Mock draft: Bueckers nonetheless the 1, however Miles strikes to lottery choose

Which crew will get the coveted No. 1 choose within the 2025 WNBA draft? The reply will come Sunday (5 p.m. ET, ESPN) when the league holds its draft lottery.

The Indiana Fever received the highest choose the previous two years, and each alternatives — Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark — have been residence runs who received the Rookie of the Yr award.

Proper now, the highest choose for 2025 seems as sure: UConn guard Paige Bueckers. However who shall be her coach? That we do not know, because the three groups that would get the No. 1 choose — the Los Angeles Sparks, Dallas Wings and Washington Mystics — all fired their coaches after the season. The Mystics additionally do not at the moment have a normal supervisor.

The opposite lottery crew, the Chicago Sky, additionally fired its coach however not too long ago employed Tyler Marsh, who had been a Las Vegas Aces assistant the previous three years. Nevertheless, due to a commerce with Dallas that permits the Wings to swap picks with the Sky within the 2025 draft, Chicago will not get the No. 1 choose.

The Sparks have the most effective odds (44.2%), adopted by the Wings (22.7%), Sky (22.7%) and Mystics (10.4%). Till the draft lottery is held to set the official order, we’ll record the highest 4 picks on this order.

We’re additionally together with some potential early entries — school gamers who aren’t seniors however meet the age necessities for the draft (they’re 22 or older in 2025). The early entries included under haven’t definitively mentioned if they’ll declare for the draft or return.

1. Los Angeles Sparks: Paige Bueckers

UConn | level guard | 6-foot-0 | senior

Bueckers is off to a robust begin for UConn — she is capturing 73.7% from the sphere — following her averages of 21.8 factors, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists final season. Bueckers’ effectivity and flexibility make her a wonderful candidate to transition seamlessly to the professional recreation. Bueckers has another 12 months of faculty eligibility left due to the COVID-19 waiver from 2020-21, however she has approached this as her closing season with the Huskies. Would possibly the end result of the lottery affect her resolution? We’ll wait and discover out.

2. Dallas Wings: Kiki Iriafen

USC | energy ahead | 6-3 | senior

After a breakthrough season with Stanford as a junior (19.4 PPG, 11.0 RPG), Iriafen transferred to USC and is predicted to be an enormous a part of the Closing 4 contenders. She has averaged 16.3 PPG and seven.7 RPG for the Trojans. Iriafen additionally has made two 3-pointers in three video games — which does not sound like a lot however is as many as she had in her three seasons at Stanford.

3. Chicago Sky: Azzi Fudd

UConn | capturing guard | 5-10 | junior

Fudd has but to return to the courtroom for UConn after lacking final season with a knee damage; she’s anticipated again in December. She has performed simply 42 school video games and has indicated she seemingly is leaning towards staying one other season at UConn. For now, we’re nonetheless together with her within the mock draft. If she decides to go professional, her potential as a shooter may make her precious to a crew just like the Sky.

4. Washington Mystics: Olivia Miles

Notre Dame | level guard | 5-10 | junior

Miles, who missed the 2023 postseason and all of 2023-24 with a knee damage, is one other doable early entry. One of many issues for Miles, together with well being, is her 3-point capturing. Nevertheless, she’s off to a superb begin and opened the season with a triple-double. One other plus: Success amongst Notre Dame guards within the WNBA is well-established.

5. Golden State Valkyries: Lauren Betts

UCLA | heart | 6-7 | junior

We do not know at this level what the Valkyries shall be searching for within the 2025 draft as a result of they have no gamers but; the enlargement draft is Dec. 6. Betts is draft-eligible as she turns 22 subsequent 12 months. If she leaves early, she could possibly be a excessive choose. Now in her second season at UCLA after beginning at Stanford, Betts is a profession 64.4% shooter.

6. Washington Mystics (from Atlanta): Dominique Malonga

France | heart | 6-6

Mike Thibault made the personnel selections as Mystics GM for the previous 12 years, however he and his son, Eric, who coached the crew the previous two years, have been let go after the season. We do not know what route the Mystics are going with something now, together with the draft. Malonga, who does not flip 19 till November, made the French Olympic crew this 12 months. Together with her measurement and potential, she could possibly be a first-round choose even when she does not play within the WNBA in 2025.

7. New York Liberty (from Phoenix): Aneesah Morrow

LSU | small ahead | 6-1 | senior

Morrow has been an distinctive scorer and rebounder in her school profession, which began at DePaul and can end at LSU. However there’s concern about her measurement and true place within the WNBA. Plus, she has shot simply 24.3% from 3-point vary in school. Nonetheless, there’s numerous potential for Morrow, which could attraction to the reigning champions.

8. Indiana Fever: Janiah Barker

UCLA | energy ahead | 6-4 | junior

Like Betts, Barker is a junior however turns 22 subsequent 12 months and could possibly be in demand as a strong put up participant. After two years at Texas A&M, she transferred to UCLA and is a part of the Bruins’ sturdy inside assault. A key shall be how a lot her offense develops below coach Cori Shut and enjoying alongside all of the expertise at UCLA.

9. Seattle Storm: Te-Hina Paopao

South Carolina | guard | 5-9 | senior

Paopao returned for a fifth 12 months after successful the nationwide championship with the Gamecocks final season. Her 3-point capturing accuracy could possibly be interesting on the subsequent stage. In her school profession (she spent the primary three years at Oregon), she has shot 40.9% from behind the arc. That features 46.8% final season. Taking part in for South Carolina coach Daybreak Staley has improved Paopao’s protection, too.

10. Chicago Sky (from Connecticut): Rori Harmon

Texas | level guard | 5-6 | senior

Harmon was granted a hardship waiver after being restricted to 12 video games final season by a knee damage, so she may return to varsity for one more season. Nevertheless, if she declares for the draft, her quickness, protection and playmaking are all massive property. Enhancing as a constant 3-point shooter would assist her draft inventory.

11. Minnesota Lynx: Shyanne Sellers

Maryland | level guard | 6-2 | senior

We noticed in Minnesota’s run to the WNBA Finals this season how nicely coach Cheryl Reeve can use gamers to maximise their strengths and make the entire even stronger than the sum of its components. You might envision a participant similar to Sellers, with good measurement as a playmaker, becoming in with the Lynx.

12. Phoenix Mercury (from New York): Sonia Citron

Notre Dame | capturing guard | 6-1 | senior

With fellow guard Miles again this season for Notre Dame, Citron’s numbers may decline from final season’s 17.3 factors, 5.5 rebounds and a pair of.7 assists per recreation. However her potential as a flexible guard and 3-point shooter may make her a first-round choice.