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

Expertise-wise, UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers ought to be the No. 1 choose within the 2025 WNBA draft. She may comply with Caitlin Clark, final 12 months’s No. 1 choice to the Indiana Fever, as a pro-ready guard who may instantly assist a WNBA franchise.

Bueckers is a game-changer whose talent set will attraction to any group, together with the Dallas Wings, who won the WNBA draft lottery Sunday and may have the highest choose in April.

The query is whether or not Bueckers — who has stated this will likely be her final season at UConn despite the fact that she has a 12 months of eligibility left — may change her thoughts concerning the 2025 draft.

The Wings franchise has been in Dallas since 2016, and in that point the group has had 5 coaches with a sixth on the way. Latricia Trammell was fired after this previous season’s 9-31 document, regardless of main the Wings to the semifinals in 2023.

Sources across the league have indicated that the Los Angeles Sparks, who received the No. 2 choose within the lottery, would have been Bueckers’ most well-liked possibility. Just like the Wings, the Sparks additionally presently do not have a head coach. However Los Angeles is a big market and a group that might even have used a guard like Bueckers.

Longtime WNBA coach Curt Miller, fired by the Sparks in September, was not too long ago hired as the Wings’ new general manager and is in place to assist resolve the following Dallas coach. The Wings face large free company questions: Particularly, will forwards Satou Sabally and Natasha Howard keep in Dallas? However the potential of including Bueckers makes the Wings a extra engaging possibility.

As for the opposite lottery groups, the Chicago Sky will choose No. 3 and the Washington Mystics No. 4. For now, our mock draft has each groups taking early-entry gamers within the draft. However that might change dramatically relying on their choices and the way the school season performs out.

1. Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers

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

Dallas has had six lottery picks up to now eight drafts, together with Charli Collier at No. 1 in 2021. She has not performed within the WNBA the previous two seasons. However Bueckers might be like hitting the jackpot for Dallas. She’s off to a powerful begin for UConn by means of three video games, averaging 21.3 factors, 3.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Her effectivity and flexibility make her a wonderful professional prospect. The possibility to pick out her may be the highest-level commerce bait, however it’s arduous to see the Wings giving up a participant with this potential.

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— Arike Ogunbowale (@Arike_O) November 17, 2024

2. Los Angeles Sparks: Kiki Iriafen

USC | energy ahead | 6-3 | senior

Iriafen is from Los Angeles, transferred to USC in April after three seasons at Stanford and may begin her professional profession at Crypto.com Area, not removed from the Trojans’ Galen Middle. After a breakthrough junior season (19.4 factors, 11.0 rebounds per recreation) with the Cardinal, Iriafen is a key participant on a Ultimate 4 contender. She averaged 17.3 factors and seven.5 rebounds by means of her first 4 video games at USC.

The Sparks took forwards Cameron Brink (No. 2) and Rickea Jackson (No. 4) within the 2024 draft. Brink, who was Iriafen’s teammate at Stanford, suffered a knee harm in June and missed the remainder of the season. But when she is again wholesome with Jackson, who was on the WNBA’s All-Rookie group, including Iriafen makes for a dynamic younger put up trio.

3. Chicago Sky: Azzi Fudd

UConn | capturing guard | 5-10 | junior

This might be seen as a peculiar choose as a result of Fudd has performed solely 42 faculty video games. She has but to return to the courtroom for UConn after lacking final season due to a knee harm; she’s anticipated again in December. So there’s a lot unknown about Fudd.

However when wholesome, she is a spectacular shooter. If Fudd can keep on the courtroom this season at UConn after which decides to declare for the draft — she has a 12 months of faculty eligibility left after this season — the Sky below new coach Tyler Marsh may choose her. Marsh desires the Sky, who averaged a league-worst 4.8 3-pointers per season final 12 months, to be a a lot better group from lengthy vary.

4. Washington Mystics: Olivia Miles

Notre Dame | level guard | 5-10 | junior

Miles, who missed the 2023 postseason and all of 2023-24 due to a knee harm, is one other potential early entry. One of many issues with Miles, together with well being, is her 3-point capturing. Nonetheless, she’s off to begin this season. She had a triple-double within the Irish’s opener, and her 20 factors, 11 rebounds and seven assists Sunday in opposition to Lafayette helped Notre Dame transfer to 4-0. One other plus: Success amongst Notre Dame guards within the WNBA is effectively established.

The Mystics fired basic supervisor Mike Thibault and coach Eric Thibault after this previous season and have but to interchange them. So we do not know at this level who will likely be making personnel choices for Washington.

5. Golden State Valkyries: Lauren Betts

UCLA | middle | 6-7 | junior

We do not know what the Valkyries will likely be on the lookout for within the 2025 draft as a result of they haven’t any gamers but; the enlargement draft is Dec. 6. Betts, draft eligible as a result of she turns 22 subsequent 12 months, might be a excessive choose if she leaves faculty early. Now in her second season at UCLA after beginning at Stanford, Betts is a profession 64.4% shooter.

6. Washington Mystics (from Atlanta): Sedona Prince

TCU | middle | 6-7

Mike Thibault made the personnel choices as Mystics GM for the previous 12 years, and he was recognized for his detailed scouting and definitive opinions about how gamers would match into his system. However it will likely be a brand new period with Washington. The scenario with Prince is exclusive: Between accidents and the COVID-19 waiver, she is in her seventh 12 months in faculty and can flip 25 subsequent Could when the WNBA season begins.

When wholesome, her expertise is big, as proven together with her 31 factors and 16 rebounds in TCU’s victory over NC State on Sunday. Her well being has been a steady curler coaster.

7. New York Liberty (from Phoenix): Dominique Malonga

France | middle | 6-6

Malonga, who turned 19 on Saturday, made the French Olympic group this 12 months. Along with her measurement and potential, she might be a first-round choose even when she does not play within the WNBA in 2025. The defending champion Liberty, who’ve had latest success with European gamers equivalent to Leonie Fiebich (Germany) and Marine Johannes (France), may see Malonga as a choose for the longer term.

8. Indiana Fever: Aneesah Morrow

LSU | small ahead | 6-1 | senior

Morrow has been an distinctive scorer and rebounder in her faculty profession, which began at DePaul and can end at LSU. However there’s concern about her measurement and what her handiest place will likely be within the WNBA. Plus, she has shot 24.3% from 3-point vary in faculty. Nonetheless, there’s lots of potential for Morrow as a participant who may run the ground effectively and be one other goal for Caitlin Clark’s passes.

9. Seattle Storm: Te-Hina Paopao

South Carolina | guard | 5-9 | senior

The present group dynamics in Seattle recommend veteran guard Jewell Loyd is not comfortable there and may desire a commerce. That would imply Seattle would look extra for a guard within the draft.

Paopao returned for a fifth 12 months of faculty after successful the nationwide championship with the Gamecocks final season. Her 3-point capturing accuracy might be interesting on the subsequent degree. In her faculty profession (the primary three years at Oregon), she has shot simply over 40% from behind the arc. That features 46.8% final season. And taking part in for South Carolina coach Daybreak Staley has improved her 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 harm, so she may return to varsity for an additional season. Nonetheless, if she declares for the draft, her quickness, protection and playmaking are all large property. Bettering as a constant 3-point shooter would assist her draft inventory and might be particularly necessary for her to be chosen by the Sky.

11. Minnesota Lynx:

Janiah Barker

UCLA | energy ahead | 6-4 | junior

The Lynx may use some extra assist inside for Napheesa Collier and Alanna Smith. Like UCLA teammate Betts, Barker is only a junior however turns 22 subsequent 12 months and might be in demand as a robust put up participant. After two years at Texas A&M, she transferred to UCLA and is a part of the Bruins’ robust inside assault. A key will likely be how a lot her offense develops below coach Cori Shut and taking part in alongside all of the expertise at UCLA.

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

Notre Dame | capturing guard | 6-1 | senior

We do not know but if guard Diana Taurasi may return for a twenty first WNBA season with the Mercury. Both approach, Phoenix may search for extra guard assist if there isn’t any robust put up possibility out there at this level within the draft. 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.