2025 WNBA Draft Grades: Winners, Surprises, and the Paige Bueckers Effect

By Jason Bolton April 22, 2025 15:24

The 2025 WNBA Draft delivered a mix of franchise-altering picks, calculated gambles, and head-scratching reaches. With Paige Bueckers leading the charge as the No. 1 pick, teams like the Dallas Wings and Washington Mystics positioned themselves for long-term success, while others left analysts questioning their strategies. Here’s how every team fared in a draft that could redefine the league’s future.

Dallas Wings: A+

Key Picks:

Paige Bueckers (No. 1, UConn)
Aziaha James (No. 12, NC State)
Madison Scott (No. 14, Ole Miss)

The Wings didn’t overthink it. Bueckers, a generational talent who led UConn to its first title since 2016, gives Dallas a face-of-the-franchise star. “She’s one of the 10 best draft prospects of all time,” said WNBA analyst Hunter Cruse. Pairing her with Arike Ogunbowale and Maddy Siegrist creates a perimeter trio that’s “impossible to guard,” per ESPN.

Later picks like James (18.5 PPG, 42% 3PT) and Scott (elite defender) add depth to a roster that missed the 2024 playoffs.

Washington Mystics: A-

Key Picks:

Sonia Citron (No. 3, Notre Dame)
Kiki Iriafen (No. 4, USC)
Georgia Amoore (No. 6, Virginia Tech)

The Mystics, in full rebuild mode, landed three players with All-Star potential. Citron, a 6'1" wing, brings pro-ready scoring (17.3 PPG) and defensive versatility. Iriafen, a 6'3" forward, dominated the Pac-12 (19.4 PPG, 11.5 RPG), while Amoore’s playmaking (7.1 APG) gives Washington a true floor general.

“They’ve set the foundation for a new era,” said CBS Sports’ Jack Maloney.

Seattle Storm: B+

Key Pick:

Dominique Malonga (No. 2, France)

The Storm’s gamble on Malonga, a 6'7" center with raw upside, divided analysts. While her size and athleticism are tantalizing, her limited exposure against top competition raises questions. “She could be the next Sylvia Fowles—or a project,” noted Cruse. Seattle’s lack of additional first-round picks kept this grade from climbing higher.

Chicago Sky: B

Key Picks:

Ajša Sivka (No. 10, Slovenia)
Hailey Van Lith (No. 11, TCU)

The Sky doubled down on backcourt creativity, reuniting Van Lith with former LSU teammate Angel Reese. Van Lith’s playmaking improved markedly at TCU (6.2 APG), but her 5'7" frame and streaky shooting (33% 3PT) limit her ceiling. Sivka, a 19-year-old Slovenian wing, offers intriguing upside but may not contribute immediately.

“Van Lith and Reese’s chemistry could be fun, but this feels like a reach,” said ESPN’s Michael Voepel.

Golden State Valkyries: C+

Key Picks:

Justė Jocytė (No. 5, Lithuania)
Cheyenne Sellers (No. 17, Baylor)

The league’s newest team played it safe. Jocytė, a 6'1" guard, is a proven scorer overseas but lacks WNBA-ready physicality. Sellers, a 40% three-point shooter, tumbled due to medical concerns. “Their draft lacked the boldness you’d expect from an expansion team,” said Bleacher Report’s Rachel Galligan.

Connecticut Sun: B+

Key Picks:

Aneesah Morrow (No. 7, LSU)
Sayiah Rivers (No. 8, UCLA)

Morrow, a double-double machine (18.4 PPG, 10.1 RPG), fell due to positional overlap with Alyssa Thomas. However, her physicality and rebounding make her a steal. Rivers, a 6'4" center, adds much-needed size to a frontcourt that ranked last in blocks in 2024.

Los Angeles Sparks: B-

Key Pick:

Kennedy Smith (No. 9, USC)

Smith, a 6'0" wing, brings defensive tenacity but limited offensive polish. The Sparks passed on higher-upside guards like Sellers, leaving fans wanting more.

Atlanta Dream: C+

Key Pick:

Te-Hina Paopao (No. 18, South Carolina)

Paopao, a 47% three-point shooter, was a second-round steal. But with only one other pick (Taylor Thierry at No. 36), Atlanta did little to address its lack of frontcourt depth.

Indiana Fever: B

Key Pick:

Liz Kitley (No. 13, Virginia Tech)

Kitley, a 6'6" center, provides insurance behind Aliyah Boston. However, her recent ACL injury makes her a risky pick.

Minnesota Lynx: C

Key Pick:

Leilani Kapinus (No. 15, Penn State)

Kapinus is a defensive specialist, but Minnesota’s failure to land a true point guard keeps this grade low.

Final Verdict

The 2025 draft will be remembered for Bueckers’ coronation and Washington’s savvy rebuild. While teams like Dallas and Connecticut nailed their picks, Golden State and Minnesota left room for regret. As the Valkyries’ GM put it: “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” But for some franchises, patience might not be a luxury they can afford.