WNBA Mock Draft 1.0: Post-Lottery

Before diving into the piece itself, I’d love to give a shoutout to Chris Wozniak. He made the tremendous graphics for this article, does great work on the graphics over at Winsidr, and is a great person to work with in all regards. This wouldn’t have taken shape the way I hoped without his awesome work!

As always, these are my views, opinions, and thoughts. This isn’t a projection of what I think will happen, more an exercise for me to think through what I would do with each team given where I think they’re at and what they’ve shown in organizational direction.

Draft Overview

With the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery officially done, the Dallas Wings will pick 1st overall in the Draft for the second time since moving to Dallas, and overall as an organization (Charli Collier, 2021). This shakes things up quite a bit, and raises a ton of intriguing questions in roster-building for multiple teams, part of what makes the Draft such an enticing aspect of American sports.

From top to bottom, I view this Draft class as significantly better than 2022, 23, and 24. While you could argue that last year’s class had more star power at the top, I point to this class as a significant impactor with top end talent and a plethora of players that have strong chances to impact a rotation in the W. At time of writing, I would consider there to be 3 franchise level talents in this class: Paige Bueckers, Kiki Iriafen, and Dominique Malonga. That doesn’t mean I view them all the same or that they will have the same impact, rather that I gauge them all to have the CEILING to become players who are the core and foundation of an organization with their skill set.

As with all players in the Draft and in any organizational context, fit and potential to impact matters arguably more than talent. Where a player is projected isn’t a reflection of their true talents and ability, but rather what I would do and how I envision doing things based on what I value in team and roster-building. Every player has value, every team views things in a  different way, and there is no right or wrong way to do things. There are a multitude of skills/traits I do feel are most important to impacting winning in modern basketball, however, which is why I’m so high on the depth of this Draft.

There are the 3 true franchise level stars, but there are a number of ancillary players that could provide “star” level impact in their role. I’d argue that the league is in a state of needing more role players who you can build championship level teams around than star players at present. A star is always important, that goes without saying, but in a smaller league, everything is about role and optimization. You have to hit such high standards to be a star that truly drives winning as a primary option. How do you find that role?

That’s why there’s so much value in these players that have shown the ability to play in a role, play with consistent versatility, and make an impact in those ways already in college. When you’ve already showcased your abilities and comfortability within a refined role, it’s easier, in my opinion, to translate to that role or a similar one at the next level. There are countless players with phenomenal tools and skills in so many walks of the game, but being able to make that leap and change is what I continually find to be what players struggle with most. There is immense value in being able to play a small role well, gain the trust of a coach, and earn minutes to develop from there.

CBA & Stability Impact

The WNBA players opted out of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, understandably given the rapid growth in recent years. While details are still being ironed out, the new CBA will take effect in 2026. I have no clue what that will look like, how final numbers and contracts will fill out, but it will be a jump up. I find this incredibly noteworthy with respect to any early entrants.

At present, I’m only including players that are seniors (automatically eligible) or that have publicly stated recently that they are entering in the Draft. There are some phenomenal prospects who COULD enter the 2025 WNBA Draft as they meet the age requirements, but I wouldn’t project many of them to enter.

It’s not all just a “money” issue, as it is often left out how impactful endorsements can be at the next level. Yet, I do think the jump in salary along with current instability in the W will lead to few non-seniors entering the Draft. There are still 3 franchises without a head coach in place. Over half the teams in the league have undergone significant changes in front office personnel. I think a lot of these changes will be good and impactful, but they are still changes.

Take into account as well that there are just two players in the W that have contracts with guaranteed money on them past 2025 (Lexie Brown and Kalani Brown) per Her Hoop Stats. Very few if any players will take more than a one year deal this off-season due to that coming CBA change. This is not meant as a detriment or slight to the league, but it’s a compounded set of circumstances that I would not want to drive the majority of players into if there was any question of translation or fit at the next level.

Athletic Evaluation & Identification

There’s a multitude of aspects that matter a great deal to pro translation and success, something I hope to write more in depth on at some point soon. I do want to quickly dive into assessing athleticism when looking to the next level and what I feel is most important to that.

Athleticism typically draws a blanket term that tends to be more synonymous with “Bigger, Faster, Stronger” and while that’s part of athleticism, it’s minor to me. SO what goes into athleticism?

Intersection of size and skill:

Being tall and long matters, especially depending on position, but that largely tracks across the board. However, what kind of skill do you bring in tandem with that? Are you coordinated? Can you do things at your size few else can? Can you succeed in some areas in spite of your height? Again, there’s layers. Being a wing shouldn’t be a universal catch-all that gets you drafted, but the ideology of and growing importance of wings in roster-building is indicative of the point. You want to bring as much to the table as possible while taking very little off of it when you’re a role player.

Lateral quickness:

How well can you keep yourself square on the perimeter against a ballhandler? This is big time in expanding the margins for error on defense, all the more important in a game with continuity within possessions.

Awareness:

Some may view awareness as an intangible, and I get that, as it can somewhat blend into what people call basketball IQ. I don’t agree with that fully though. Focus is a level of something you can work on, showing intensity in assignment and attention to gameplan. Awareness, however, is something I personally consider an athletic trait. It is rare to see a player just dramatically “get better” with awareness: off-ball defense, ability to recover, timing, and making multiple efforts in a possession are all aspects of what I would call court awareness. Cognitive athleticism and processing are very real and incredibly important.

Flexibility and Functional Strength:

Being able to contort and play compact, finding ways to win with angles or by taking them away when you get put in a phone booth. This stuff is important in all archetypes to me. It’s key in creating with craft and expanding your offensive arsenal, but also in adding versatility guarding up and down positionally.

Explosiveness and Burst:

Particularly for on-ball creators, explosiveness and burst is a must. How well and consistently can you create separation and advantages? As a wing or forward, can you dust someone off the catch and keep an advantage going? What is your pop and verticality like at the rim? Can you routinely finish through contact? I find it worth noting that Strength =/= Explosiveness. Being strong is a plus, but it’s not the same as being explosive, and I feel that often gets misjudged.

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1st Pick: Dallas Wings

While there are a few players that can ascend to Franchise Cornerstone level in this class, Bueckers has set herself apart with her play and her position. Every team in the lottery this year NEEDS a guard that can create efficiently, and Paige has the chance to become one of the best guard creators in the WNBA.

Paige excels through her ability to mesh with and uplift the players she shares the court with with her play, and there is more to tap into at the next level. Just 16% of UConn’s offensive possessions in 2023-24 came via pick and roll, in the 24th percentile per Synergy Sports. The Huskies excel with a motion heavy offense, earning a trip to the Final Four with their play. However, I’d argue pick and roll creation and operating in the two player game is Paige’s strongest asset. We are going to see her handle the ball more in those scenarios at the next level, enticing when considering what she can do with her playmaking and elite three-level scoring.

While I would say Bueckers is more of a combo guard, she brings all the best attributes from both guard spots rolled into one. She’s a top notch defender on and off the ball, an adept mover without the ball, and enters the WNBA with a polished well rounded game that hasn’t been fully unlocked yet with play style. How Dallas builds around her will be key, but she will be incredibly impactful from the get go.

2nd Pick: Los Angeles Sparks

Pick Logic:

This Draft is extremely pivotal in setting up the Sparks for the future, but also the present, as the playoffs have been set as the goal in 2025. The reason this mock is coming much later than I’d like is because of this pick keeping me up at night. What do you do in this situation when it’s not as simple as “take the best talent,” ? It’s worth remembering that best fit and best talent aren’t synonymous, as the best talent for YOUR team is the best talent to invest in when you have a somewhat established core.

If I were the Sparks right now, I would be considering all options. What can we get if we package this pick and a player? That’s tricky, because there’s one player in the W outside the Sparks’ roster that’s signed through any further than 2025. Are you trading this pick for a one year rental and hope to draw intrigue in re-signing? That’s a massive gamble and risk. The biggest hope if I’m the Sparks at this moment is that Olivia Miles eventually declares for the 2025 Draft. With two players viewed as part of the current and future in the Sparks in the frontcourt (Cameron Brink & Rickea Jackson), securing a guard that can balance this roster is essential.

Sonia Citron (next up) is more of a wing than a guard. She’d make a strong impact on this team, but again, this team needs a competent starting point guard. Having three frontcourt players all on rookie-scale deals that can build together seems great on paper, but there are diminishing returns in those situations, in my view. Iriafen, Brink, and Jackson all thrive playing off the catch and facing up. It’s hard to make that all work in tandem.

Is Georgia Amoore the pick here? She’s shown the ability to generate easy offense off the dribble, but is still refining some of the aspects of her game as a halfcourt facilitator. Do you make a package down with Washington (hypothetically) to acquire a veteran guard and take Amoore or another guard/wing at 4?

I know this sounds ridiculously hamfisted, but man, this is just tough. For right now, I have the Sparks taking Iriafen, as things are just super unclear at the moment with how things will unfold with the coming expansion. Perhaps you bank on the idea that this is the pick, a veteran player gets traded prior to/around free agency, and you bank on what this trio could be. I would be so fascinated to hear how freshly minted head coach Lynne Roberts would view the idea of getting the most out of that frontcourt.

Iriafen Notes:

Iriafen’s fit with USC hasn’t been an immediate clean transition, but that’s to be expected. Her elite traits have still popped, a force on the glass and in the interior, but the lanes to unlocking those traits and her face-up game as a whole have yet to be unearthed. They will be over time.

She and JuJu Watkins haven’t found comfortability in a two player game yet, and that will be crucial for each and the team. It’s worth noting that Stanford ranked in the 3rd percentile in pick and roll frequency in Division 1 last season per Synergy Sports… Kiki has just never really gotten the reps to be a pick and roll screener, finisher, popper, etc. It takes time! The biggest thing I want to see from Kiki moving forward is how she continues to improve as a passer and picking her spots to be assertive.

Watching that game against Notre Dame, the Irish drew up a great gameplan sending help from the weak side every time Kiki pivoted off the catch inside the arc. She struggled reading that help and making a plat off of it, and I have confidence that she can rep that out and improve upon it. I look at what Raegan Beers did similarly last season, making a massive stride making plays out of doubles after early struggles in conference play.

They’re not the same player, but it’s the same idea of an elite post player improving on those reads. It’ll be huge for USC and Kiki moving forward, and worth tracking as the year goes on.

3rd Pick: Chicago Sky

Citron is a perfect fit for the Sky, a player that can play off of Chicago’s frontcourt, contribute to its defensive presence, and add value with her ability to cut, space, and move without the ball.

There is more to her game than meets the eye, and she is the exact type of player the WNBA needs more of: true wings that bring consistent versatility to the floor on both ends. Many often hear “roleplayer” and dismiss players as less talented or impactful, but Citron is a roleplayer with All-Star upside. She reminds me a great deal of former Fever & Sun star Katie Douglas, capable of defending multiple positions, knocking down the 3 on volume, and attacking the basket in a variety of ways.

Putting together the tape she did down the stretch of last season after she recovered from an early season knee injury was key in assessing that potential with the ball in her hands more. The Sky were the least efficient team in the W last season, and adding Citron would aid in improving that now and moving forward.

4th Pick: Washington Mystics

Looking at this Draft in the vacuum, Malonga has a real shot to become the best player out of this class, she’s that talented and brimming with potential. She’s made massive strides in the past year (literally and figuratively), the most coordinated player I’ve seen at her size. She can legitimately face-up and take people off the dribble at 6’6 and has the ball-handling chops to do it with some consistency. I think she could come in and be one of the best pick and roll finishers we’ve ever had in the W. Malonga blended that coordination, feel for the game, and explosiveness as she got her first Olympic experience with the French National Team this summer.

Right now, she’s more of a potentially great defender with elite flashes than an immediate DPOY level threat, but you gauge her differently considering how early she is in her career relative to her peers in the Draft class, having just turned 19. When considering the growth of her feel for the game and impact over the past 18 months, it’s pretty wild looking ahead.

However, French national team commitments are consistently a part of the equation, which is why she’ll likely go lower than her talent demands. She’s going to miss parts, if not full seasons, of WNBA play due to that. I do think we may see some change and leeway as the CBA comes into effect, but that’s a very murky TBD. Considering the messaging from the Mystics on their approach under Michael Winger, I think Malonga makes a ton of sense as a remarkably high upside swing for a franchise that’s entering an era looking to rebuild.

5th Pick: Golden State Valkyries

In many similar ways to Citron, Shyanne Sellers just has a game that will bring so much value to the pros. An incredibly well rounded wing, Sellers has seen and played every role under the sun for the Maryland Terrapins, and found a way to excel in it throughout a season.

She possesses good court vision and ball control at her size and is a plus athlete in some of the non-traditional ways written about earlier, excelling at playing and finishing in tight spaces due to her coordination. Playing in an offensive role that demands less scoring this season, she’s gotten back to her roots as a tenacious defender with a knack for making timely plays off the ball.

Sellers has a very strong foundation of skills, a capable tough shotmaker, driver, facilitator, and defender. There’s more to tap into as she hits the next level, and I love the versatility and flexibility this pick would provide Golden State moving forward from this Draft in how they build out their team.

I’ll look for Sellers to hunt more shots from outside the arc. I have no concerns about her ability to hit from deep, but volume and consistency matter. It’s worth noting that she dealt with a ligament tear in her shooting hand sustained early last season, a significant reason for her dip as a shooter.

6th Pick: Washington Mystics

I could absolutely see Amoore going higher than this, but she could go lower as well. The perspective I’ve gathered across the league on Amoore is quite mixed, and while I get it to a degree, size will always be a question, I would be taking a shot on Amoore high every chance I get.

As mentioned, guard play is needed. We need more players that can create easy offense routinely. Amoore has incredible shift and burst, capable of getting into the teeth of the defense and creating from a standstill at will. She’s a dynamic mover without the ball and an incredible threat that needs to be guarded at all times. She’s grown immensely in the past few years as a pick and roll operator, continuing to tap into and expanding her second level reads and mid-range game so far during her first season at Kentucky.

Amoore handles full court and ball pressure well, but I want to see her consistency grow in how she attacks when she draws hedges or gets two defenders on the ball. Watching the Louisville game back, that will be a sticking point. But, again, I look around the league at some of the teams that struggle to create advantages and play with pace: Amoore can shift that. Especially for a Mystics team all in on the future, I would wager on a guard with the potential to bring a special verve to the W, leaning into her play style and development.

7th pick: New York Liberty

It’s been a tough start to the season for NC State and Rivers given the year they’re coming off of. However, it’s worth remembering that it’s early in the season and the Wolfpack are implementing a brand new frontcourt with their star transfer (Caitlin Weimar) not playing a game yet. These things take time.

Rivers had the ball in her hands as the lead guard much of last season, part of what made her so intriguing. She’s played much more on the wing to start the year and hasn't looked comfortable yet; watching how she makes strides in that regard will be key. I still view Saniya as a top flight player in this class, someone who will conservatively enter the W as one of the 5 best athletes in the league.

That matters, as does the defensive baseline she brings to the court. New York has consistently shown a desire to draft, sign, and develop long athletes that can make plays on either end of the court. While there is certainly some refinement necessary to the rest of her game, I would not pass up on Rivers. The Liberty are also one of the few teams I would trust to put the ball in her hands, which is incredibly key to maximizing her. Rivers has a special ability at her size to create advantages with her first step and handle, something that should hold more value in the current WNBA.

8th Pick: Indiana Fever

Madison Scott has gone under the radar for Ole Miss as a prospect, and that’s a mistake! Similar to what was mentioned above with Shyanne Sellers, Scott has taken on a different role every season with the Rebels and seen her skillset grow because of that and the work she’s put in. She’s a versatile playmaker on either end of the court.

While she’s listed 6’2, she plays with a strength that allows her to effectively guard true posts, but has the quickness and reactivity to sit down and defend shifty guards. Players with the ability to truly spend time defending WELL at every position are remarkably valuable and hard to find. If you called Scott the best defender in the 2025 class, I wouldn’t argue.

Spending time playing point guard last season due to a plethora of injuries, Scott showed massive growth as a playmaker in a way that’s meaningful for the next level. She can rip and run comfortably in transition, but also operate in pick and roll as a ball handler or screener. When she has a mismatch, which she often does due to her ability to attack from all areas of the court, she can create as a scorer or facilitator when she draws help. While the biggest question about Scott is her outside jumper, I’m not sure it should be: she shot 43% on off the dribble jumpers last season (91 attempts per Synergy). She is an excellent marksman inside the arc with her touch and release point, hitting shots on the move, off the catch, and with an incredibly difficult diet of self-created shots efficiently.

How she adapts to a likely more off-ball role to start will be key, but she brings so much you can’t teach or coach while being able to grow considerably in the areas you can. This Indiana team needs more athleticism to fit their style with Caitlin Clark at the helm, and they need more versatility as a whole. There was versatility last season through the variety of players that could be put on the court, but I would say the Fever routinely lacked a 5th player that could link lineups together. Scott could be a sort of Swiss Army Knife, bringing her needed punch of defense, playmaking, and potential to create as a secondary scorer.

9th Pick: Seattle Storm

A lot is up in the air in Seattle headed deeper into the off-season, but my biggest issue on court with this team remains. As good as their All-Star starting lineup was last season, the lack of depth, connective playmaking, and floor spacing was a massive problem for the Storm, rearing its head in the postseason.

Laila Phelia has had a slower start to the season coming off of a minor injury, but she brings so much that I feel will bolster this team regardless of what free agency holds. At 6’ with quick feet, she can fill in on the wing and add to the already strong defensive foundation the Storm have built. She does her best work guarding the ball, and could really thrive on that end sharing the court with one of the best rim protectors in the game in Ezi Magbegor.

Offensively, Phelia is a dynamic slasher, adept at getting downhill off the catch, and out of ball screens. She has a savvy mid-range game and is fantastic using her strength and speed to draw fouls. The biggest thing I’ll be looking for is continued growth in patience, making second level reads as a passer and scorer more consistently.

10th Pick: Chicago Sky

I’m incredibly enticed by the idea of Serena Sundell joining this version of the Chicago Sky. Sundell is an elite playmaker, excelling with quick reads, kickstarting transition, and using her unique blend of size and vision to create easy baskets.

Having played throughout her career with a prolific post player in Ayoka Lee, Sundell has familiarity and baked in success getting the ball to interior scorers. While she’s not the “pure point guard” that many people envision, those players just don’t come along often, and it’s gotten harder to be that type of player at the next level. You need to bring so many layers of skill to be a pro, and Sundell does that in droves.

The idea of adding her to Citron, Angel Reese, and Kamilla Cardoso on the defensive end as well is exciting. That’s 4 players all 6’1 or taller with real length, athleticism, and awareness, opening up the doors to be an incredibly versatile and aggressive group. Sundell’s shot has a notable hitch in it, but the biggest aspect for her is just continuing to get it up confidently and consistently. She could be a perfect mesh with Tyler Marsh’s mindset and development abilities.

11th Pick: Minnesota Lynx

I’ll be extremely interested to see how the Lynx build off this past year, but I’m adding another frontcourt player here in Maddy Westbeld. I could be reading too much into things, but after watching Minnesota go out to add Myisha Hines-Allen at the deadline, you could see how they were trying to round out their versatility (they might just re-sign MHA and this ends up being a very different pick).

Westbeld made major strides in her consistency last season, a huge part in getting the most out of her versatility. She’s a tremendous screen and pop threat, strong driver with a solid pull-up game, and capable of initiating offense herself. Her ability to not just score out of the post, but take advantage of help with her playmaking is huge for attacking defenses that switch, something Minnesota saw a ton this past season.

The biggest thing I’ll be looking for when she returns to the court from injury will be what strides she makes defensively. I like her positioning and communication, but there is some question on how she can slide up and down a position to the 3 and the 5 and still guard her assignment. Having the consistent offensive versatility she brings matters, and is a skillset I could see earning trust and the room to expand her role over time. It’s easy to see how she could pretty seamlessly fit into this offense off rip.

12th Pick: Phoenix Mercury

While I suspect free agency will answer some questions for the Mercury, this team needs to bolster out their frontcourt depth, and Timpson has a chance to be a pretty fantastic player at the next level.

Not all that dissimilar from fellow Florida State alum, Natasha Howard, I view Timpson as more of a small-ball 5 than a 4 in the W. She’s a tremendous leaper, with incredible instincts as a shot-blocker and rim protector, something that’s shined through even more with an improved Seminoles defense this season. She has the quick feet to switch and play in multiple coverages and is a demonstrative rebounder on either end of the court.

Offensively, Timpson has already showcased her ability as one of the better pick and roll bigs in the country, capable of facing up and driving off the catch, making plays off the roll in 1-2 dribbles, and finishing at the rim with ease despite being technically undersized (67% at the rim on halfcourt layups is remarkable.

Extending her range out to three consistently and efficiently will be important to hitting her highest upside, but it’s worth noting that she’s shot nearly 46% on two-point jumpers over the past two seasons per Synergy Sports.

13th Pick: Los Angeles Sparks

No player has risen more in my eyes in the past month than Harvard’s star guard, but that’s more my fault than a sudden leap in Turner’s game. I always viewed her as a prospect for the next level, but made a mistake in not looking at her more seriously in the off-season. That’s changed keeping up with Harvard this season as the Crimson have taken on and handled a strong schedule out of conference, propelled by Turner.

She has a special shift and creativity to her game, utilizing angles as a driver and creator that few have access to or think of with the ball in her hands. Part of the beauty in her game is that there is rarely a straight line drive: she attacks in multiple planes of motion at once, able to create separation with burst and one of the better handles in college basketball.

She has a strong in between game and is a capable and aggressive shooter on and off the ball. I love how she competes on defense, always looking to make a play, but there’s room to keep honing technique and consistency (as there is for most any college player!).

I really want to see the Sparks swing on a guard in this Draft class, and with the current pool of players, I think Turner is the one. I get some of the questions about play style and how she’ll mesh with Lynne Roberts’ system, but she has the tools and mentality to really thrive in that kind of fast paced high octane offense.

14th Pick: Dallas Wings

I could see the Wings going a multitude of directions here, as I feel pretty uncertain about what this roster will look like on opening day (I’m fascinated to see how this new front office approaches things). I really want to see this team shift some of their ideology, and a lot of that starts with getting more versatile and athletic.

There are few players in this class with the defensive foundation and ceiling of Coulibaly, capable of guarding down onto perimeter players and up in the post. She has great hands and instincts to make plays in passing lanes.

She’s a tremendous driver, relentless in attacking the basket with some craft in her footwork outside of straight line drives. I really feel she could thrive in a system with better spacing and more pro style offense. I also like her feel for the game overall, capable of making reads and passes on the move.

The biggest question is the shot. When I watch Coulibaly shoot, I really think there’s something there long term. There’s a big time difference in when she takes shots in rhythm versus when she hesitates. I wouldn’t want to change anything mechanically: I like where her hand placement is both with the shooting and guide hand, but I do think changing release point and making sure it’s consistent will be key. There’s a habit of releasing the ball at different heights when shooting, and that’s the biggest thing to iron out, which is a much easier fix in my opinion than most jumpers that tend to have hand placement and catch point issues. A consistent jumper is the only thing that I feel will hold Coulibaly back from being an impactful W player.

15th Pick: Minnesota Lynx

In a similar vein to the Westbeld pick, I’d be intrigued to see the Lynx take a shot on Daniels. I really like Maia Hirsch, who the Lynx drafted in 2023, but I don’t think she’s ready to come over and make an impact in the W quite yet, so why not take another shot here?

It hasn’t been a super smooth start to the season for Dalayah, as she’s playing a different position (the 4) than last year in a new offense. I view her as kind of a tweener at the four and five, but that’s part of what I really like about her game. She brings the skill and athleticism of a traditional four, while being able to slide in as a more modern five, particularly with a team like the Lynx.

Part of what I loved about  her game last year was the ability to run DHO’s, facilitate from the high post, and attack off the dribble when those opportunities get denied. Her best attributes are her defensive versatility, with very quick feet, a long wingspan, and good timing as a shotblocker. I need to see her find her aggression as an offensive option in this new offense, but I expect that to take some time.

She’s in a similar mold to players like Monique Billings, Temi Fagbenle, and Laeticia Amihere, so continuing to improve her ability to consistently expand her offensive game and be a gamechanger on defense will be key. Rim protection and the ability to alter shots is so huge and can’t be undersold, so any sort of improvements will be big in raising Daniels’ stock and potential to stick in the W.

16th Pick: Las Vegas Aces

Thierry is one of the better athletes in the Draft, capable of playing on the wing, downsized to the 4 in smaller lineups, and will make an impact with her ability to defend and attack the glass.

She’s a strong connective playmaker that operates in the flow of an offense well, playing off of the stars that have come through Columbus the past few seasons. There’s never really been a question of if Thierry can shoot, rather if she will: she’s already made half of the 3’s she did all of last season in just 6 games.

She’s remarkably efficient, so efficient that it makes you just want to see her take more looks and continue to play with assuredness in her game. I really want to see this Aces team be aggressive in shoring up the wing and adding athleticism and versatility, something they lacked outside their starpower. Especially with so much of the cap wrapped up in their stars, they need to hit on some of these picks, and despite this being a second round pick, they should be able to find a rotation player with the depth of this class. Thierry already has experience playing in a pro style offense, playing with pace, and attacking gaps, precisely what she would be stepping into in Sin City.

17th Pick: Golden State Valkyries

I know I’ve said versatility a lot in this, but I just can’t reiterate enough that that is where things are and have been heading. I wonder if Golden State goes for a player who will play right away, but I’m pretty intrigued by them going the international route at some point in this Draft, whether that be with Malonga falling to them in the first, or stashing in the 2nd and 3rd.

Ajsa Sivka is a really exciting talent, a 6’3 wing that can really shoot it and has some playmaking chops. She’s a player that I’ll be tracking closely the next few years, as any developmental strides could alter her outlook quite a bit. Right now, I’m not sure she’s ready to play with WNBA physicality (understandable given her youth), but there’s also an element of positionality and frame.

She has solid instincts on the defensive, showing up most in how she makes plays off the ball. But, you do see some hitches when she’s run through screens or guarding on the ball/switches onto a strong driver or post player. She has a really similar frame, build, and archetype to someone like Rebecca Allen, but I’d have considered Allen more of a defense first prospect where as Sivka is more offensively slanted.

They’re not the exact same player of course, but it gives you an idea for what you’re looking for: can she make strides playing through contact on offense? Right now, her drives can be pretty stilted and difficult when a player is on her hip. But, being her size, already impactful at this age in a top league, and with a solid feel for the game makes her a top prospect in this class. I think she could go higher, and honestly probably should, but I suspect she’ll be a 2nd rounder considering how teams are typically looking for immediate impact in the first round.

18th Pick: Atlanta Dream

I was already a fan of Hobbs as a prospect after her growth last season, and she’s only taken another step in 2024 in a larger role. At 6’3, she’s incredibly versatile with her ability to shoot efficiently from beyond the arc in all manners, attack off the bounce, run secondary actions, and keep the ball moving with her vision.

I view her as a connective tissue player at the next level who keeps the ball alive and needs to be guarded. Her rise as an interior finisher (44.6% on 2’s last season, 55.9% this season) is worth monitoring as the season goes on. While her steal and block numbers are pretty sparse, she’s a strong positional defender who excels with off-ball rotations and can defend multiple actions.

While there is some fair question about what position she plays at the next level, I think she’s the kind of player who has a unique blend of size, skill, and feel for the game that you add to your group and figure it out from there. Especially with this new look Atlanta team, I want to see them lean fully into Karl Smesko’s philosophies.

The Dream finished 11th in three point efficiency and 9th in three point attempts, more so a roster than coaching problem, although a change was needed on the bench. Hobbs could add so much to this pivot.

19th Pick: Phoenix Mercury

Paopao is a great shooter who can get her shot off cleanly with or without the ball, particularly off the dribble behind the arc. It’s been awesome to see her get even more aggressive and assertive with her floaters and runners early in the year, something she already had a good feel for, but is expanding rapidly in volume.

I’ve also liked seeing her work more to Nash dribble when she touches the paint and look to work the offense, a key aspect of growth she started showing last season. This Mercury team really values shotmaking and transition player, where I feel Paopao could really thrive coming in as a backup guard that can play behind and alongside Natasha Cloud depending on lineups.

The biggest thing I’ll be looking for throughout the season will be defensive consistency. We’ve seen some signs of growth early this year, which is highly encouraging, and I want to see her keep rounding that corner. She has a point guard’s frame, but is more comfortable guarding the 2 (in my opinion) so seeing her make more and more strides to being able to consistently run point at the next level will be huge for her draft stock.

20th Pick: Indiana Fever

If Reigan Richardson continues to play like she did at the Ball Dawgs Classic, where Duke knocked off top notch Oklahoma and Kansas State teams, she will likely wind up a first round pick for me. It’s not that she scored 35 points, it’s why she did in that Oklahoma barnburner.

The biggest thing for Richardson in my eyes is consistency.

Being more of an off guard, you have to routinely assert yourself in the offense to make your impact felt and be most effective. When Richardson has her best games, they’re not heaters, they’re just her letting the offense come to her, playing with patience, and attacking with poise. What I loved most about those games was seeing how the defense had to adapt to her confidence and what that opened up for her as a playmaker.

She’s a top notch defender, more of a wing, but capable of guarding 1-3 with her length and quick feet. I love how she tags up when she’s off the ball and rarely gets caught ball-watching. If the offensive consistency and confidence keeps up, Richardson is going to be a rotation player. No comparison is one to one, but there’s a lot of Shatori Walker-Kimbrough to her game, a toolsy wing who always makes an impact.

She could add necessary two-way depth to the Fever with room to grow into more.

21st Pick: Seattle Storm

Morrow brings a tenacity in the paint and on the glass that’s pretty damn special, and could secure her a spot off the bench for a team that needs depth badly.

While I think it’s fair to question how she and Jordan Horston would mesh, two players who thrive best with the ball in their hands that are more forwards than wings, they both bring skills to the floor that matter. The shot is an understandable question, but with the way Seattle is built right now, I like the idea of leaning into strength and second chance points somewhat like Connecticut has done at times in recent years.

I like what she could also bring in that regard defensively, with quick hands that could contribute to the defense that caused the most turnovers in the WNBA last season.

As the season goes on, I’ll be eager to see how Morrow improves at making reads out of double teams. She’s a difficult player to guard one on one in the post, so she’s seen a lot of help early in the year. Quickening up those reads to make passes out would be big now and for the W.

22nd Pick: Las Vegas Aces

Adding to what we did with the Aces’ earlier, I think Rayah Marshall could be a potentially great fit. Marshall brings a lot of similar skills to Kiah Stokes, a long and athletic forward with a great defensive mind and versatility.

Marshall has superb ability to hedge, move on the perimeter, and play numerous ball screen coverages, the quarterback of a standout defense in LA last season. She has good timing as a shotblocker, and made notable improvements guarding pro-sized centers last season.

While Marshall does have some limitations on offense, she’s made real strides as a finisher (per Synergy Stats at the rim in the Halfcourt):

• 2022-23: 41.6% (101 attempts)

• 2023-24: 53.9% (115 attempts)

• 2024-25: 64.7% (17 attempts)

If early season sample on her finishing holds throughout the season, I could see Marshall winding up a back end of the first pick, her defense is that good. She could really fit the new age of rim running centers in the W, particularly as more teams veer further into spread out offense and pick and roll play. For now, I really like what she could be for the Aces, an added punch for a team that could never really get comfortable with a third big last season.

23rd Pick: Washington Mystics

Continuing to add talent is the key for the Mystics as they rebuild, and I like the idea of adding Bree Hall to the mix on the wing.

Hall has proven herself as a heady defender, particularly in what she can do chasing shooters and defending smaller guard on the perimeter. I also love her work off-ball with stunts and making life difficult for drivers.

She’s a shooter that needs to be defended with a good mind for when and how to cut and relocate. Inherently, there’s a ton of value just by having the skills she’s exhibited already throughout her career on high level teams.

I mainly just want to see her continue to be aggressive and assertive as a scorer. There’s room for her to take more shots in the flow of the offense now, and at the next level. Getting more reps as a driver off closeouts and attacking gaps will be key as well, as making those second level reads and improving at playing through contact will unlock higher upsides for her.

24th Pick: Minnesota Lynx

Aziaha James is just tough, there are so many ways to describe her, but tough is always the first adjective that comes to mind. While I wouldn’t categorize her shot profile as much different than last season, she’s carried over her superb level of shotmaking from the Wolfpack’s Final Four run, scorching the nets with 48.9/37.2/94.4 splits. Considering the kinds of shots she’s taking, that’s pretty wild.

James is highly effective at creating her own shot, with one of the better off the dribble jumpers in the country inside and outside the arc. She pair that with a very crafty and shifty drive game, using floaters, runners, and difficult angles to finish efficiently in the paint.

The biggest thing that tends to make me think with Aziaha is her playmaking. She’s shown really good work in pick and roll, capable of making some highlight reel passes. while also having the game to demand changing coverages against her. That matters a ton. However, she can also get into the habit of letting the ball stick and missing some pretty clear passing windows and reads, pulling up into a contested shot instead.

To be fair, she’s good at making those! But, at the next level, I think the blend will have to be different. I watch what Courtney Williams did with the Lynx this season, a player I’d also consider more of a combo than a point guard, and am really intrigued by what James could do in that offense if she made some tweaks in style. She’s not a natural lead guard, but playing in that ball screen offense with the offensive firepower to back it up…. it makes me think.

Aziaha is probably the player I go back and forth the most on in this class with respect to placing her higher or lower. I’ll be glued to watching how she continues to grow.

25th Pick: Connecticut Sun

I really like what Madison Hayes brings to the table. She’s a reliable three-point shooter, versatile on defense with room to grow, and routinely plays bigger than she is with a knack for making hustle plays.

As the season winds on, I want to see Hayes continue to find new avenues to score. She has a solid drive game and playmaking flashes. Getting into that more routinely will be key, as she’s going to draw the defense at the next level.

As Connecticut continues to build, adding solid two-way players that can impact now and improve over time is crucial. I could absolutely see Hayes going higher to a team that’s more in a contending status.

Draft Stock Notes

Annika Soltau, a forward out of Germany who most recently was playing for Gernika in Spain, mutually parted ways with the club and ended her contract early. I have no idea what happened and haven’t gathered or seen any extra information outside the press release.

Soltau was playing fairly limited minutes for Gernika, which was somewhat surprising.

I view her as one of the top prospects in this Draft with respect to longterm potential, and this doesn’t change that, but I imagine it will make an impact. It’s really difficult to just not play for a season and miss out on that development.

I still would implore a team to Draft her, but that of course is all dependent on what’s up. I’m sure she’s making an informed and thought out decision, and hope her next venture or club works out best for her in the immediate and future.

“I’m Thinking”

• Temira Poindexter: I’ve really enjoyed seeing Poindexter playing with Kansas State. She always popped at Tulsa, and seeing her in a more pro type role has clicked for me. She brings so much with her toughness, length, and ability to knock down shots. I expect her to rise over time and contemplated having her in the 2nd round already.

• Destiny Adams: Has any player ran up the numbers quite like Destiny Adams at Rutgers? I really want to see her take more threes, but she’s feasted on the Scarlet Knights’ early season schedule. I think she’s absolutely a player in the mix to get drafted, but I just want to see more against better opposition as Rutgers takes on some stronger Power conference opponents.

• Hailey Van Lith: Similar to Adams, I just want to see Van Lith continue to showcase her process against better competition. NC State was a key data point, as she was great initiating in pick and roll. I’m eager to see her today against Notre Dame. How she makes strides as an on-ball defender will be pretty key in her ability to move up for me.

• JJ Quinerly: Quinerly just rocks, as does this whole WVU team. Sydney Shaw snuck under the radar as one of the best talent and fit players in the portal, and she’s showing out for the Mountaineers. I’ve liked seeing JJ get up more 3’s on volume, and I always love the defense. I still just want to see how her reads continue to progress as a playmaker. She’s going to be a point guard at the next level due to her size, so making those strides matters a ton. We’ve seen a lot of good from her and this team early on.

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