It’s been a week since the 2024 WNBA Draft wrapped up where the Indiana Fever selected Iowa’s Caitlin Clark with the first overall pick. Now Beyond Women’s Sports looks ahead to the 2025 draft where UCONN’s Paige Bueckers is already pegged as the clear frontrunning as the top overall pick. The order of picks is based on the final standings from the 2023 season.
Furthermore, the 2025 season will also see the addition of the expansion team Golden State. Finally, several 2025 draft picks have already been traded and swapped. One thing that is clear is that this draft class is extremely guard-heavy.
*notes player’s previous school as they’ve entered the transfer portal
^Eligible to enter the 2025 draft as a junior.
2025 WNBA Mock Draft
FIRST ROUND
1. New York Liberty (via Phoenix) – Paige Bueckers, 6’0” PG, UCONN
New York could land the top overall pick if Phoenix fails to qualify for the playoffs in 2024. Bueckers would be a lock as the top overall pick for the majority of teams in the league. A franchise-changing player and an elite point guard. Bueckers’ 2023-24 season saw her play a full, injury-free season where she averaged 21.9 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 3.8 assists per game, and 2.2 steals per game. Finally, her shooting remains elite as well, and can score from anywhere on the floor.
2. Seattle Storm – Kiki Ifiaren, 6’3” PF, Stanford*
Ifiaren recently entered the transfer portal and is reportedly heading to USC. Kiki is seen as the best post prospect in this draft and could help boost any frontcourt. The former Cardinal saw career highs in points (19.4), rebounds (11.0), and assists (2.3) in 2023-24. She’ll be a lock at the second overall pick if Ifiaren can develop a strong 15-foot jumper in her senior season.
3. Indiana Fever – Aneesha Morrow, 6’1” SF, LSU
Morrow could see a more elevated role in her senior season with Angel Reese now in the WNBA. A solid all-around player that averaged 16.4 ppg on 46.6 percent shooting along with 10.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals. The Fever getting Morrow would help boost the defensive abilities and balance the scoring alongside Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston.
4. Los Angeles Sparks – Dominique Malonga, 6’6” C, France
In this case, Malonga’s the best international prospect since Ezi Magbegor in 2019. The ultimate question is whether she’s willing to show up in the WNBA year after year. A 6’6″ post capable of running the floor, and defending inside, and she has a strong three-point shot. Moreover, considering the 2024 draft saw two French players drafted in the first round, it would be a good indication that Malonga goes fairly high in 2025.
5. Golden State – Raven Johnson, 5’9” PG, South Carolina^
Raven Johnson can enter this draft as an early entrant and would easily be considered an early first-round pick. A top point guard that could effectively lead the expansion team through their inaugural season. Johnson saw averages of 8.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.8 apg, and 2.1 steals per game in 2023-24.
6. Dallas Wings (via Chicago) – Janiah Barker, 6’4” PF, Texas A&M^*
Another likely early entrant for 2025 as she turns 22 years old that year. Barker also recently entered the transfer portal and is currently unknown where she might land. Additionally, she’s a solid post player capable of also playing on the wing. Her shooting is at an elite level having shot 47.9 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three-point range last season.
7. Washington Mystics – Olivia Miles, 5’10” PG, Notre Dame
Miles missed the entirety of the 2023-24 season due to a knee injury. Miles will be a guaranteed first-round pick if she can return to her junior season form. The Mystics head into the 2024 season with uncertainly at the point guard spot. The 2025 draft appears overloaded with guards and the Mystics shouldn’t have an issue finding one.
8. Minnesota Lynx – Te-Hina Paopao, 5’9” PG, South Carolina
Here, Paopao opting to stay another year in South Carolina may or may not help her draft stock. One of the top shooters in the NCAA, Paopao is also a capable point guard who’s a solid leader and ballhandler. The Lynx may have a hole at the point guard position by 2025 depending on free agency and the expansion draft.
9. Washington Mystics (from Atlanta via Dallas) – Sonia Citron, 6’1” SG/SF, Notre Dame
Citron saw career highs in 2023-24 with Olivia Miles out for the season. Her averages for the season topped 17.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.7 apg, and 1.8 spg while shooting 46 percent from the field. Washington will have their frontcourt locked in with 2024 draft pick Aaliyah Edwards and 2022 draft pick Shakira Austin.
10. Chicago Sky (via Dallas) – Laila Phelia, 6’0” SG, Michigan*
Phelia recently entered the transfer portal and is currently unknown where she might land. A solid off-the-ball guard who can pull up from 15 feet, drive into the lane, and knock down some three-pointers. A strong defensive guard as well that could give a needed boost to the Sky’s backcourt.
11. Connecticut Sun – Azzi Fudd, 5’11” SG, UCONN
Fudd’s injury history could be a red flag for most teams. Azzi played only 2 games in 2023-24 and just 13 games in 2022-23. However, if she can remain healthy for the upcoming season, her draft stock will climb higher and higher. Her freshman season showed her potential and can be a legit shooter from any area on the court. Paired with Bueckers in their senior seasons can make UCONN a strong title contender for 2024-25.
12. Phoenix Mercury (via New York) – Maddy Westbeld, 6’3” PF, Notre Dame
Westbeld would be a welcomed addition to the Mercury’s thin frontcourt. What’s more, Phoenix might have the most vacant roster following the 2024 season with the uncertainty of Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and Sophie Cunningham (all free agents). The only locks for Phoenix in 2025 are Kahleah Copper, Natasha Cloud, and Rebecca Allen. Westbeld averaged 14.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg, and 1.1 blocks per game on a 45.8 FG percentage in 2023-24.
VOID. Las Vegas Aces – VOID
SECOND ROUND
13. Phoenix – Shyanne Sellers, 6’2” PG, Maryland
14. Seattle – Ajsa Sivka, 6’4″ PF, Slovenia
15. Indiana – Lucy Olsen, 5’9” SG, Iowa
16. Los Angeles – Aziaha James, 5’9” SG, NC State
17. Golden State – Ayoka Lee, 6’6” C, Kansas State
18. Minnesota (via Chicago) – Saniya Rivers, 6’1” SF, NC State
19. Las Vegas (via Washington) – Emily Ryan, 5’11” PG, Iowa State
20. Minnesota – Maddie Scherr, 5’10” SG, TCU
21. Atlanta – Ja’Naiya “JJ” Quinerly, 5’8” SG, West Virginia
22. Dallas –Hailey Van Lith, 5’7” PG/SG, TCU
23. Connecticut – Yvonne Ejim, 6’1” SF, Gonzaga
24. Chicago (via New York) – Georgia Amoore, 5’6” PG, Kentucky
25. Las Vegas – Alexis Markowski, 6’3” C, Nebraska
THIRD ROUND
26. Phoenix – Sedona Prince, 6’7” C, TCU
27. Seattle – Liatu King, 6’0” SF, Pittsburgh*
28. Indiana – Rori Harmon, 5’6” PG, Texas
29. Los Angeles – Rayah Marshall, 6’4” PF, USC
30. Golden State –Gianna Kneepkens, 6’0” SG, Utah
31. Los Angeles (via Chicago) – Talia von Oelhoffen, 5’11” PG, Oregon State*
32. Washington – Makayla Timpson, 6’2” PF, Florida
33. Minnesota – Charlisse Leger-Walker, 5’10” SG, Washington State*
34. Atlanta – Phillipina Kyei, 6’8” C, Oregon
35. Dallas – Alyssa Ustby, 6’1” SF, UNC
36. Atlanta (via Connecticut) – Debora Dos Santos, 6’0” PF, San Francisco
37. New York – Bella Smuda, 6’6” C, Liberty
38. Las Vegas -. Matilda Ekh, 6’0” SF, Virginia Tech
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Doing a big board for 2025 is fine or even doing a mock draft based on where you expect certain teams to land in 2024 makes some sense but just doing it off of their 2023 standings when Seattle is going to be way way better makes zero sense
it’s just a temporary order and we used the 2023 standings as a base. the next mock draft won’t be done until the 2025 lottery takes. This is just a way too early preview of the 2025 draft.