Draft

– Minnesota Lynx Receive Second Pick, Seattle Storm to Select Third, 
Washington Mystics will Choose Fourth, and Chicago Sky Rounds out Top Five Picks –
NEW YORK, Nov. 23, 2025 – The Dallas Wings today won the 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery and will have the first overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft to be held on Monday, April 13, 2026.
The results of the 25th annual Lottery were revealed by WNBA Head of League Operations Bethany Donaphin during the 30-minute, WNBA Draft Lottery Special on ESPN. following its presentation of the TCU vs. North Carolina State women’s basketball game. This marks the 14th consecutive year that ESPN networks has presented the WNBA Draft Lottery.
Dallas, which entered the Lottery with the most chances to win the top pick (420 out of 1,000), won the WNBA Draft Lottery for the second consecutive year. In November 2024, the Wings won the top pick for the first time in team history after participating in the Lottery 11 previous times. The franchise used that No. 1 overall pick to select Paige Bueckers, who went on to be voted as a starter in the AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star Game and as the Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year.
This also marks the fifth time in the history of the WNBA Draft Lottery that the results matched the order of chances held by the Lottery teams. The prior instances were ahead of the 2009, 2015, 2016, and 2018 WNBA drafts.
The Minnesota Lynx, which had the second-most chances to win the top pick (261), will have the second selection. The Seattle Storm will select third after having the third-most chances to land the top pick (167).
The fourth selection belongs to the Washington Mystics, which had 97 chances to receive the first pick. The Chicago Sky, which had the fifth-most chances to garner the top pick (55), rounds out the top five.
Lottery odds were based on the two-year (2024 and 2025) cumulative records of the five teams that did not make the playoffs in the most recent season. With a cumulative record of 19-65, the Wings had the most assigned combinations (420 out of 1,000) and were guaranteed at least the third pick.
The order of selection for the remainder of the first round as well as the second and third rounds will be announced at a later date.
A representative from the accounting firm of Ernst &amp; Young was in attendance to oversee the Lottery process.
The following are results of the 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery.
<table style="width: 85.6147%" width="633">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 14.0355%" width="56">Pick</td>
<td style="width: 36.4392%" width="272">Team</td>
<td style="width: 25.7911%" width="165">Combined 2024-2025 Record</td>
<td style="width: 39.268%" width="140">Chances (out of 1,000)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 14.0355%" width="56">1</td>
<td style="width: 36.4392%" width="272">Dallas Wings</td>
<td style="width: 25.7911%" width="165">19-65</td>
<td style="width: 39.268%" width="140">420</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 14.0355%" width="56">2</td>
<td style="width: 36.4392%" width="272">Minnesota Lynx from Chicago Sky</td>
<td style="width: 25.7911%" width="165">23-61*</td>
<td style="width: 39.268%" width="140">261</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 14.0355%" width="56">3</td>
<td style="width: 36.4392%" width="272">Seattle Storm from Los Angeles Sparks</td>
<td style="width: 25.7911%" width="165">29-55^</td>
<td style="width: 39.268%" width="140">167</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 14.0355%" width="56">4</td>
<td style="width: 36.4392%" width="272">Washington Mystics</td>
<td style="width: 25.7911%" width="165">30-54</td>
<td style="width: 39.268%" width="140">97</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 14.0355%" width="56">5</td>
<td style="width: 36.4392%" width="272">Chicago Sky from Connecticut Sun</td>
<td style="width: 25.7911%" width="165">39-45+</td>
<td style="width: 39.268%" width="140">55</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
* Chicago and Minnesota extinguished Minnesota’s right to swap its own first round pick for Chicago’s own first round pick and Chicago has traded its own first round pick to Minnesota (Sika Koné, Nikolina Milić, 4/14/24), (Draft picks, 4/13/25)
^ Los Angeles had traded its own first round pick to Seattle (Kia Nurse, 1/31/24)
+ Phoenix had traded its own first round pick to Chicago (Kahleah Copper, Morgan Bertsch, Michaela Onyenwere, Brianna Turner, 2/6/24) and Chicago had swapped Phoenix’s first round pick for Connecticut’s own first round pick (Marina Mabrey, Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson, 7/17/24)
# # #

wnba-draft-lottery-2026-results

Dallas Wings Win Top Pick in 2026 WNBA Draft

Below are answers to some of the main questions regarding the WNBA Draft Lottery 2026.
<hr />
When is the 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery, and where can I watch? 
The 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery will be broadcast on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 6:30 pm ET on ESPN. 
<hr />
 What teams are participating in the 2026 WNBA Draft Lottery? 
The Dallas Wings, Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics, and Chicago Sky will take part in the 25th annual WNBA Draft Lottery. 
<hr />
How does the Draft Lottery work? 
14 lottery balls numbered 1 through 14 are mixed into a lottery machine. Four lottery balls are drawn to create a four-number combination. One qualifying team holds that four-number combination and will receive the No. 1 pick. This process repeats to determine the No. 2 pick.   
The No. 3 pick will be awarded to the remaining draft lottery team with the worst cumulative record over the last two WNBA seasons. The No. 4 pick will be awarded to the remaining draft lottery team with the next-worst cumulative record over the last two WNBA seasons.   
The final remaining draft lottery team will receive the #5 pick. 
<hr />
How are the chances of winning the Draft Lottery determined? 
Lottery chances are based on the two-year (2024 and 2025) cumulative records of the five teams that did not make the playoffs in the most recent season.  
<hr />
Which team has the best chance at winning the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft? 
With a cumulative record of 19-65, the Wings will have the most assigned combinations (420 out of 1,000) and are guaranteed at least the third pick. 
As the result of a prior trade between Minnesota and Chicago (23-61), the Lynx possess the Sky’s first round pick and will have 261 chances out of 1,000 to win the top pick.  
Seattle, which owns the Los Angeles Sparks’ (29-55) first round pick by virtue of a January 2024 trade, has the third-most chances (167). 
Washington, 30-54 over the past two seasons, has 97 chances out of 1,000 to win the top pick, and Chicago, which owns the Connecticut Sun’s (39-45) first round selection, has the fifth most chances (55).  
<table data-tablestyle="MsoNormalTable" data-tablelook="1696">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td data-celllook="69905">Team </td>
<td data-celllook="69905">Combined 2024-2025 Record </td>
<td data-celllook="69905">Chances (out of 1,000) </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-celllook="69905">Dallas Wings </td>
<td data-celllook="69905">19-65 </td>
<td data-celllook="69905">420 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-celllook="69905">Minnesota Lynx from Chicago Sky </td>
<td data-celllook="69905">23-61* </td>
<td data-celllook="69905">261 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-celllook="69905">Seattle Storm from Los Angeles Sparks </td>
<td data-celllook="69905">29-55^ </td>
<td data-celllook="69905">167 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-celllook="69905">Washington Mystics </td>
<td data-celllook="69905">30-54 </td>
<td data-celllook="69905">97 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td data-celllook="69905">Chicago Sky from Connecticut Sun </td>
<td data-celllook="69905">39-45+ </td>
<td data-celllook="69905">55   </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
* Chicago and Minnesota have extinguished Minnesota’s right to swap its own first round pick for Chicago’s own first round pick and Chicago has traded its own first round pick to Minnesota (Sika Koné, Nikolina Milić, 4/14/24), (Draft picks, 4/13/25) 
^ Los Angeles has traded its own first round pick to Seattle (Kia Nurse, 1/31/24) 
+ Phoenix has traded its own first round pick to Chicago (Kahleah Copper, Morgan Bertsch, Michaela Onyenwere, Brianna Turner, 2/6/24) and Chicago has swapped Phoenix’s first round pick for Connecticut’s own first round pick (Marina Mabrey, Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson, 7/17/24)

draft-lottery-2026-faq

WNBA Draft Lottery 2026: FAQ and Things to Know

– Dallas Wings, Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics, and Chicago Sky 
to Take Part in WNBA Draft Lottery 2026 –
NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2025 – The WNBA Draft Lottery 2026 will be broadcast on Sunday, Nov. 23, on ESPN, the WNBA announced today.
ESPN will air the 30-minute, WNBA Draft Lottery Special at 6:30 p.m. ET with WNBA Head of League Operations Bethany Donaphin revealing the results of the Lottery during ESPN’s coverage.  This marks the 14th consecutive year that ESPN networks will present the WNBA Draft Lottery.
The Dallas Wings, Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics, and Chicago Sky will take part in the 25th annual WNBA Draft Lottery. The 2026 WNBA Draft is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 13, 2026.
Lottery odds are based on the two-year (2024 and 2025) cumulative records of the five teams that did not make the playoffs in the most recent season. With a cumulative record of 19-65, the Wings will have the most assigned combinations (420 out of 1,000) and are guaranteed at least the third pick.
As the result of a prior trade between Minnesota and Chicago (23-61), the Lynx possess the Sky’s first round pick and will have 261 chances out of 1,000 to win the top pick. Seattle, which owns the Los Angeles Sparks’ (29-55) first round pick by virtue of a January 2024 trade, has the third-most chances (167).
Washington, 30-54 over the past two seasons, has 97 chances out of 1,000 to win the top pick, and Chicago, which owns the Connecticut Sun’s (39-45) first round selection, has the fifth most chances (55).
In the drawing, 14 balls numbered 1-14 will be placed in a lottery machine and mixed.  Four balls will be drawn to determine a four-digit combination.  The team assigned that four-ball combination will receive the No. 1 pick. The four balls will then be placed back into the machine and the process will be repeated to determine the second pick.  Of the three teams not selected in the drawings, the team with the worst cumulative two-year record shall select third; the team with the next worst record will select fourth; and the remaining team shall select fifth.
A representative from the league’s independent accounting firm Ernst &amp; Young will be in attendance to oversee the Draft Lottery process.
Below are the number of chances for teams to land the top pick in WNBA Draft Lottery 2026.
<table style="width: 94.5191%" width="705">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 46.077%" width="333">Team</td>
<td style="width: 29.8146%" width="212">Combined 2024-2025 Record</td>
<td style="width: 39.4339%" width="160">Chances (out of 1,000)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 46.077%" width="333">Dallas Wings</td>
<td style="width: 29.8146%" width="212">19-65</td>
<td style="width: 39.4339%" width="160">420</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 46.077%" width="333">Minnesota Lynx from Chicago Sky</td>
<td style="width: 29.8146%" width="212">23-61*</td>
<td style="width: 39.4339%" width="160">261</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 46.077%" width="333">Seattle Storm from Los Angeles Sparks</td>
<td style="width: 29.8146%" width="212">29-55^</td>
<td style="width: 39.4339%" width="160">167</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 46.077%" width="333">Washington Mystics</td>
<td style="width: 29.8146%" width="212">30-54</td>
<td style="width: 39.4339%" width="160">97</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 46.077%" width="333">Chicago Sky from Connecticut Sun</td>
<td style="width: 29.8146%" width="212">39-45+</td>
<td style="width: 39.4339%" width="160">55</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;
* Chicago and Minnesota have extinguished Minnesota’s right to swap its own first round pick for Chicago’s own first round pick and Chicago has traded its own first round pick to Minnesota (Sika Koné, Nikolina Milić, 4/14/24), (Draft picks, 4/13/25)
^ Los Angeles has traded its own first round pick to Seattle (Kia Nurse, 1/31/24)
+ Phoenix has traded its own first round pick to Chicago (Kahleah Copper, Morgan Bertsch, Michaela Onyenwere, Brianna Turner, 2/6/24) and Chicago has swapped Phoenix’s first round pick for Connecticut’s own first round pick (Marina Mabrey, Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson, 7/17/24)
# # #

wnba-draft-lottery-2026-announcement

WNBA Draft Lottery 2026 To Take Place Sunday, Nov. 23 on ESPN

Paige Bueckers with Holly Row at the 2025 WNBA Draft after being selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings

Paige Bueckers with Holly Row

Dominique Malonga at the 2025 WNBA Draft after being selected No. 2 by the Seattle Storm

Dominique Malonga at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Kiki Iriafen walking up the stage at the 2025 WNBA Draft after being drafted No.4 to the Washington Mystics.

Kiki Iriafen walking up the stage at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Georgia Amoore hugging Russell Westbrook at the 2025 WNBA Draft after being selected No. 6

Georgia Amoore hugging Russell Westbrook at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Ajša Sivka during an interview with Taylor Rooks at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Ajša Sivka at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Hailey Van Lith smiling at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Hailey Van Lith at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Aziaha James and Holly Rowe at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Aziaha James and Holly Rowe

Sarah Ashlee Barker hugging her mom at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Sarah Ashlee Barker hugging her mom

Saniya Rivers smiling during an interview at the 2025 WNBA Draft

WNBA DRAFT 2025 // Draft Photos

Aneesah Morrow hugging her former coach Kim Mulkey at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Aneesah Morrow hugging her former coach Kim Mulkey

Madison Scott smiling during an interview at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Madison Scott at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Paige Bueckers at the 2025 WNBA Draft

The 2025 WNBA Draft Green Room

Hailey Van Lith sitting with her family at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Hailey Van Lith and her family at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Overview of the draft stage at the 2025 WNBA Draft in New York

Overview of the draft stage

Georgia Amoore during an interview at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Georgia Amoore at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Dominique Malonga's family celebrate her with their national flag after she is drafted No. 2 at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Dominique Malonga's family

Sania Feagin on stage after being drafted at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Sania Feagin at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Madison Scott hugging Holly Rowe at the 2025 WNBA Draft

The 2025 WNBA Draft stage when Paige Bueckers was announced the No. 1 pick

The 2025 WNBA Draft stage

A full view of the set at the 2025 WNBA Draft

The set at the 2025 WNBA Draft

Aziaha James possing during the 2025 WNBA Draft

Aziaha James during the 2025 WNBA Draft

WNBA_Draft_2025_SF_CMYK_DkBkgd (1)

2025-wnba-draft-ceremony-photo-gallery

Photos of the Night: 2025 WNBA Draft Ceremony

WNBA rookies are making their presence felt like never before. From opening night to the postseason, first-year players are stepping into key roles, shifting team dynamics, and helping drive success immediately. Last season, Caitlin Clark played a pivotal role in helping the Indiana Fever secure their first playoff appearance in seven years. Additionally to Clark, Angel Reese became a nightly double-double threat for the Sky, while Rickea Jackson gave the Sparks a true three-level-scorer that ascended in the second half of the season, and Aaliyah Edwards and Kate Martin emerged as reliable contributors during critical stretches.
This trend isn’t slowing down—and it’s made the WNBA Draft more crucial than ever. It’s no longer just about building for the future; it&#8217;s about finding players who can change a team’s trajectory immediately. With that in mind, let’s break down the rookies from this year’s draft who are poised to do just that in 2025.
<hr />
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-197762" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-42.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-42.png 1920w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-42-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-42-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-42-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-42-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
Paige Bueckers &#8211; Dallas Wings
Paige Bueckers. Able to play both point guard and shooting guard, Bueckers brings the versatility needed to complement Arike Ogunbowale—a score-first guard known for her high shot volume. That volume may only grow with the offseason departure of Satou Sabally.
Bueckers, in contrast, is a natural facilitator who can still threaten from all three levels. Her playmaking instincts and ability to defer when needed make her an ideal backcourt partner for Ogunbowale. Dallas also has a strong frontcourt, with players like NaLyssa Smith and Myisha Hines-Allen expected to benefit from Bueckers’ proficiency in the pick-and-roll.
<hr />
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-197761" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-41.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-41.png 1920w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-41-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-41-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-41-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-41-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
Georgia Amoore &#8211; Washington Mystics
The Mystics came away from the draft with a trio of impact players: Georgia Amoore, Sonia Citron, and Kiki Iriafen. While all three address key needs, Amoore stands out in terms of immediate roster fit. As the Mystics have invested draft capital into bigs the previous few seasons (Edwards, Austin), Amoore will give them a legit pick and roll dance partner at the one. 
Amoore will likely compete for the starting point guard role this season, and the idea of her orchestrating alongside fellow rookies and established post players like Shakira Austin, Aaliyah Edwards, and Stefanie Dolson is compelling. At Virginia Tech, she averaged 6.9 assists per game and consistently created open looks off screens and spacing.
Her transition to the WNBA should be smooth, largely due to how well her skill set matches the talent already in Washington’s frontcourt.
<hr />
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-197763" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-43.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-43.png 1920w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-43-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-43-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-43-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-43-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
Hailey Van Lith &#8211; Chicago Sky
Speaking of guards who excel in space, Hailey Van Lith is one of the best among smaller guards at exploiting it. Last season at TCU, she shot 45.2% from the field and posted a career-high 5.2 assists per game—numbers that underscore her ability to generate offense in the pick-and-roll.
Now in Chicago, Van Lith will have the luxury of playing alongside Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. Not only did she already share the court with Reese at LSU in 2023–24, but their established chemistry should serve as a foundation for the Sky’s revamped attack.
Cardoso will benefit from Van Lith’s court vision and willingness to create opportunities in the post and in screen actions. Van Lith also helps offset the departures of Chennedy Carter and Diamond DeShields, both of whom were not re-signed this offseason.
<hr />
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-197764" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-44.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-44.png 1920w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-44-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-44-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-44-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/Untitled-design-44-1536x864.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
Te-Hina Paopao &#8211; Atlanta Dream
The Atlanta Dream ended the 2024 season ranked last in overall shooting percentage (40.8%) and second-to-last in three-point shooting (30.8%). Enter Te-Hina Paopao, a career 40% three-point shooter from her time at South Carolina. It’s easy to see why Atlanta took a chance on her in the second round.
If Paopao earns a spot on the final roster, she could provide badly needed shooting off the bench and help stretch the floor for players like Haley Jones and Nia Coffey. New head coach Karl Smesko, known for emphasizing perimeter shooting during his tenure at Florida Gulf Coast, likely played a major role in drafting Paopao at 18th overall.
WNBA reporter Candace Pedraza writes columns on <a href="http://wnba.com/">WNBA.com</a> throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams

how-top-draft-picks-align-with-their-new-teams

A Perfect Fit: How Top Draft Picks Align with Their New Teams

Before stepping into the 2025 Draft, the wavy walls of the modern, multi-level building foreshadowed a new era of player style on the Orange Carpet. While last year's draft introduced style surprises, like Rickea Jackson’s suit change before her selection, this year's draftees are delivering new takes on show-stopping style.&nbsp;
League-certified stylists are quickly teaming up with the latest talent, like Golden with Saniya Rivers; Sydney Bordonaro with Aziaha James; and Marc Desir with Deja Kelly. While these stylists are known for elevating their players’ aesthetics, working with draftees provides a rare opportunity for greater experimentation. Other notable stylist notes include Madison Scott teaming up with Liatu King, a current Notre Dame Women's Basketball Player; and Sania Feagin, who proudly credited her mom with choosing her shiny, white gown.&nbsp;

Madison Scott, Saniya Rivers' purse, Hailey Van Lith, and Aneesah Morrow pictured on the 2025 WNBA Draft Orange Carpet 

#1 DRAFT 2025 TRENDS

Madison Scott and Dominique Malonga pose on the 2025 WNBA Draft Orange Carpet 

#2 DRAFT 2025 TRENDS

Tina Thompson pictured in her 1997 WNBA Draft outfit, alongside Allisha Gray, and Nika Mühl during the 2025 WNBA Draft Orange Carpet.

#3 DRAFT 2025 TRENDS

Hailey Van Lith, Paige Bueckers, Aneesah Morrow and Sonia Citron pictured posing on the 2025 WNBA Draft Orange Carpet

#4 DRAFT 2025 TRENDS

A selection of custom Coach looks confirms the role of a player’s draft outfit as the first piece of storytelling around their personality– even when players rock the same brand, the resulting carpet is extremely diverse. Organizing style at the 2025 Draft into three major trends, these looks introduce this class’ style staples and unique approaches to one-of-one customization. 1. FULL SUITS

Since Tina Thompson's gray suit at the inaugural 1997 WNBA draft, players have confirmed that a full suit is a timeless option. This year, Madison Scott modernizes an AMIRI suit with a custom #24 piece from Johnny Dang with the help of stylist Liatu King, a current Notre Dame Women's Basketball Player. Dominique Malonga utilizes her Louis Vuitton suit's construction to pay homage to her French heritage.Current players who also appeared on the Orange Carpet in suits include Allisha Gray and Nika Mühl, who represents her Croatian heritage with a suit by y/GIA. 2. STATEMENT PURSES

While past players have opted to keep their hands free from purses, this year's draft outfits expands upon the idea of a statement purse. Working with Russell Westbrook as her stylist, Georgia Amoore debuts an "H" shaped purse to finish her Honor the Gift look.Saniya Rivers catches everyone's attention with a hand-painted "THE WNBA BEEN POPPIN" message on a collaborative purse by Saturday House and her stylist, Golden. From the actual suit to the details, Golden envisioned something "one of one that was curated just for [Rivers].” Transforming carpet-ready sparkle into something more abstract, Sarah Ashlee Barker wears a metallic Cult Gaia purse.

3. CUSTOM BRAND LOOKS Orange Carpet looks are typically rooted in contemporary inspiration, but Hailey Van Lith stands out for bringing vintage glam to her custom Coach look. Stylist Victoria Jacobi adds that the dress features "20s inspired beading" and a "corset to enhance and modernize the vibe."Several draftees welcomed Coach's new partnership with the WNBA, but each player's custom look is highly reflective of their personality. Paige Bueckers wears a sparkly wool suit with an oversized bag; Aneesah Morrow wears a cropped black leather jacket with a dress; and Sonia Citron pairs her preppy set with white socks.

WNBA reporter Kirsten Chen writes a lifestyle & fashion column on WNBA.com throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter through @hotgothwriter. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.

Before stepping into the 2025 Draft, the wavy walls of the modern, multi-level building foreshadowed a new era of player style on the Orange Carpet. While last year&#8217;s draft introduced style surprises, like Rickea Jackson’s suit change before her selection, this year&#8217;s draftees are delivering new takes on show-stopping style.&nbsp;
League-certified stylists are quickly teaming up with the latest talent, like <a href="https://www.instagram.com/itsgoldenpiecee/">Golden</a> with Saniya Rivers; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sbordonaro21">Sydney Bordonaro</a> with Aziaha James; and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marcmogul/">Marc Desir</a> with Deja Kelly. While these stylists are known for elevating their players’ aesthetics, working with draftees provides a rare opportunity for greater experimentation. Other notable stylist notes include Madison Scott teaming up with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/liatu.king/">Liatu King</a>, a current Notre Dame Women&#8217;s Basketball Player; and Sania Feagin, who proudly credited her mom with choosing her shiny, white gown.&nbsp;





A selection of custom Coach looks confirms the role of a player’s draft outfit as the first piece of storytelling around their personality– even when players rock the same brand, the resulting carpet is extremely diverse. Organizing style at the 2025 Draft into three major trends, these looks introduce this class’ style staples and unique approaches to one-of-one customization. 1. FULL SUITS



Since Tina Thompson&#8217;s gray suit at the inaugural 1997 WNBA draft, players have confirmed that a full suit is a timeless option. This year, Madison Scott modernizes an AMIRI suit with a custom #24 piece from Johnny Dang with the help of stylist Liatu King, a current Notre Dame Women&#8217;s Basketball Player. Dominique Malonga utilizes her Louis Vuitton suit&#8217;s construction to pay homage to her French heritage. Current players who also appeared on the Orange Carpet in suits include Allisha Gray and Nika Mühl, who represents her Croatian heritage with a suit by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/y_gia/">y/GIA</a>. 2. STATEMENT PURSES



While past players have opted to keep their hands free from purses, this year&#8217;s draft outfits expands upon the idea of a statement purse. Working with Russell Westbrook as her stylist, Georgia Amoore debuts an &#8220;H&#8221; shaped purse to finish her Honor the Gift look. Saniya Rivers catches everyone&#8217;s attention with a hand-painted &#8220;THE WNBA BEEN POPPIN&#8221; message on a collaborative purse by<a href="https://www.instagram.com/saturdayhouse/"> Saturday House</a> and her stylist, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/itsgoldenpiecee/">Golden</a>. From the actual suit to the details, Golden envisioned something &#8220;one of one that was curated just for [Rivers].” Transforming carpet-ready sparkle into something more abstract, Sarah Ashlee Barker wears a metallic <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cultgaia/">Cult Gaia</a> purse. 



3. CUSTOM BRAND LOOKS Orange Carpet looks are typically rooted in contemporary inspiration, but Hailey Van Lith stands out for bringing vintage glam to her custom Coach look. Stylist <a href="https://www.instagram.com/countonvic/">Victoria Jacobi </a>adds that the dress features &#8220;20s inspired beading&#8221; and a &#8220;corset to enhance and modernize the vibe.&#8221;Several draftees welcomed Coach&#8217;s <a href="https://www.wnba.com/news/coach-wnba-partnership">new partnership with the WNBA</a>, but each player&#8217;s custom look is highly reflective of their personality. Paige Bueckers wears a sparkly wool suit with an oversized bag; Aneesah Morrow wears a cropped black leather jacket with a dress; and Sonia Citron pairs her preppy set with white socks.



WNBA reporter Kirsten Chen writes a lifestyle &amp; fashion column on WNBA.com throughout the season and can be reached on Twitter through @hotgothwriter. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.

the-w-in-designer-three-style-trends-at-the-2025-draft

The W in Designer: Three Style Trends at the 2025 Draft

NEW YORK (AP) — The <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/article/wnba-2025-draft-paige-bueckers-a28fac1f8159d889ce385339717ab987" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">WNBA draft</a> has increasingly become a platform for more than just athleticism — it is a celebration of identity, heritage, culture, and self-expression.
<a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/article/wnba-draft-paige-bueckers-geno-0fbfad69c93f09d6cb6e222928372cfc" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">Paige Bueckers</a> may have been the No. 1 pick, but it was Kiki Iriafen who arguably stole the show when it came to fashion. Even Bueckers herself said Iriafen had the best look of the night.
Iriafen, drafted fourth overall by the Washington Mystics, is a forward who just wrapped up her senior season at USC, where she averaged 18 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. On the orange carpet, she made a statement — one rooted deeply in her Nigerian heritage.
“I’m Nigerian so I wanted to work with a Nigerian designer,” she said. “I was really adamant. I want a slip. I want the waist snapped. I can’t really breathe. I wanted to feel good, I wanted to look good.”
Future stars are using draft night as more than an opportunity to step into the spotlight for their talent on the court, but to use the moment to honor where they come from, showcase who they are beyond the jersey, and make powerful statements through fashion, family, and tradition.
Iriafen wore a custom, shimmering gold dress embellished with intricate detailing, designed by Nigerian designer Nneka Alexander — who also created Chiney Ogwumike’s wedding gown. To complete the look, Iriafen wore a traditional orange-beaded Nigerian bracelet, seamlessly blending modern glam with cultural pride.
The 6-foot-3 Iriafen was not alone.
Dominique Malonga, the gifted 6-6 forward from France and the second overall pick by the Seattle Storm, brought a piece of home with her. She stepped out in a sleek suit designed by none other than Louis Vuitton — one of France’s, and the world’s, most iconic fashion houses.
“A huge collaboration between them,” Malonga said. “I’m like a simple, classic person.”
Still, she made it clear that while her style might be understated, her game is anything but. As a forward, she knows she can do it all. At just 19, she’s already been playing high-level basketball overseas for four years.
Malonga wasn’t the only Storm player showcasing her roots on the orange carpet. Seattle Storm point guard and former UConn Husky Nika Muhl also proudly embraced her Croatian heritage
“I came all the way from Croatia to be here,” Muhl said. “I had to bring Croatia with me.”
Muhl was wearing a black pantsuit with a black crop top underneath, complemented by a chain of keys draped across her body. The entire look was designed by Croatian brand Y/GIA and styled by a Croatian stylist.
Even the players who couldn’t attend the draft found ways to let their identities shine.
Te-Hina Paopao, the sharp-shooting South Carolina guard, was selected 18th overall by the Atlanta Dream. Appearing on TV from her draft party, she wore a traditional Samoan dress, along with several flower lei around her neck—symbolic necklaces in Samoan culture that honor and celebrate.
“I am so blessed to be Samoan,” said Paopao. “When you think of Samoan culture you think of family and I am so ready to bring that culture to Atlanta.”
And family was definitely present — about 300 people gathered behind her at her draft party in California, a powerful visual of support and pride.
As they step into the professional spotlight, they carry with them not just their skills, but the pride of their families, their communities, and their cultures. The future of the WNBA isn’t just about basketball; it’s about creating a space where every player can be their true, authentic self—on the court and beyond.

fashion-heritage-talent-wnbadraft25

Fashion, Heritage and Talent: Players turn the WNBA draft into a cultural showcase

Paige Bueckers poses for a picture with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert of the WNBA after being drafted as first-round overall pick by the Dallas Wings during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025, at The Shed in New York, New York 

Paige Bueckers and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Saniya Rivers reacts with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the eighth overall pick Connecticut Sun during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025, in New York City. 

Saniya Rivers and WNBA Commissioner Cathy

The 2025 draftee class poses for a photo with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert before the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025, in New York City. 

The 2025 Draftee Class

2025 WNBA Draft

Hailey Van Lith reacts to being selected with the 11th overall pick by the Chicago Sky during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. 

Hailey Van Lith hugs her dad

Dominique Malonga poses for a photo with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the second overall pick by the Seattle Storm during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025, in New York City.

Dominique Malonga and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Georgia Amoore gets drafted by the Washington Mystics during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York 

Georgia Amoore

Ajša Sivka is drafted by the Chicago Sky during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York 

Ajša Sivka and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Dominique Malonga hugs family after being selected with the second overall pick by the Seattle Storm during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. 

Dominique Malonga hugs her mom

Holly Rowe interviews Sonia Citron after being drafted by the Washington Mystics during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at the Shed in New York City, New York. 

Sonia Citron gets interviewed by Holly Rowe

Kiki Iriafen poses for a photo with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the fourth overall pick by the Washington Mystics  during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025, in New York City. 

Kiki Iriafen and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Madison Scott reacts after being selected with the 14th pick in the second round by the Dallas Wings during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025, in New York City. 

Madison Scott hug Coach Yo

Kaitlyn Chen gets drafted by the Golden State Valkyries during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York 

Kaitlyn Chen and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Serena Sundell hugs WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being picked 26th in the third round by the Seattle Storm during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025, in New York City. 

Serena Sundell hugs WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Georgia Amoore poses for a photo with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the sixth overall pick by the Washington Mystics during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. 

Georgia Amoore poses for a photo with WNBA Commissioner

Ashlee Barker is drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025, at The Shed in New York, New York 

Ashlee Barker with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Shyanne Sellers embraces Commissioner Cathy Engelbert of the WNBA after being drafted by the Golden State Valkyries during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York 

Shyanne Sellers embraces Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Sonia Citron and Sarah Ashlee Barker poses for a photo before the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York 

Sonia Citron and Sarah Ashlee Barker

Sania Feagin poses for a picture with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert of the WNBA after being drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York 

Sania Feagin poses for a picture with Commissioner Cathy

Paige Bueckers poses for photos during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York

Paige Bueckers poses for photos during the 2025 WNBA Draft

Aubrey Griffin gets drafted by the Minnesota Lynx during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York 

Aubrey Griffin gets drafted by the Minnesota Lynx

Kiki Iriafen after being drafted by Washington Mystics during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at the Shed in New York City, New York. 

Kiki Iriafen after being drafted by Washington

Aubrey Griffin embraces Commissioner Cathy Engelbert of the WNBA after being drafted by the Minnesota Linx during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York 

Aubrey Griffin embraces Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Aaliyah Nye poses for a photo with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the 13th pick during the second round by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025, in New York City. 

Aaliyah Nye with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers pose for a photo during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York 

Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers

Madison Scott gets drafted by the Dallas Wings during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York 

Madison Scott gets drafted by the Dallas Wings

Aneesa Morrow is drafted by the Connecticut Sun during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York 

Aneesa Morrow is drafted by the Connecticut

Georgia Amoore, Kiki Iriafen, Paige Bueckers and Sania Feagin smiles during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York 

Georgia Amoore, Kiki Iriafen, Paige Bueckers and Sania Feagin

Kaitlyn Chen hugs WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the 30th pick in the third round by the Golden State Valkyries during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. 

Kaitlyn Chen hugs WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Serena Sundell poses for a picture with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert of the WNBA after being drafted by the Seattle Storm during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York 

Serena Sundell poses for a picture with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Hailey Van Lith poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the 11th overall pick by the Chicago Sky during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. 

Hailey Van Lith poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Ajsa Sivka poses for a picture after after being drafted the tenth overall pick by the Chicago Sky during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York 

Ajša Sivka

Paige Bueckers poses for a photo with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the first overall pick by the Dallas Wings during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. 

Paige Bueckers poses for a photo with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert

Aziaha James and Shyanne Sellers react prior to the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. 

Aziaha James and Shyanne Sellers

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Photos of the Night: 2025 WNBA Draft

Serena Sundell arrives prior to the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City.

Serena Sundell

Georgia Amoore arrives prior to the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. 

Aziaha James arrives prior to the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City.

Aziaha James

Saniya Rivers arrives prior to the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City.

Saniya Rivers

'The WNBA Been Poppin'

Nika Mühl, Paige Bueckers, and Aaliyah Edwards pose for a photo on the orange carpet.

Nika Mühl, Paige Bueckers, and Aaliyah Edwards

Nika Mühl attends the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14, 2025 at The Shed in New York, New York.

Nika Mühl

Paige Bueckers walks the orange carpet ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft.

DiJonai Carrington walks the orange carpet ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft.

DiJonai Carrington

Aubrey Plaza walks the orange carpet ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Aubrey Plaza

Aziaha James walks the orange carpet ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Sania Feagin walks the orange carpet ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Sania Feagin

Kiki Iriafen walks the orange carpet ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Kiki Iriafen

Hailey Van Lith walks the orange carpet ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Madison Scott walks the orange carpet ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Aja Sivka

Shyanne Sellers walks the orange carpet ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Sarah Ashlee Barker walks the orange carpet ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Sarah Ashlee Barker

Dominique Malonga poses for a photo on the orange carpet ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Aneesah Morrow walks the orange carpet ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft.

No. 4 pick Kiki Iriafen walks the orange carpet ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby walks the orange carpet ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Dearica Hamby

draft-25-orange-carpet-photo-gallery

Photos of the Night: 2025 WNBA Draft Orange Carpet

The NCAA tournament has officially ended, with the UConn Huskies reclaiming the throne from the South Carolina Gamecocks and winning a 12th title for the esteemed women’s college basketball program in Storrs, Connecticut. 
Now an NCAA Champion, star guard Paige Bueckers is set to enter the 2025 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm and currently projected to go No. 1 overall to the Dallas Wings. Bueckers’ entry into the draft is a long time coming, and she’s set to be one of the more closely watched rookies this season.
Outside of Bueckers, there are many standout players that fans are keen on seeing hit the stage and join a WNBA franchise, especially after some fabulous tournament performances from players like TCU’s Hailey Van Lith, LSU’s Aneesah Morrow, and USC’s Kiki Iriafen, to name a few. Their departure from their respective college programs will have just as big of an impact as Bueckers’ departure will, which just goes to show how strong this incoming class is projected to be. 
Let’s dive into five names to watch for ahead of the Wings being on the clock. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-197383 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/PaigeB.png" alt="Paige Bueckers" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/PaigeB.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/PaigeB-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/PaigeB-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Paige Bueckers
Let’s start with Paige Bueckers, the senior guard out of UConn who has dazzled the basketball stage for several seasons. Under head coach Geno Auriemma and alongside teammates Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, Bueckers has finally managed to secure the one piece of hardware she was missing from her mantel with just one week to go until she hears her name called during the draft &#8211; an NCAA championship.
Bueckers averaged 19.9 points per-game along with 4.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.1 steals in 2024. In the tournament, she averaged 24.8 points, 4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks per-game in six games en route to the title. 
Bueckers’ accolades stretch beyond the stuffing the stat sheet, of course. She scored the most points of any UConn Husky in women’s basketball program history, passing Maya Moore for the honor, and is now third overall in women’s college basketball history in scoring during the NCAA Tournament with 477 total points. These records are all the more impressive when considering she missed the 2022 season with a torn ACL.  

The multi-time All-American, former AP Player of the Year, Big East legend, and now NCAA champion is set to enter the league as the favorite to land Rookie of the Year honors. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-197384 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/HaileyVL.png" alt="Hailey Van Lith" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/HaileyVL.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/HaileyVL-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/HaileyVL-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Hailey Van Lith
In a different path from Bueckers, Van Lith has gone through three college programs on her journey to the draft stage. Between her time with the Louisville Cardinals, LSU Tigers, and TCU Horned Frogs, Van Lith averaged 15.2 points per-game along with 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 steals. At LSU, Van Lith departed from the norm and was the teams’ main on-ball facilitator. She used her last year of eligibility to play with TCU as a shooting guard once again. 
Her shooting was fairly consistent while with TCU in 2024-25, and she also averaged the most assists per-game she ever had in her final collegiate year with the Horned Frogs and while surrounded with some great shooting. 
Van Lith is entering the league at a time where guards, and specifically the art of passing first, is more appreciated than ever. Thinking of great point guards like Chelsea Gray, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Natasha Cloud, and others who elevate players around them with their facilitating, it’s fun to imagine what Van Lith will bring to the league with her passing skills. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-197385 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/KikiI.png" alt="Kiki Iriafen" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/KikiI.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/KikiI-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/KikiI-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Kiki Iriafen
Moving off guard talk, it’s time to give some flowers to future star forward Kiki Iriafen. The USC Trojan nearly put the team on her back in the NCAA Tournament with the loss of JuJu Watkins to an ACL tear during the second round, averaging 16.5 points per-game along with nine rebounds and 1.5 assists. 
Iriafen has been considered a top prospect for several years because of her footwork, ability to score in the post consistently, and her ability to defend the paint. She stood out for these reasons alongside Cameron Brink at Stanford University, where she began her collegiate career, and she’s going to be an invaluable piece to any teams’ frontcourt this season and beyond.
Thinking of bigs in the league similar to Iriafen like A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Angel Reese, and Breanna Stewart &#8211; essentially, forwards that can create their own shot in the paint, have ball handling skills, and are defensive presences that seriously deter other teams from looking at the paint at all &#8211; it’s clear to see how she’ll find success in the league almost immediately. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-197387 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/DominiqueM.png" alt="Dominique Malonga" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/DominiqueM.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/DominiqueM-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/DominiqueM-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Dominique Malonga
When discussing a draft riser, you have to mention Dominique Malonga’s name. The silver medalist and rising French basketball star has both experience to offer a WNBA team looking to draft an untraditional rookie, and the skills to back up such a selection. The 6-foot-6 center averaged 15 points per-game along with 10 rebounds with Lyons in 2024. 
Malonga moves with the fluidity of a guard while knowing she has the height and strength of a center. For someone who will only be 19 years old by the time she heard her name called by commissioner Cathy Engelbert in this year’s draft, that’s extremely impressive. You have to respect Malonga’s jumper, paint presence, and ball handling. Think of how difficult it is to defend Las Vegas’ Wilson &#8211; that’s what teams might need to consider defensively when guarding Malonga very soon. 
Malonga, similarly to Iriafen, has a translatable bag of skills that’ll likely make her a contender for rookie of the year. Looking up any highlights of Malonga’s performances over the past year will leave you wondering how it’ll be possible to defend someone as surgical as her as she’s running to the rim. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-197386 size-full" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/AneesahM.png" alt="Aneesah Morrow" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/AneesahM.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/AneesahM-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/04/AneesahM-768x432.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Aneesah Morrow
Morrow is entering this year’s draft after an amazing NCAA Tournament run with the LSU Tigers in 2025. Despite being eliminated in the Elite 8, Morrow’s impact was felt throughout the teams’ four games in the tournament. She averaged nearly 21 points per-game along with 12.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.5 steals during the postseason. Her regular season stats were even more eye-popping &#8211; going for 18.7 points per-game along with 13.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.5 steals. 
The former standout at DePaul University is entering this draft as one of the best forwards in the class, and she certainly should be gone off the board for teams within the top 5 of the draft order. Her paint prowess as a rebounder and scorer, and her ability to defend players that could give her trouble with their size advantage over her, will make her a likely day one starter for whoever drafts her. 
Her scoring and footwork in the paint are almost one of one in this draft class. It’s hard to find a comparison for her to anyone currently in the league because she moves like a center but would be considered undersized for that label. Her skills are extremely transferable to the WNBA given her ability to tough out rebounds, score over bigger defenders, and her passing out of double and triple teams under the basket. 
She’s sure to power her way through the league this season, and likely remind fans why she was such a crucial transfer for LSU’s tournament hopes over the last two seasons.

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