2025 WNBA Mock Draft and Analysis for Elite Prospects and Hidden Gems

Much like last year, general managers around the WNBA are hoping that a draft class anchored by one standout star yields a lot of value further down the board.

Following her shaky start, Caitlin Clark eventually delivered on her massive hype with the Indiana Fever, winning Rookie of the Year and finishing fourth in the MVP voting. Nobody doubts Clark will be viewed as the crown jewel of the 2024 draft.

But Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardoso, Rickea Jackson and Aaliyah Edwards all performed well and looked like they have long careers ahead.

When it comes to the 2025 WNBA draft, UConn's Paige Bueckers stands head and shoulders above the pack. The flurry of first-round trades—eight of the top 12 picks have changed hands—can be read as a general attitude around the league of the incoming class.

Maybe Bueckers proves to be the only bona fide star to emerge, but she's not the only prospect with the potential to be an impactful contributor at the next level.

1. Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers, G, UConn

2. Seattle Storm: Dominique Malonga, F, ASVEL Lyon

3. Washington Mystics: Sonia Citron, G, Notre Dame

4. Washington Mystics: Kiki Iriafen, F, USC

5. Golden State Valkyries: Aneesah Morrow, F, LSU

6. Washington Mystics: Shyanne Sellers, G, Maryland

7. Connecticut Sun: Georgia Amoore, PG, Kentucky

8. Connecticut Sun: Justė Jocytė, PG, ASVEL Lyon

9. Los Angeles Sparks: Saniya Rivers, G, NC State

10. Chicago Sky: Hailey Van Lith, PG, TCU

11. Minnesota Lynx: Sarah Ashlee Barker, G, Alabama

12. Dallas Wings: Serena Sundell, PG, Kansas State

Mock draft via Rachel Galligan for Bleacher Report

Paige Bueckers, G, UConn

There isn't much more that needs to be said about Bueckers.

Before the Minnesota native ever put on a Huskies uniform, she was considered a special talent who could potentially be the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft. And it took one season at UConn to show the hype was warranted.

Bueckers' performance never dipped across the remainder of her time in Storrs. This past year, she averaged 19.9 points on 53.4 percent shooting, including 41.9 percent from beyond the arc, along with 4.6 assists and 2.1 steals.

For the Dallas Wings, there wasn't much contemplation necessary once they won the draft lottery. They probably started printing the Bueckers merchandise the moment the lottery concluded.

Sonia Citron, G, Notre Dame

Sonia Citron may owe her former Notre Dame teammate Olivia Miles a debt of gratitude because Miles' decision to stay in college increased the likelihood Citron is a lottery pick.

The Fighting Irish guard is a multifaceted offensive talent and versatile defender thanks to her 6'1" frame. She averaged 14.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 steals across 32 appearances.

The way in which head coach Niele Ivey utilized Citron should help her at the next level, too. Citron had a career-low 18.3 percent usage rate and a career-high 36.1 percent three-point attempt rate, per Her Hoop Stats.

The adjustment from college to the WNBA can often be more difficult because a player who grew accustomed to running the show will have to assume a less involved role. Citron already has an idea of what's in store for her.

Dominique Malonga, F, France

The Athletic's Sabreena Merchant reported Wednesday that "there is a growing subset of talent evaluators" who believe French center Dominique Malonga could eclipse Bueckers on the court.

For a little while, the WNBA remained a league where traditional centers and post scorers thrived, even as the NBA was making those archetypes outmoded. Malonga represents how floor-spacing bigs have now become highly sought after.

In 22 games for ASVEL Lyon, the 19-year-old averaged 15.4 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. She also went 11-of-38 on three-pointers, which is encouraging because she only needs to be good enough to where opposing defenses have to respect her as a long-range threat.

Maybe the idea that Malonga be better than Bueckers proves to be overly optimistic. It's easy to see why people are talking themselves into that idea, though.

Kiki Iriafen, F, USC

USC's final two games of the 2024-25 season won't send Kiki Iriafen spiraling down draft boards, but they certainly didn't help her.

With teammate JuJu Watkins sidelined, Iriafen combined to shoot 6-of-28 for 17 points in the Sweet 16 win over Kansas State and the Elite Eight loss to UConn. She also turned the ball over four times while recording two assists in those contests.

Still, the 6'3" forward's production over the past two seasons speaks for itself. She put up 18.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game.

It's fair to wonder whether Iriafen will emerge as a capable No. 1 scoring option in the WNBA. However, she should have a relatively high floor.

Justė Jocytė, G, ASVEL Lyon

Justė Jocytė isn't much of a secret to people who have been tracking the 2025 WNBA draft class, but casual fans probably haven't watched many of her games alongside Malonga in France.

Jocytė first represented Lithuania at the senior level when she was just 13. Now 19 years old, she has already attained the experience of a grizzled veteran.

That's not to say the 6'1" guard is the finished product. She's as raw as you'd expect of any player her age.She averaged 9.7 points and 2.8 assists to 2.2 turnovers for Lyon domestically, though her numbers improved a bit (12.1 points 2.6 assists an 1.6 turnovers) in the EuroCup Women.

Jocytė is all but certain to be picked in the first round and could sneak into the lottery if the Washington Mystics want to take a big swing with the second of their three first-rounders.

Assuming she falls somewhere between No. 4 and 8, Jocytė could nonetheless look like a steal a few years down the road.

Rayah Marshall, C, USC

In a paradoxical way, Rayah Marshall might benefit from the fact her role steadily diminished across her four years at USC.

As a senior in 2024-25, Marshall's usage rate was 16.6 percent, per Her Hoop Stats, a far cry from her 28.8 percent usage rate as a true freshman. That only helped her efficiency, though, as she shot a personal best 48 percent from the field. The 6'4" big also maintained a 17.8 percent rebounding rate and an 8.3 percent block rate.

From the end of the first round on through the rest of the draft, WNBA teams aren't operating under the assumption they'll find a future All-Star. They're looking for players who might earn a roster spot coming out of training camp.

You can envision Marshall beating out more proven veterans and putting in positive minutes off the bench as a rookie.