Story By: Erin Zollars
Photos By: Sol Tucker
New York, NY–
The big night has finally come and gone for the WNBA and there are some new faces going into the W for the 2025 season led by Paige Bueckers.
Tonight was the first time since 2016 that a UCONN star has gone #1 in the Draft, and she becomes the sixth player to do so dating back to Sue Bird in 2002.
There had been quite a bit of talk going around about whether Bueckers would actually play in Dallas after it had been going around that she would not play in Dallas if she was the top pick. This also came up again when it was announced that she would be signing a big deal to play in the Unrivaled that will pay her more than her rookie deal in the WNBA. As of right now, all of the current players are excited about her leading the team to winning.
One of the big winners of this draft in the early rounds may have been the Seattle Storm. They not only are getting the youngest player in WNBA history at 19 years old, but a 6’6 forward with pro experience in France and maybe one of the best players to come from another country so far. Major upside of for the Storm on this one.
We have to take a good look at our hometown Washington Mystics, who seemed to have dominated the first round selecting Notre Dame guard Sonia Citron and USC forward Kiki Iriafen. They then used that 6th pick to scoop up Kentucky Guard Georgia Amoore. Her game is probably one that will translate instantly to success in D.C and we expect big things from her sooner than later.
One of the biggest surprises of the night was Maryland’s Shyanne Sellers. Many had her going inside of the Top 10 before tonight, but quite a few GM’s and owners saw something differently than we did this past season at Maryland. She did get her team to a match-up against South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament but really lacked the take-over punch that the Terps needed in that game.
A pick we really liked came in at #9 to the Los Angeles Sparks taking Sarah Ashlee Barker. Her 45 point take over against Maryland really opened the eyes of GM’s and she should fit nicely with Kelsey Plum and Cameron Brink when she returns mid-season.
One player that went undrafted tonight that surprised quite a few people was 6’7 Forward Sedona Prince from TCU. The off-court battles may have played a round in this. Despite no confirmed reports that she was involved in anything that was reported and confirmed. Expect her to make a training camp invite roster somewhere this season.
Below are the 2nd and 3rd Round Results
Round 2 results
13. Las Vegas Aces: Aaliyah Nye — F, Alabama
14. Dallas Wings: Madison Scott — G, Ole Miss
15. Minnesota Lynx: Anastasiia Olairi Kosu — F, Russia
16. Chicago Sky: Maddy Westbeld — F, Notre Dame
17. Golden State Valkyries: Shyanne Sellers — G, Maryland
18. Atlanta Dream: Te-Hina Paopao — G, South Carolina
19. Indiana Fever: Makayla Timpson — F, Florida State
20. Indiana Fever: Bree Hall — G, South Carolina
21. Los Angeles Sparks — Sania Feagin — C, South Carolina
22. Chicago Sky: Aicha Coulibaly — G, Texas A&M
23. Washington Mystics: Lucy Olsen — G, Iowa
24. Minnesota Lynx: Dalayah Daniels — F, Washington
25. Connecticut Sun: Rayah Marshall — C, USC
Round 3 results
26. Seattle Storm: Serena Sundell — G, Kansas State
27. Dallas Wings: JJ Quinerly — G, West Virginia
28. Los Angeles Sparks: Liatu King — F, Notre Dame
29. Seattle Storm: Madison Conner — G, TCU
30. Golden State Valkyries: Kaitlyn Chen — G, UConn
31. Dallas Wings: Aaronette Vonleh — F, Baylor
32. Washington Mystics: Zaay Green — G, Alabama
33. Indiana Fever: Yvonne Ejim — F, Gonzaga
34. Seattle Storm: Jordan Hobbs — G, Michigan
35. Las Vegas Aces: Harmoni Turner — G, Harvard
36. Atlanta Dream: Taylor Thierry — F, Ohio State
37. Minnesota Lynx: Aubrey Griffin — F, UConn
38. New York Liberty: Adja Kane — C, France
