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’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.

Paige Bueckers – 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.

Georgia Amoore – 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.

Hailey Van Lith – 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.

Te-Hina Paopao – 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 WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams