With the draft order in place, the Chicago Sky will have the No. 3 and the No. 10 overall picks in the 2025 WNBA Draft. 

What could the 1st round of the WNBA Draft look like, and who are some names that should be on everyone’s radar this NCAAW season? 

Let’s take a look at a way-too-early mock draft.

1. Dallas Wings – Paige Bueckers, PG (UConn)

The Wings beat the odds in the WNBA Draft lottery to secure the No. 1 overall pick and win the battle for point guard Paige Bueckers out of UConn. With Bueckers back and healthy in her final season with UConn, this is generational talent that cannot be passed up. Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale had a reason behind her post on X.

2. Los Angeles Sparks – Kiki Iriafen, PF (USC)

The Los Angeles native transferred to USC after 3 seasons at Stanford where she played with current Spark forward Cameron Brink. Iriafen averaged a double-double (19.4 points, 11.0 rebounds) with Brink. Pairing the two Stanford grads with forward Rickea Jackson can create a post core that the Sparks can build around for the future while getting early high offensive efficiency.

3. Chicago Sky – Olivia Miles, PG (Notre Dame)

The Sky need a floor general to lead Tyler Marsh’s new offensive-minded team in 2025. While a starter is most likely going to be someone that the Sky sign in free agency, drafting with eyes on 2026 and beyond pairs with Marsh’s player development background. Miles is averaging 18.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.8 assists 4 games into Notre Dame’s season. Her playmaking ability while also having a deep shooting range aligns with Marsh’s desire to add shooters to a team that ranked 10th in 3-point percentage (29.6%) in 2024.

4. Washington Mystics – Azzi Fudd, SG (UConn)

Fudd has battled injuries a majority of her collegiate career, seeing that she’s only played in 42 games. However, that should not overshadow the talent that is there when she is healthy. She shot 44.9% from the field, averaging 13.1 points a game. She’s also a threat from deep, shooting 38.6% from the 3-point line. 

The Mystics fired their general manager Mike Thibault and head coach Eric Thibault after the 2024 season and still have yet to announce who will be taking over. Who is making these personnel decisions is still unknown.

5. Golden State Valkyries – Dominique Malonga, C (France)

We still don’t know what the Valkyries will build around because the roster doesn’t exist just yet with the expansion draft set for Dec. 6. Having a big with huge developmental potential is one way to go with the 19-year-old 6-foot-6 center in Malonga. She’s incredibly efficient from all over the floor with high versatility to guard about any positions. Add that to her size and that’s a solid pillar to build an expansion team around.

6. Washington Mystics – Sonia Citron, G (Notre Dame)

Again, who is making the personnel decisions is still unknown at this point but Citron’s size at the guard position provides length to a developing back court. She’s a high volume shooter, taking about 10 shots a game and hits on 45.8% of them on her career. Pairing her with Aaliyah Edwards provides another playmaker option the Mystics can develop towards the future.

7. New York Liberty – Shyanne Sellers, G (Maryland)

The reigning WNBA champs are in a position where they can add talent to develop. A majority of the Liberty roster is expected to return for another year, but with Courtney Vandersloot nearing the end of her career, Sellers is the guard that can come in and contribute quickly. She’s had a stellar career for Maryland, averaging 12.3 points and 4.1 assists a game over 3 years. Her playmaking ability can slide right in if Vandersloot does decide to hang it up.

8. Indiana Fever – Aneesah Morrow, F (LSU)

The Fever will most likely trade Nalyssa Smith this offseason, seeing that she struggled to find her space in the Caitlin Clark-led offense. With that in mind, Morrow can be that option to be that playmaker alongside Clark and Aliyah Boston. While her size at her position at 6-foot-1 makes it hard to decide where she’ll land, she is another option to feed inside.

9. Seattle Storm – Georgia Amoore, G (Kentucky)

With recent news of problems in the Seattle locker room, it’s likely that guard Jewell Loyd won’t return to the Storm and will ask for a trade. That means the Storm could look to replace that position in the draft. Amoore’s playmaking and shooting abilities are easy additions to a back court. Barring any implosion and full roster breakdowns, her 5-foot-6 size can easily be concealed with the rest of the height on the team picking up the slack defensively.

10. Chicago Sky – Te-Hina Paopao, G (South Carolina)

Paopao is entering her 5th collegiate season after winning a national championship alongside current Sky center Kamilla Cardoso. There’s an instant chemistry there that can be useful for both of their developments in the WNBA, and Paopao brings a hot hand from the arc as a 40.9% career 3-point shooter. It’s an easy fill from the offensive side of the ball – a main focus of new head coach Tyler Marsh.

11. Minnesota Lynx – Janiah Barker, PF (UCLA)

The Lynx could use an extra body in the front court and Barker could slide right in to learn alongside Alanna Smith and Napheesa Collier. Now, how Barker’s offensive game develops this season is still a question mark with her transferring to UCLA after two seasons at Texas A&M. The potential is there for the Lynx to develop as a future pillar.

12. Phoenix Mercury – Rori Harmon, G (Texas)

Whether Diana Taurasi returns for her 21st WNBA season is still up in the air with the Mercury. Regardless of whether or not the future hall-of-famer is back on the hardwood, adding a guard to either take over the reins or learn from Taurasi should be a main focus for the Mercury. Harmon’s playmaking ability while being a 40.5% career shooter is an option for either route.