The 2025 WNBA Draft was full of surprises, emotion, joy, and stars. Thirty-eight of the best college and overseas basketball players were on center stage as they were chosen by their new WNBA homes. We are here to give out grades for every team after the draft.
Grading the 2025 WNBA Draft
The New York Liberty and the Phoenix Mercury are not receiving a grade for this draft. The Liberty took Adja Kane with the 38th pick in the draft, a center who won’t see the floor for the Liberty for the next few years as she is still playing overseas. The Mercury did not have a pick in this year’s draft.
Dallas Wings – A+
Draftees: 1: Paige Bueckers, 12: Aziaha James, 14: Madison Scott, 27: JJ Quinerly, 31: Aaronette Vonleh
The Dallas Wings get an A+ for this draft, and there are many reasons why. First, they got the generational talent in Paige Bueckers. As Rebecca Lobo said as she was drafted, “She has the potential to be a top-ten player by the end of the season.”
The Wings did not stop there. They drafted Aziaha James at the end of the first round. James is one of the best scorers in the draft, and she is a lottery-level talent in this draft. With their first pick in the second round, they got Madison Scott, another long, athletic wing who can come into the league and play high-level defense.
That coupled with another talented scorer in JJ Quinerly and a solid center in Aaronette Vonleh, Dallas hit on all their needs in this draft. The Wings are built to be a fast-paced, offensive-minded team with talented and versatile wings. They have a genuine chance to make the playoffs in year one of the Paige Bueckers experience.
Washington Mystics – A
3: Sonia Citron, 4: Kiki Iriafen, 6: Georgia Amoore, 23: Lucy Olsen, 32: Zaay Green
With three of the first six picks in the draft, the Washington Mystics were in the business of acquiring high-level talent, and they did just that. Sonia Citron is a ready-made WNBA guard who will be an instant impact player. She is not afraid to take and make clutch shots, and at 6’1″, she is a big guard who can play defense.
Kiki Iriafen is a talented player that has high potential. She has a good mid-range game and is active on defense. Georgia Amoore is one of the most skilled players in this year’s draft, and even though she is only 5’6″, she is crafty, tenacious, and great on the open court.
After the first round, the Mystics got a pure scorer in Lucy Olsen late in the second round and Alabama wing Zaay Green, who can do a bit of everything in the third round.
Connecticut Sun – B+
Draftees: 7: Aneesah Morrow, 8: Saniya Rivers, 25: Rayah Marshall
The Connecticut Sun flipped their roster upside down this off-season to revamp their team.
After a few trades, the Sun ended up with two picks in the first round. The Sun went with culture-building defensive pieces in Aneesah Morrow and Saniya Rivers with those two picks. Morrow is the best rebounder in the draft and has an endless motor. The LSU veteran has a few things to work on offensively, like increasing her shot range.
Rivers needs to expand her range and add some consistency to her outside shot, but she has great potential outside of that. She is a long, talented athlete who can get her own shot and play high-level defense on every possession. The Sun added Rayah Marshall, a solid defensive center who will be a good rim protector.
Seattle Storm – B+
Draftees: 2: Dominique Malonga, 26: Serena Sundell, 29: Madison Conner, 34: Jordan Hobbs
The Seattle Storm went into this draft in a challenging position. After the three-team blockbuster trade with the Aces and the Sparks, the Storm were left with a hole at the shooting guard position.
Instead of getting the player that fits the roster needed for the Storm, like Sonia Citron, they went with the best player on the board, Dominique Malonga. Malonga has immense potential and is just too good to pass up. The Storm got a guard that can produce for them in Serena Sundell.
In some mock drafts, she was going as high as the 11th pick in the draft, and the Storm got her with the first pick in the 3rd round. With Seattle adding lethal shooter Madison Conner and Michigan guard Jordan Hobbs, the Storm leave this draft with more talent, but they still need some help at the shooting guard.
Chicago Sky – B
Draftees: 10: Ajsa Sivka, 11: Hailey Van Lith, 16: Maddy Westbeld, 22: Aicha Coulibaly
The Chicago Sky had two picks in the first round, and they acquired some much-needed pieces for their roster.
The Sky added spacing for their talented frontcourt, and their first pick was Ajsa Sivka. Sivka is a 6’4″ big from France who can stretch the floor. Her WNBA comparison has been Leonie Fiebich, and Sivka models her game after her. She has played professional basketball overseas for years and is a highly skilled basketball player.
The Sky also drafted Hailey Van Lith. Van Lith is a talented point guard who reunites with her college teammate Angel Reese. She can create off of the bounce and has become a great passer.
In the second round, Sky got Maddy Westbeld. Going into this year, she could be a first-round pick, but an injury-plagued season lowered her draft stock. Westbeld is a stretch-four who is smart defensively. In the third round, the Sky drafted Aicha Coulibaly out of Texas A&M.
Indiana Fever – B
Draftees: 19: Makayla Timpson, 20: Bree Hall, 33: Yvonne Ejim
The Indiana Fever made their A+ splash in the WNBA draft last year when they drafted Caitlin Clark. This year, they made most of their acquisitions in the off-season, adding DeWanna Bonner, Sophie Cunningham, and Natasha Howard.
The Fever said some ancillary pieces in the year’s draft, including Makayla Timpson in the second round. Timpson is a forward who has improved every year she was in college. She is a rim-running big who will benefit from playing with Clark. Indiana drafted Bree Hall, a nice three-and-D piece that will help space the floor for the Fever.
The Fever ended their picks by getting Yvonne Ejim, a shorter big that works hard and can set screens.
Also Read: 5 Underrated Players in the 2025 WNBA Draft Class You Need To Know
Los Angeles Sparks – B
Draftees: 9: Sarah Ashlee Barker, 21: Sania Feagin, 28: Liatu King
Initially, the Sparks had the number two pick in this year’s draft, but after a trade with the Seattle Storm and the Las Vegas Aces that landed the Sparks Kelsey Plum, LA had the ninth pick.
With that pick, they took Sarah Ashlee Barker. Barker is a talented, relentless guard on the offensive and defensive end. She is an efficient guard who shot over 50% from the floor. Barker will be a perfect two-way guard for the Sparks that they needed.
In the second round, the Sparks were able to land South Carolina forward Sania Feagin. Feagin is a talented defensive frontcourt player who has grown her offensive game over her college career. She adds depth to the Sparks. Liatu King is another forward who helps add depth to the LA roster. She is a good rebounder and is efficient around the basket.
Golden State Valkyries – B-
Draftees: 5: Juste Jocyte, 17: Shyanne Sellers, 30: Kaitlyn Chen
The 2025 WNBA Draft took place, and the Golden State Valkyries made a draft pick for the first time. Their first draft pick was a European star with a high upside. Juste Jocyte is an elite playmaker and has a consistent jump shot. The 6’0 forward was the youngest player to play in Euroleague at 14.
The GM of the Golden State Valkyries, Ohemaa Nyanin, said, “We didn’t take that lightly” when discussing Jocyte’s Euroleague start. Jocyte has the potential to be a difference-maker in the WNBA.
In the second round, Shyanne Sellers fell to the Valkyries. Sellers was a player who was projected to be a lottery pick possibly but fell to the 17th pick of the draft. The Maryland guard is big and knows how to use her body to contribute to the offense. The Valkyries drafted Kaitlyn Chen, a quality point guard who will work hard.
Atlanta Dream – C+
Draftees: 18: Te-Hina Paopao, 36: Taylor Thierry
The Atlanta Dream have been busy this offseason, acquiring Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones. These two bigs, along with Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, and Rhyne Howard, make up a good nucleus.
Atlanta needed more shooting and defense, and they got that with Te-Hina Paopao. Paopao shot 40% in her college career and is a capable defender. The Dream also added Ohio State forward Taylor Thierry for added depth in the frontcourt.
Minnesota Lynx – C
Draftees: 15: Anastasiia Olairi Kosu, 24: Dalayah Daniels, 37: Aubrey Griffin
The day before the draft, the Minnesota Lynx traded the 11th pick to the Sky for the rights to the Sky first-round pick in 2026. The Minnesota Lynx drafted Anastasiia Olairi Kosu in the second draft round. Kosu is a talented player who can rebound and defend well off the ball. This pick has a long-term view and could be valuable for the Lynx.
Dalayah Daniels is a skilled forward who is talented around the basket. Aubrey Griffin is a champion who works hard and is a quality rebounder.
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Las Vegas Aces – C-
Draftees: 13: Aaliyah Nye, 35: Harmoni Turner
The Las Vegas Aces had their first-round pick rescinded, which would have been the 10th pick in this year’s draft. That could have landed the Aces a prospect like Hailey Van Lith or Aziaha James.
Instead, they draft Aaliyah Nye, a fantastic shooter from Alabama. She shot over 45% from three last season, and with Aja Wilson being the focal point of the Aces, she has the opportunity to help stretch the floor for the Aces. The Aces also get Harmoni Turner, a talented Ivy League scorer.
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