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Michael Voepel, ESPN Senior Author
Expertise-wise, UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers ought to be the No. 1 decide within the 2025 WNBA draft. She might observe Caitlin Clark, final 12 months’s No. 1 choice to the Indiana Fever, as a pro-ready guard who might assist instantly assist a WNBA franchise.
Bueckers is a recreation changer whose talent set will enchantment to any crew, together with the Dallas Wings, who gained the WNBA draft lottery Sunday and can have the highest decide subsequent April.
The query is whether or not Bueckers — who has mentioned this might be her final season at UConn regardless that she has a 12 months of eligibility left — may change her thoughts in regards to the 2025 draft.
The Wings franchise has been in Dallas since 2016, and in that point the crew 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 obtained the No. 2 decide within the lottery, would have been Bueckers’ most popular possibility. Just like the Wings, the Sparks additionally presently do not have a head coach. However Los Angeles is a big market and a crew 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 subsequent 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 a expertise like Bueckers makes the Wings a extra enticing possibility.
As for the opposite lottery groups, the Chicago Sky will decide No. 3 and the Washington Mystics No. 4. For now, our mock draft is staying with each groups taking early-entry gamers within the draft. However that might change dramatically relying on their selections and the way the season play out.
UConn | level guard | 6-foot-0 | senior
Dallas has had six lottery picks previously eight drafts, together with No. 1 Charli Collier in 2021. She has not performed within the WNBA the final two seasons. However Bueckers might be like hitting the jackpot for Dallas. Bueckers is off to a powerful begin for UConn by means of three video games: 21.3 factors, 3.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Her effectivity and flexibility make her a superb professional prospect. The possibility to pick out her is also the highest-level commerce bait, however it’s arduous to see the Wings giving up a participant with this potential.
I simply fell to my knees. THANK YOU LORD! 😭😭😭😭
— Arike Ogunbowale (@Arike_O) November 17, 2024
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 Enviornment, not removed from the Trojans’ Galen Heart. After a breakthough season as a junior (19.4 PPG, 11.0 RPG) with the Cardinal, Iriafen is an enormous a part of the Remaining 4 contenders. She has averaged 17.3 PPG and seven.5 RPG by means of 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 crew, including Iriafen makes for a dynamic younger put up trio.
UConn | capturing guard | 5-10 | junior
This might be seen as a peculiar decide as a result of Fudd has solely performed 42 faculty video games. She has but to return to the court docket for UConn after lacking final season with 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 court docket this season at UConn after which decides to declare for the draft — she has a 12 months of school eligibility left after this season — the Sky underneath new coach Tyler Marsh may decide her. Marsh desires the Sky, who averaged a league-worst 4.8 3-pointers per season final 12 months, to be a significantly better crew from lengthy vary.
Notre Dame | level guard | 5-10 | junior
Miles, who missed the 2023 postseason and all of 2023-24 with a knee harm, is one other attainable early entry. One of many considerations with Miles, together with well being, is her 3-point capturing. Nevertheless, 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 towards Lafayette helped Notre Dame transfer to 4-0. One other plus: Success amongst Notre Dame guards within the WNBA is well-established.
The Mystics fired common supervisor Mike Thibault and coach Eric Thibault after this previous season and have but to switch them. So we do not know at this level who might be making personnel selections for Washington.
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Dallas Wings win WNBA draft lottery
Wings consultant Maddy Siegrist feedback on Dallas securing the No. 1 decide within the 2025 WNBA draft.
UCLA | heart | 6-7 | junior
We do not know at this level what the Valkyries might be searching for within the 2025 draft as a result of they have no gamers but; the growth draft is Dec. 6. Betts is draft-eligible as she turns 22 subsequent 12 months. If she leaves early, she might be a excessive decide. 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 | heart | 6-7
Mike Thibault made the personnel selections as Mystics GM for the previous 12 years, and he was identified for his detailed scouting and definitive opinions about how gamers would match into his system. However it is going to be a brand new period with Washington. The state of affairs 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 Might when the WNBA season begins.
When wholesome, her expertise is gigantic, 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 | heart | 6-6
Malonga, who turned 19 on Saturday, made the French Olympic crew this 12 months. Together with her dimension and potential, she might be a first-round decide even when she does not play within the WNBA in 2025. The defending champion Liberty, who’ve had latest success with European gamers corresponding to Leonie Fiebich (Germany) and Marine Johannes (France), may see Malonga as a decide for the longer term.
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 dimension and what her simplest place might be within the WNBA. Plus, she has shot 24.3% from 3-point vary in faculty. Nonetheless, there’s a whole lot of potential for Morrow as a participant who might run the ground nicely and be one other goal for Caitlin Clark’s passes.
South Carolina | guard | 5-9 | senior
The present crew dynamics in Seattle counsel veteran guard Jewell Loyd is not joyful there and may need a commerce. That would imply Seattle would look extra for a guard within the draft.
Paopao returned for a fifth 12 months of school after profitable the nationwide championship with the Gamecocks final season. Her 3-point capturing accuracy might be interesting on the subsequent stage. 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 enjoying 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 might return to varsity for one more season. Nevertheless, if she declares for the draft, her quickness, protection and playmaking are all large property. Enhancing as a constant 3-point shooter would assist her draft inventory and might be particularly necessary for her to be chosen by the Sky.
UCLA | energy ahead | 6-4 | junior
The Lynx might 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’ sturdy inside assault. A key might be how a lot her offense develops underneath coach Cori Shut and enjoying alongside all of the expertise at UCLA.
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 manner, Phoenix might search for extra guard assist if there isn’t a sturdy put up possibility obtainable 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 might make her a first-round choice.
