Biggest Potential Signings for the WNBA Draft 2025

Author ImageAuthor: | Last Updated: March 2025

The 2025 WNBA Draft is set for Monday, April 14th. Dallas has the first pick, but the Mystics control three of the top six selections in this year’s draft. This will also be the first draft for the newest expansion team, the Golden State Valkyries.

Keep reading to learn more about the upcoming WNBA Draft in 2025. I will highlight the top prospects and tell you how to wager on the WNBA Draft at top basketball betting sites.

WNBA Draft Details

The upcoming WNBA Draft is every team’s chance to add college stars to their roster ahead of the 2025 season. Here are the details you need to know for this year’s draft:

  • Date: Monday, April 14th
  • Location: The Shed at Hudson Yards in Manhattan, NY
  • Total Rounds: 3 rounds
  • Total Selections: 38 picks

The Sparks, Wings, Sky, and Mystics all failed to make the playoffs last season. As a result, they participated in the WNBA Draft Lottery last November.

LA had a 44.2% chance to win the first pick, but Dallas (22.7%) won the first overall pick. The Sparks ended up with the second pick, but they traded their selection to Seattle in a three-team trade that netted the Sparks Kelsey Plum.

Washington is also in for a big night during the draft. The Mystics own the third, fourth, and sixth overall picks in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Golden State will make its first selection in the WNBA with the fifth overall pick.

College Players to Watch for in the WNBA Draft

The draft is the perfect place for teams to add young talent and turn their franchise into a title contender. Here are four stars to keep an eye on in this year’s draft.

Kiki Iriafen

  • School: USC
  • Position: Forward
  • Height: 6’3”

Forward Kiki Iriafen joined USC after spending her first three years at Stanford. In her sole year with the Trojans, Iriafen averaged 18.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

Iriafen’s size, scoring, and rebounding skills make her a top prospect in the 2025 WNBA Draft. She is unlikely to go in the top two, but Iriafen would be a great addition to the Mystics. Washington has three of the top six selections.

At 6’3”, Iriafen would immediately slide into the lineup behind Washington’s top pick last year, the 6’3 Aaliyah Edwards. When they are on the court together, Iriafen, Edwards, and the 6’5” Shakira Austin could dominate the boards against most teams. 

Hailey Van Lith

  • School: TCU
  • Position: Guard
  • Height: 5’9”

Hailey Van Lith transferred to TCU for the final year of her collegiate career. Van Lith helped the Horned Frogs take down Louisville, her former school, in the Women’s March Madness Tournament.

In her fifth and final season in college, Van Lith averaged 17.7 points, 4,4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in 35 minutes per game.

Van Lith is unlikely to go in the first round, but she did improve her draft stock this season. She set new career bests in assists (5.5) and field goal percentage (45.9%). If she builds on those numbers in the WNBA, she could be the steal of the 2025 draft. 

Dominique Malonga

  • School: N/A
  • Position: Center
  • Height: 6’6”

Not every future WNBA star is coming from the collegiate ranks. Dominique Malonga, a 6’6” Center from France, has recently shot up draft boards. She has played center and forward and was the youngest player on France’s national team that won the silver at the 2024 Olympics.

At just 19 years old, Malonga is younger than most other prospects in the draft. She will also immediately be one of the tallest players in the league.

Seattle, for instance, has the second pick, and their tallest players are Li Yueru (6’7”) and Ezi Magbegor (6’4”). Drafting Malonga would give the Storm a massive size advantage over teams like Indiana, home to Caitlin Clark, which does not have anyone over 6’5”.

Paige Bueckers

  • School: UConn
  • Position: Guard
  • Height: 6’0”

The biggest star in the 2025 WNBA draft is UConn’s Paige Bueckers. The 6’0 guard returned to UConn for a fifth year with the Huskies in hopes of winning a National Championship.

Bueckers is undoubtedly going to Dallas with the first pick. Pairing Bueckers with Arike Ogunbowale will give Dallas one of the best guard combos in the league. Bueckers will also help take pressure off Ogunbowale, who averaged a career-high 38.6 minutes per game last season.

2025 WNBA Free Agency Recap

Free agency opened in mid-February, and the biggest WNBA free agents in 2025 have already found their homes for the upcoming season. A looming CBA negotiation and potential salary cap increase led to many stars signing one-year deals in hopes of a big payday in 2026.

Breanna Stewart Stays in New York

Breanna Stewart was once again the big prize in free agency. However, Stewie decided to return to New York for the 2025 season and a chance for another title with the Liberty.

New York signed Stewart as a free agent in 2023, and their investment paid off last season. Stewart, along with long-range threat Sabrina Ionescu, led New York to its first WNBA championship in 2024.

The Duo will run it back in 2025 to try and defend their title. New York needed to resign Stewie, as their only pick in this year’s draft is the 38th and final pick.

Kelsey Plum Traded to LA

One of the biggest shockers of this offseason was the Aces’ decision to trade Kelsey Plum. Las Vegas sent Plum to LA and a 2026 first to Seattle to acquire Jewell Loyd and the 13th pick in this year’s draft.

LA, on the other hand, landed Plum, the ninth pick, and a 2026 second-round pick in the three-team trade. Plum brings championship experience to a roster that already has Rickea Jackson, Dearica Hamby, and Odyssey Sims. LA will also get Cameron Brink back, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL last year. 

Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally Join Mercury

Phoenix lost the face of its franchise when Diana Taurasi announced her retirement this February. On the bright side, the Mercury were aggressive in free agency, trading for Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally.

Thomas was acquired from the Connecticut Sun in a four-team trade. She spent 11 seasons with the Suns, averaging 12.2 PPG, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists for her career. Thomas has also finished in the top five in MVP voting the last three seasons.

Sabally was also acquired alongside Thomas in the four-team trade. She spent her first five years with Dallas, averaging 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in her career. Sabally won the Most Improved Player award in 2023 after setting career highs in points (18.6 PPG) and rebounds (8.1 total rebounds).

Don’t Miss the Biggest WNBA Betting Opportunities this Season

The WNBA Draft in 2025 is headlined by future stars, including Paige Bueckers. Read the guide above to learn more about this year’s draft. Also, I highlight the biggest free agency moves that have shaped rosters that will affect draft boards across the WNBA.

After reading our guide, sign up at BetUS to wager on the upcoming WNBA Draft and the 2025 season. BetUS has exciting futures odds for the WNBA. It also offers great sports betting bonuses, such as its 200% crypto sign-up promotion.

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About the Author

Shaun Stack is a senior writer at GamblingSites.org. His gambling articles have appeared in the Daily Herald, Space Coast Daily, and NJ 101.5. He’s a football betting expert, a Survivor fan, and a skilled blackjack gambler. Shaun is a native of Kansas City but now lives in Pennsylvania and follows the Pittsburgh Steelers religiously.