Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRT Featured Columnist IV November 17, 2024
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
The WNBA is holding its Draft Lottery on Sunday to determine the order of the 2025 draft, which will be held on April 14. Four teams are currently in the running for the top overall pick.
Below, we’ll break down the lottery odds, current draft order and top prospects likely available in this year’s edition.
Lottery Odds
The Los Angeles Sparks had the best odds to win the top overall pick, at 44.2 percent, followed by the Dallas Wings (22.7 percent), Chicago Sky (22.7 percent) and the Washington Mystics (10.4 percent). Dallas had the right to swap picks with Chicago.
The rest of the order was fixed, including the expansion Golden State Valkyries picking fifth.
Draft Order
Dallas Wings Los Angeles Sparks Chicago Sky Washington Mystics Golden State Valkyries Washington Mystics (from Atlanta Dream via Dallas Wings) Phoenix Mercury* Indiana Fever Seattle Storm Chicago Sky (from Connecticut Sun) Minnesota Lynx New York Liberty*
*New York can swap its first-rounder for Phoenix’s selection.
Prospects to Know
Sunday’s Lottery is essentially the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes. The UConn senior has averaged 19.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in her career, shooting an impressive 50 percent from three.
ESPN @espn
PAIGE AT THE BUZZER 😳
Paige Bueckers up to 15 points at the end of the first 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OB8r94ftr0
B/R Hoops @brhoops
Paige Bueckers went off for 29 points in a win over No. 14 North Carolina 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QAVt9iWClr
She’s nearly as much of a no-brainer selection for the top overall pick as Caitlin Clark was a year ago. And Wings’ star Arike Ogunbowale is clearly excited about the possibility of pairing with Bueckers:
Arike Ogunbowale @Arike_O
I just fell to my knees. THANK YOU LORD! 😭😭😭😭
As for the board behind her, USC power forward Kiki Iriafen will be an excellent consolation prize. She averaged 19.4 points and 11 rebounds for Stanford last season, and since transferring to the Trojans has put up 17.3 points and seven rebounds while shooting 50 percent from three in four contests this season.
The Notre Dame backcourt of point guard Olivia Miles and shooting guard Sonia Citron may also garner top-five interest. Miles is a nightly triple-double threat, averaging 17.7 points, seven rebounds and 6.7 assists this season, while Citron has had a slower start (10.5 PPG) but put up 17.3 points per game last season.
Miles could choose to return to Notre Dame for another year, however, which will be worth monitoring this offseason.
UConn’s Azzi Fudd won’t play until December and could return to UConn for the 2025-26 season, so she may not be available for teams. She has top-five talent, however, making her a name to know.
UCLA center Lauren Betts is another player who could have top-five appeal if she declares for the 2025 WNBA draft. And LSU’s Aneesah Morrow is a potentially top-five pick, especially if the underclassmen listed above return to school.
But Bueckers and Iriafen feel like virtual locks to be the first and second players off the board, respectively.
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