Without Paige Bueckers, the most WNBA-ready prospect Kiki Iriafen appears to be a player who can just step in and play. Her agility, ability to rebound, and ability to score face-up will make her an immediate asset. She can defend from any position and has a solid midrange game. After transferring to USC, she showcased polish and poise against top-tier competition, traits that will translate quickly to the pro level. Her 36-point outburst in the second round of the NCAA Tournament after JuJu Watkins went down with a knee injury only solidified her standing. BAG
Dominique Malonga and this is even though she is widely anticipated to be the second pick. Malonga, who is just 19 years old, is set to become the highest-drafted foreign player in WNBA history. She is far from her best, but she is a model of versatility because she can drive, shoot well, and dunk. SK
Van Lith, Hailey The 23-year-old proved to be one of the most dynamic guards in college basketball this season, averaging 17.9 points and 5.4 assists for TCU. She demonstrated that she will succeed at any level as long as the ball is in her hands. OW
This is an excellent draft for versatile wings and combo forwards, this is a strong draft. With expansion looming and multiple teams rebuilding, players like Saniya Rivers, Sonia Citron, and Justė Jocytė – who can guard multiple spots and handle the ball – will be at a premium. There will be a lot of options for teams looking for upside and flexibility. BAG
I’m interested in the Washington Mystics’ upcoming actions. In the first round, they have the Nos. 3, 4, and 6. This draft class is strong, and Citron and Iriafen are fantastic players if available – both are the two best options in terms of their positions. If the Mystics can draft Shyanne Sellers at No. 6, it would be a steal. SK
the Dallas Wings. The addition of Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale to the Wings’ backcourt immediately elevates them to the status of having the “best backcourt in the league.” Despite losing Satou Sabally in free agency, Bueckers allows the Wings to quickly retool and try to win on the 28-year-old Ogunbowale’s timeline. OW
Which company’s stock has gained the most over the past month? Sania Feagin is now being considered for the first round. Ashlyn Watkins, a forward who stands 6 feet 3 inches tall, saw more time on the court for South Carolina, the national runners-up, following her ACL injury. She showed off her defensive range and scoring touch. Long overshadowed by the Gamecocks’ other frontcourt stars, she’s now viewed as a sleeper big who could contribute early, especially for teams thin in the post. BAG
Van Lith, Hailey She was already a strong second-round prospect at the beginning of the season, but she has since proven she fully deserves to be drafted in the first round. SK
Van Lith resembled a first-round WNBA draft pick throughout his impressive three years at Louisville. However, she came roaring back onto the scene at TCU this season, assisting the Horned Frogs in reaching their first Elite Eight and going 34-4 after a regrettable transfer to LSU. OW
If they don’t trade, who in Indiana is the best fit for Caitlin Clark? In the second round, Madison Scott might be a good choice. At 6 feet 2 inches, the Ole Miss wing is a defensive powerhouse that plays well in transition and doesn’t need many touches to make an impression. Clark’s offensive gravity would let Scott feast on cuts and mismatches while giving Indiana another switchable perimeter defender. BAG
The Fever aren’t likely to be major players in this draft, but there are a few strong options for their second-round picks. Annika Soltau would be an excellent addition: she’s tall (6ft 4in) and defensively strong – she doesn’t always get a lot of minutes but when she does, she makes them count. SK
Sarah Te-Biasu. Like many players from Montreal, Te-Biasu plays a physical brand of defense despite being just 5ft 5in. Meanwhile, her offensive game progressed this season at Maryland, where she shot 45% from deep and scored in double figures in 12 of her last 15 games, leading the Terrapins to the Sweet 16. OW
Deasia Merrill was one of the most exciting players to watch during the NCAA Tournament, which is saying a lot considering how well TCU played, and Turner has made a big name for herself in recent weeks. SK
Paopao Te-Hina. Even though Paopao, a 22-year-old guard, is on the smaller and older side of the draft, she plays mature, two-way basketball. During her five years of college, she shot 40% from three, starting two games for Dawn Staley’s South Carolina. OW
The team who drafted best last year was…
Sure, it would have been hard to screw up, but it’s the Indiana Fever, who landed Caitlin Clark at No 1 to pair with 2023 Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston. Clark’s elite shooting and playmaking filled a glaring need and instantly transformed Indiana into a must-watch team with playoff potential. It was the franchise-altering pick everyone expected. BAG
The Fever, full stop. Will there ever be enough words to fully describe Clark’s impact on the WNBA? I’m looking forward to Cameron Brink showing the world what she can do, and I’ll always be amazed at how the Sky was able to keep Angel Reese at No. 7. SK.
Sparks in Los Angeles Brink looked every bit the modern-day unicorn she was projected to be coming out of Stanford, averaging 2.3 blocks before a torn ACL limited her to 15 games. In contrast, Rickea Jackson displayed her on-ball prowess by scoring 13.4 points per game on 49.8 percent shooting from two and 34.7 percent from three. OW
The first round will be:
1) Dallas Wings – Paige Bueckers, guard, UConn
2) Seattle Storm – Dominique Malonga, forward-center, France
3) The Washington Mystics feature Notre Dame guard Sonia Citron. 4) Washington Mystics – Kiki Iriafen, forward, USC
5) Golden State Valkyries – Saniya Rivers, guard, NC State
6) Washington Mystics – Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers 7) LSU’s Aneesah Morrow, forward for the Connecticut Sun, 8) Just Jocyt, guard, Lithuania, Connecticut Sun 9) Los Angeles Sparks – Georgia Amoore, guard, Kentucky
10) Chicago Sky – Te-Hina Paopao, guard, South Carolina
11) Chicago Sky – Sania Feagin, forward, South Carolina
12) Dallas Wings – Sarah Ashlee Barker, guard, Alabama BAG
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1) UConn guard Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings 2) Seattle Storm, Dominique Malonga, forward-center, France
3) Washington Mystics, Sonia Citron, guard, Notre Dame
4) USC forward Kiki Iriafen, Washington Mystics 5) Golden State Valkyries, Aneesah Morrow, forward, LSU
6) Washington Mystics, Shyanne Sellers, guard, Maryland
7) Connecticut Sun, Ajsa Sivka, forward, Slovenia
8) Connecticut Sun, Hailey Van Lith, guard, TCU
9) Kentucky guard Georgia Amoore, Los Angeles Sparks 10) Chicago Sky, Saniya Rivers, guard, NC State
11) Sarah Ashlee Barker, guard, Alabama, Chicago Sky 12) Lithuania SK guard Just Jocyt, Dallas Wings —-
1) Dallas Wings, Paige Bueckers, guard, UConn
2) Seattle Storm forward-center France’s Dominique Malonga 3) Washington Mystics forward USC’s Kiki Iriafen 4) Washington Mystics, Sonia Citron, guard, Notre Dame
5) NC State guard Saniya Rivers, Golden State Valkyries 6) TCU guard Hailey Van Lith, Washington Mystics 7) Connecticut Sun, Aneesah Morrow, forward, LSU
8) Guard Shyanne Sellers, Connecticut Sun, from Maryland 9) Guard Aziaha James, NC State, from Los Angeles Sparks 10) Chicago Sky, Georgia Amoore, guard, Kentucky
11) Chicago Sky, Justė Jocytė, guard, Lithuania
12) Sedona Prince, center for the Dallas Wings and TCU OW
