WNBA Draft 2025: Paige Bueckers Goes First Overall to Dallas Wings
The highly anticipated 2025 WNBA Draft has finally arrived, with the Dallas Wings selecting former UConn star Paige Bueckers with the number one pick. This comes as no surprise, as Bueckers has long been touted as a top prospect in the league. The 6-foot guard is renowned for her exceptional skills on the offensive end, where she scores efficiently at all three levels. According to CBS Sports, "Bueckers has long been the projected No. 1 pick, and now it has finally become a reality. The 6-foot guard is a savant on the offensive end, where she scores efficiently at all three levels (she was a few made free throws away from a 50/40/90 season) and knows how to put her teammates in positions to succeed." (Source: CBS Sports)
The selection marks a significant moment for the Wings, who are looking to bolster their roster with a franchise-changing talent. As noted by CBS Sports, "Bueckers is a franchise-changing talent, both on and off the court, and the Wings’ present and future just got a whole lot more exciting." (Source: CBS Sports)
In addition to Bueckers, several other top prospects were selected in the first round. The Seattle Storm chose French center Dominique Malonga with the second pick, while the Washington Mystics selected Notre Dame guard Sonia Citron and USC forward Kiki Iriafen with the third and fourth picks, respectively.
The expansion team, Golden State Valkyries, made their first-ever draft pick by selecting Lithuanian guard JustÄ— JocytÄ— at number five. Other notable selections include Aneesah Morrow to the Connecticut Sun at number seven and Hailey Van Lith to the Chicago Sky at number 11.
One of the biggest surprises of the first round was the fall of Shyanne Sellers, who was not selected until the 17th overall pick by the Valkyries. According to CBS Sports, "Most mock drafts had her as a top-six pick, but she fell to the Valkyries at No. 17 overall, perhaps due to a knee injury that had been limiting her in the second half of last season with Maryland." (Source: CBS Sports)
The Las Vegas Aces did not have a first-round selection due to a 2023 investigation that found they had violated league rules on impermissible player benefits. As a result, their 2025 first-round pick was rescinded.
CBS Sports provided grades for each of the first-round selections, with Bueckers receiving an A+ grade. The publication noted that "Bueckers has long been the projected No. 1 pick, and now it has finally become a reality. The 6-foot guard is a savant on the offensive end, where she scores efficiently at all three levels (she was a few made free throws away from a 50/40/90 season) and knows how to put her teammates in positions to succeed." (Source: CBS Sports)
The second and third rounds of the draft also saw several notable selections. The Las Vegas Aces chose Aaliyah Nye with the 13th pick, while the Dallas Wings selected Madison Scott with the 14th pick. The full results of the draft can be found below:
Round 1 Results
- Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers — G, UConn
- Seattle Storm: Dominique Malonga — C, France
- Washington Mystics: Sonia Citron — G, Notre Dame
- Washington Mystics: Kiki Iriafen — F, USC
- Golden State Valkyries: Justė Jocytė — G, Lithuania
- Washington Mystics: Georgia Amoore — G, Kentucky
- Connecticut Sun: Aneesah Morrow — F, LSU
- Connecticut Sun: Saniya Rivers — G, NC State
- Los Angeles Sparks: Sarah Ashlee Barker — G, Alabama
- Chicago Sky: Ajša Sivka — F, Slovenia
- Chicago Sky: Hailey Van Lith — G, TCU
- Dallas Wings: Aziaha James — G, NC State
Round 2 Results
- Las Vegas Aces: Aaliyah Nye — F, Alabama
- Dallas Wings: Madison Scott — G, Ole Miss
- Minnesota Lynx: Anastasiia Olairi Kosu — F, Russia
- Chicago Sky: Maddy Westbeld — F, Notre Dame
- Golden State Valkyries: Shyanne Sellers — G, Maryland
- Atlanta Dream: Te-Hina Paopao — G, South Carolina
- Indiana Fever: Makayla Timpson — F, Florida State
- Indiana Fever: Bree Hall — G, South Carolina
Round 3 Results
- Seattle Storm: Serena Sundell — G, Kansas State
- Dallas Wings: JJ Quinerly — G, West Virginia
- Los Angeles Sparks: Liatu King — F, Notre Dame
- Seattle Storm: Madison Conner — G, TCU
- Golden State Valkyries: Kaitlyn Chen — G, UConn
- Dallas Wings: Aaronette Vonleh — F, Baylor
- Washington Mystics: Zaay Green — G, Alabama
The 2025 WNBA Draft has provided several teams with talented young players who will look to make an immediate impact in the league. As noted by CBS Sports, "Bueckers is a franchise-changing talent, both on and off the court, and the Wings’ present and future just got a whole lot more exciting." (Source: CBS Sports)
