after the NCAA granted her a hardship waiver in August.

Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina (5-9 guard): Paopao’s strong shooting guided South Carolina to the 2024 national title and she opted to stay for a fifth year under the COVID-19 eligibility guidelines. She spent her first three years at Oregon and was a near-50% 3-point shooter as a senior.

Georgia Amoore, Kentucky (5-6 point guard): Amoore is one of the bounciest playmakers in the nation and a strong 3-point shooter. Her size is a concern, though head coach Kenny Brooks has compared her to Becky Hammon in that regard and she has an excellent basketball IQ.

Dominique Malonga, France (6-6 center): Malonga, who turns 19 in November, played for France in the Paris Olympics as an emerging young talent. She stands out in a guard-heavy draft, and any team that selects her could stash her in 2025, allowing her to come to the WNBA when she’s ready and/or when the team has roster and salary cap room.

1. Dallas Wings

2. Los Angeles Sparks

3. Chicago Sky

4. Washington Mystics

5. Golden State Valkyries (expansion team)

6. Washington Mystics (from Atlanta via Dallas trade)

7. Phoenix Mercury (Liberty hold right to swap picks)

8. Indiana Fever

9. Seattle Storm

10. Chicago Sky (via Sun trade)

11. Minnesota Lynx

12. New York Liberty (right to swap with Phoenix)

The WNBA rescinded Las Vegas’ 2025 first-round draft pick for violating league rules regarding impermissible player benefits to former forward Dearica Hamby. Las Vegas will draft No. 10 in the following two rounds, between No. 9 Seattle and No. 11 Connecticut.