The Dallas Wings earn the highest choose within the 2025 Draft. Hopefully on their aspect, who precisely will they choose first total?
The WNBA Draft Lottery has come and gone, and the Dallas Wings secured the No. 1 choice within the upcoming 2025 WNBA Draft. Whereas the end result shocked followers throughout the league, Dallas and Chicago every had solely a 22.7% probability of securing the highest choose. The overwhelming favourite to land the no. 1 spot, the Sparks had the very best odds at 44.2 %.
Many missed that Dallas had one of the best odds total, because of their capacity to swap first-round picks with the Chicago Sky. Someway in some way, Dallas beat the 457 of 1,000 odds to win the main choice. Edging out the Sparks with 442 of 1,000 probabilities, It was destiny.
Paige Bueckers headlines a proficient 2025 WNBA Draft class
With UConn guard Paige Bueckers extensively projected as the primary total choose, many assumed Los Angeles would safe the first-team All-American. Whereas that is nonetheless a risk, Bueckers and USC star Kiki Iriafen stay within the hunt for the spot.
Represented by Wings, second-year ahead Maddy Siegrist was chosen no. 3 total within the 2023 WNBA Draft by Dallas. “Tremendous excited” for the chance, Siegrist said, “How impactful the lottery picks have been, particularly the previous few seasons.”
Drafting a number of high-profile names, the Wings just lately chosen Jacy Sheldon with the fifth total choose within the 2024 WNBA Draft. Previous to that, Siegrist and Lou Lopez Sénéchal have been drafted no. 3 and no. 5 total in 2023. The 2 anchors in Dallas, Satou Sabally was picked no. 2 total in 2020, and Arike Ogunbowale, no. 5 in 2019. So sure, the Wings have compiled fairly the expertise through the years.
Why Bueckers could be an ideal match for the Dallas Wings
Paige Bueckers 👌 pic.twitter.com/G4tSq7eJMt
— UConn Ladies’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) November 16, 2024
Parting methods with head coach Latricia Trammell, the Wings have a vacant head coach place. Whereas it is unclear who will fill that roll, Dallas is trending upward. If Bueckers is, the truth is, the primary choose, she would match completely alongside Obunbowale and Sabally. Particularly defensively, the place the Wings largely struggled.
A flexible guard who can rating in varied methods, Bueckers is averaging 21.3 factors, 3.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and a career-high 3.0 steals. Capturing at a excessive clip, the Minnesota native is averaging career-highs in area purpose (65 %) and three-point share (50 %).
With the choose, the Wings sign indicators of life. Hiring former Sparks head coach Curt Miller as Common Supervisor, Miller witnessed Dallas swoop the primary choose proper earlier than LA’s eyes. Discuss a full-circle second.
With the latest hiring of Miller, Siegrist is optimistic for the longer term, even with no present head coach.
“Will probably be thrilling,” Siegrist instructed Andraya Carter mid-WNBA Draft Lottery. “I believe the brand new entrance workplace and the coaches– can be thrilling to see who we get. The lottery choose goes to assist lots as effectively.”
If Siegrist clarifies one side, the Wings will get a model new facility. With that, she vouches for the steak and barbecue.
The Sparks have a brilliant future forward
Rickea Jackson will workforce up with Cameron Brink for the LA Sparks 🔥 #WNBAdraft pic.twitter.com/xkWoCMt8tS
— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) April 16, 2024
Contemplating every workforce’s two-year cumulative information, the Sparks had a file of 25-55 over that span. Paradoxically, the Wings and Sky have an identical information of 31-49 over the past two years. Though their roster would not mirror the standings, the Mystics have a mixed 31-49 file over two years.
The Los Angeles Sparks, represented by Rickea Jackson, earned the no. 2 total choose in subsequent 12 months’s draft. Of their rebuilding space, the Sparks once more missed out on the one spot. Riddled with accidents, the Sparks did hit the jackpot, drafting Cameron Brink second total in 2024. Earlier than struggling a season-ending damage with a torn ACL, Brink averaged 7.5 and led the league in blocks (per 36 minutes).
Together with Brink, the Sparks hit a two-for-one particular with drafting Jackson 4th total in 2024. A promising younger squad, the second choose will complement Dearica Hamby, Jackson, and Brink. Whereas there’s a ton of expertise on this 12 months’s draft, Kiki Iriafen would complement Brink exceptionally effectively within the entrance courtroom.
The Sky will look to construct round Reese, Cardoso
Angel Reese is becoming a member of the Chicago Sky, together with Kamilla Cardoso #wnbadraft pic.twitter.com/nl5xFt3dNN
— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) April 16, 2024
No stranger to the state of affairs, the Chicago Sky was granted the no. 3 total choose on this 12 months’s upcoming draft. The Sky will purpose so as to add an offensive expertise to enhance Kamilla Cardoso, the No. 3 choose, and Angel Reese, the No. 7 choice within the 2024 Draft.
After parting methods with former head coach Teresa Weatherspoon after only one season, Chicago just lately tabbed Tyler Marsh as the pinnacle coach. Represented by Reese, the guy LSU begin reluctantly admitted they must swap the choose with Dallas. Nonetheless, Reese was “going for 2 or three.”
Three years faraway from a WNBA Championship in 2021, the latest hirings sign a future championship in sight. Whereas the Sky fell wanting the primary choose, there are many choices for the choose. Whereas Chicago may select to commerce the choose, Olivia Miles or Aneesah Morrow could be an ideal addition alongside Cardoso and Reese. Dropping Reese to a season-ending damage, the Sky fell wanting the playoffs with a 13-27 file. After a 3-3 begin, the Sky 13 of their 15 ultimate video games.
The Washington Mystics wanted a excessive draft choose
Aaliyah Edwards drafted no. 6 total by the Washington Mystics #WNBAdraft pic.twitter.com/ChIPZTPVay
— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) April 16, 2024
With the bottom odds at 11 p.c, the Washington Mystics can have the no. 4 total choose. Represented by former UConn Husky Aaliyah Edwards, the Mystics now maintain the fourth and sixth picks within the draft. Whereas they’ve a training emptiness after parting methods with Eric Thibault, the Mystics could not over come accidents all season lengthy.
Alongside Edwards, who was drafted no. 6 total within the 2024 WNBA Draft, the group will seemingly construct across the Canadian native and Shakira Auston (no. 3 total 2022). With a 14-26 file, the Mystics barely missed the playoffs.
Ending 19-21 in 2023, the general file doesn’t mirror the present state of the franchise. With out Elena Delle Donne and Natasha Cloud, Washington misplaced two of their star gamers. In clear rebuild mode, I imagine the Mystics want a better draft choose than ever.
2025 WNBA first-round draft order
Now that the highest 4 picks are set, included under is the complete 2025 WNBA Draft order:
1. Dallas Wings
2. Los Angeles Sparks
3. Chicago Sky
4. Washington Mystics
5. Golden State Valkries
6. Washington Mystics (Through Atlanta Dream)
7. New York Liberty (Through Phoenix Mercury)
8. Indiana Fever
9. Seattle Storm
10. Chicago Sky (Through Connecticut Solar)
11. Minnesota Lynx
12. Phoenix Mercury
Notably absent are the Las Vegas Aces, whose 2024 first-round choose was rescinded for violating league guidelines. After buying Marina Mabrey within the midst of a post-season push, the Solar traded away their first-round choose to the Chicago Sky.
ESPN newest WNBA mock draft
Though I’ve talked about only a few gamers, here’s a full 2024 ESPN WNBA first-round mock draft record:
1.. Paige Bueckers (PG), UConn: Dallas Wings
2. Kiki Iriafen (PF), USC: Los Angeles Sparks
3. Azzi Fudd (SG), UConn: Chicago Sky
4. Olivia Miles (PG), Notre Dame: Washington Mystics
5. Lauren Betts (C), UCLA: Golden State Valkries
6. Sedona Prince (C), TCU: Washington Mystics
7. Dominique Malonga (C), France: New York Liberty
8. Aneesha Morrow (SF), LSU: Indiana Fever
9. Te-Hina Paopao, (G), South Carolina: Seattle Storm
10. Rori Harmon (PG), Texas: Chicago Sky
11.Janiah Barker (PF), UCLA: Minnesota Lynx
12. Sonia Citron (SG), Notre Dame: Phoenix Mercury
Now that the order is ready, the 2025 WNBA Draft is slated to happen on Monday, April 14, 2025. Whereas the enlargement draft will happen on December 6, the Valkries additionally retain the present no. 5 total choose. With an additional 12 months of eligibility as a consequence of Covid, a number of gamers, together with Fudd may return for another 12 months.
Whereas the NCAAW season is simply underway, I anticipate this mock draft to vary because the season goes on. You should definitely observe Ballislife.com for extra NCAA Ladies’s basketball-related articles.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content material Creator and Social Media Supervisor for Ballislife Bets. She has a deal with the Ladies’s Basketball and the NBA. Sara Jane at present resides in Connecticut/NYC space together with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma from the College of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in enterprise administration.
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