As teams settle into the new college basketball season, the WNBA offseason kicked up a notch with November's WNBA Draft Lottery. April's draft is still months away but there's no better time than the present to check in on the best prospects in women's college basketball.
After a historic season from last year's standout rookies, the 2025 WNBA Draft class will have high expectations to live up to. That said, the class features several talented players capable of making an immediate impact during the upcoming WNBA season.
UConn's Paige Bueckers is one of the most accomplished players who will enter this year's draft, but the class goes even deeper with stars across major programs.
As a reminder, the first mock is largely based on projected performance from draft-eligible players this season. Additionally, only 12 of the league's 13 teams will make a first-round selection. The WNBA rescinded the Aces' first-round pick after an investigation found the organization violated league rules regarding impermissible player benefits and workplace policies
With that in mind, the Los Angeles Sparks are on the clock…
MORE: What to know about WNBPA's decision to opt out of CBA
WNBA Mock Draft 2025
The order and selections in this mock draft will be updated following the conclusion of the WNBA Draft Lottery.
1. Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers, UConn
Age: 23, Redshirt senior
Position: Guard
Height: 6-0
After losing two seasons to devastating injuries, Bueckers triumphantly returned to the floor in 2023-24. As she was honored at UConn's senior night, Bueckers let the world know that she would be returning for one final season with the Huskies.
Bueckers is the best draft-eligible player in college basketball. She swept National Player of the Year honors as a freshman and has only grown as a player over the past four years. Bueckers is a legit 6-foot backcourt player who scores efficiently, creates for others and rebounds her position well.
Bueckers feels like the surest shot at No. 1. Dallas is an intriguing spot for her as it provides an opportunity to share a backcourt with superstar guard Arike Ogunbowale. The Wings winning the first overall pick could also entice free agent Satou Sabally to stay with the franchise as it looks to return to the playoffs after a down year.
2. Los Angeles Sparks: Kiki Iriafen, USC
Age: 21, Graduate Student
Position: Forward
Height: 6-3
After three standout seasons at Stanford, Iriafen transferred to USC to spend her final college basketball season in her hometown. She is an incredible athlete and an even better player.
With Rickea Jackson, Dearica Hamby and Cameron Brink, LA already has no shortage of talent in its frontcourt. That said, the Sparks would make a chemistry play by reuniting Brink and Iriafen, who were teammates for three seasons in Palo Alto, Calif.
Iriafen averaged 19.4 points and 11.0 rebounds per game as a junior, including a 41-point outburst in the NCAA Tournament. She opened this season with a 22-point, 13-rebound performance against Ole Miss and continues to develop as a player. Her face-up game from the mid-post is already pro-ready and she appears to be extending her range — after hitting just two 3s during her first three seasons, she has already hit two triples in her first three games at USC.
The upside is too hard to pass up here.
3. Chicago Sky: Olivia Miles, Notre Dame
Age: 21, Senior
Position: Guard
Height: 5-10
Miles opened her senior season with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. That she will be a nightly triple-double threat speaks volumes about her skill and versatility.
OLIVIA MILES IS BACK 🔥🎉
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) November 4, 2024
TRIPLE DOUBLE 🤯
• 20 points
• 10 assists
• 10 rebounds
• 8/12 FG pic.twitter.com/LU9cSEsx6A
With the duo of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso on the blocks, Chicago's frontcourt is set for the future. A playmaking guard of Miles' caliber makes a ton of sense for the Sky as they continue to work to build a contender step by step.
It helps that Chicago has another first-round pick to fully lean into a youth movement.
MORE: Angel Reese had perfect one-letter response to Sky head coach hire
4. Washington Mystics: Aneesah Morrow, LSU
Age: 21, Senior
Position: Forward
Height: 6-1
In 2024, the Mystics ranked dead last in rebounds. They should use this pick to help address that issue.
Morrow has been one of college basketball's best rebounders since Day 1. She averaged 13.8 rebounds per game as a freshman and turned in a 20-20 performance three games into her senior year.
Statistically, Morrow is a poor 3-point shooter (24.3 percent) but she's done so at a relatively high volume (3.1 attempts/game). She has shown enough comfort to figure that part of her game out, giving her positional flexibility in a situation with a crowded frontcourt like Washington.
If nothing else, Morrow's rebounding ability should instantly translate to the pro level.
Aneesah Morrow today 🔥
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) November 12, 2024
• 21 points
• 20 REBOUNDS
• 7/12 FG
LSU wins! pic.twitter.com/Qrxr3Hw1gb
5. Golden State Valkyries: Azzi Fudd, UConn
Age: 22, Graduate Student
Position: Guard
Height: 5-11
Fudd is another standout who has been dealt an awful hand with devastating injuries. In 2022-23, she missed 22 games with a knee injury. After appearing in three games last season, she suffered a torn ACL and meniscus at practice.
Connecticut is understandably taking a cautious approach to her return in 2024, but her history shouldn't overshadow her star power. Fudd earned multiple National Player of the Year honors as a high school sophomore. She was a Big East All-Freshman Team selection and is a career 38.6 percent 3-point shooter.
The Valkyries are building something new and need star power to do it. When healthy, Fudd can be a major building block for an expansion team.
6. Washington Mystics (via ATL): Shyanne Sellers, Maryland
Age: 21, Senior
Position: Guard
Height: 6-2
Washington doesn't have to go far for its next first-round selection as Sellers has grown into stardom during her four seasons at the University of Maryland.
As the Mystics continue to look to fill out their roster, backcourt help is a great next step. Sellers has excellent size at the guard position and a unique ability to create for herself and her teammates. She's patient with the ball in her hands and has transferrable skills that will allow her to be an impactful backcourt addition.
7. New York Liberty (via PHX): Georgia Amoore, Kentucky (Australia)
Age: 23, Graduate Student
Position: Guard
Height: 5-6
How do the champions begin their title defense? By reloading and adding more talent.
Amoore may be small but she is a fierce competitor and a great playmaker. After averaging 6.8 assists per game during her final season at Virginia Tech, Amoore dished out seven or more assists in each of her first three games at Kentucky.
With Courtney Vandersloot's career winding down, maybe Sandy Brondello eyes a pass-first Aussie to come in as New York's next playmaker.
MORE: How the Liberty broke through to end historic title drought
8. Indiana Fever: Sonia Citron, Notre Dame
Age: 21, Senior
Position: Guard
Height: 6-1
It's a transformational offseason for the Fever, who look to build after snapping an eight-year postseason drought. They could seek help from down the road in South Bend, Ind.
Citron has enjoyed a fruitful career at Notre Dame. She was the ACC Freshman of the Year and earned all-conference honors as a sophomore and junior.
As they continue to build around Caitlin Clark, Indiana would be well suited to add a guard who rebounds well and is a capable shooter from the perimeter.
MORE: Why Mike Breen compared Caitlin Clark to Michael Jordan, LeBron James, & Stephen Curry
9. Seattle Storm: Dominique Malonga, ASVEL (France)
Age: 18
Position: C
Height: 6-6
After a first-round exit in 2024, Seattle looks to run it back. With that in mind, the Storm can afford to add a developmental prospect who may not come over to the States for the 2025 season.
At 18, Malonga had moments on France's national team during the Olympics, including seven points in eight minutes against Canada. It was with the French National Team that Malonga also played alongside Storm forward Gabby Williams.
Malonga's potential as a 6-6 two-way big makes this an interesting spot.
10. Chicago Sky: Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina
Age: 22, Senior
Position: Guard
Height: 5-9
This is Year 5 of college basketball for Paopao. After three years at Oregon, she won a national championship in her first year at South Carolina and will look to finish out on top in 2025.
Paopao is a career 40.9 percent 3-point shooter, a heady playmaker and has pre-existing chemistry with Cardoso. This aligns with the Sky's plan to continue to build the right way with skilled players.
11. Minnesota Lynx: Janiah Barker, UCLA
Age: 21, Junior
Position: Forward
Height: 6-4
Barker is draft-eligible as a junior because she turns 22 in 2025. After two seasons at Texas A&M, Barker is getting settled in during her first season at UCLA.
The Lynx fell just a few plays shy of winning a title and will likely look to go best player available at this spot. Barker is not the typical 6-4 forward. Offensively, she can put the ball on the deck and create for herself. Defensively, she is extremely versatile.
Baker's name could rise as the season goes on.
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12. Phoenix Mercury (via NYL): Ajsa Sivka, Tarbes (France)
Age: 19
Position: Forward
Height: 6-4
Depending on how the offseason goes, Phoenix could have a GOAT-sized void to fill. You don't fill such a void with one pick, but a player of Sivka's caliber is a start.
The 19-year-old is 6-4 and extremely skilled. Sivka put her skills on display at the FIBA Women's U18 European Championship, but the biggest takeaway is that she can flat-out shoot the ball. That skill aligns perfectly with the vision head coach Nate Tibbetts has for the franchise.
