The 2025 WNBA Draft is in the books. There were plenty of surprises, as some notable names fell down the draft board while some teams reached for other players. With the league continuing to expand and the talent pool deeper than ever, the pressure to get these picks right was at an all-time high.
Now that the picks are in and the dust has settled, it’s time to evaluate how each team fared on draft night. Which franchises made the most of their opportunities, and which ones left value on the board? We’re breaking it all down, team by team, with draft grades that reflect overall talent added, roster fit, and long-term upside.
Atlanta Dream
Grade: B+
Picks: Te-Hina Paopao, G, South Carolina (Round 2, Pick 18); Taylor Thierry, F, Ohio State (Round 3, Pick 35)
It was extremely surprising to see Te-Hina Paopao fall to No. 18. She is one of the best shooters in this draft class and a solid defender who adds depth to an already talented backcourt that features Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, and Jordin Canada. Taylor Thierry is an elite athlete who can impact the game on both ends but truly thrives on defense. It may be tough to make the roster, but she’ll compete.
Chicago Sky
Grade: B
Picks: Ajša Sivka, F, Slovenia (Round 1, Pick 10); Hailey Van Lith, G, TCU (Round 1, Pick 11); Maddy Westbeld, F, Notre Dame (Round 2, Pick 16); Aicha Coulibaly, G, Texas A&M (Round 2, Pick 22)
Hailey Van Lith reuniting with former LSU teammate Angel Reese is going to be fun to watch. Both players are highly competitive, but they’re also different players than they were when they played together in Baton Rouge, La. Van Lith is a better point guard while Reese has been working with Lisa Leslie on her offensive game.
Ajša Sivka is an intriguing prospect with significant upside due to her ability to stretch the floor. The Maddy Westbeld pick felt like a reach, but she does fill a need for Chicago, as she can stretch the floor and knock down the 3.
Connecticut Sun
Grade: A+
Picks: Aneesah Morrow, F, LSU (Round 1, Pick 7); Saniya Rivers, G/F, NC State (Round 1, Pick 8); Rayah Marshall, F/C, USC (Round 2, Pick 25)
The Connecticut Sun absolutely nailed their first two selections. Aneesah Morrow, who is arguably a top-five talent in this draft class and the best pure rebounder, fell into their laps. They followed it up by grabbing Saniya Rivers, who is one of the premier defenders in the class.
The Sun lost all five starters from their playoff team a season ago. Morrow and Rivers are culture-builders for the new era under Rachid Meziane. Rayah Marshall is a solid big who can learn from veteran Tina Charles and contribute on the defensive end right away. Connecticut entered the draft with a lot of questions, but they came away with a strong haul.
Dallas Wings
Grade: A-
Picks: Paige Bueckers, G, UConn (Round 1, Pick 1); Aziaha James, G, NC State (Round 1, Pick 12); Madison Scott, G/F, Ole Miss (Round 2, Pick 14); JJ Quinerly, G, West Virginia (Round 3, Pick 26); Aaronette Vonleh, C, Baylor (Round 3, Pick 30)
Paige Bueckers was the consensus No. 1 pick, and for good reason. A polished three-level scorer with exceptional court vision, Bueckers will take pressure off Arike Ogunbowale’s shoulders. She also contributes on the defensive end, making her an immediate two-way impact player.
Aziaha James adds depth in the backcourt and is a certified bucket-getter who can lead the second unit. The Wings continue to attack the backcourt and are wing-heavy. They can only play so many guards, and the competition is already stiff.
Madison Scott went earlier than expected but should compete for a roster spot because of her defensive intensity and versatility.
Golden State Valkyries
Grade: C+
Picks: Justė Jocytė, G, Lithuania (Round 1, Pick 5); Shyanne Sellers, G, Maryland (Round 2, Pick 17); Kaitlyn Chen, G, UConn (Round 3, Pick 29)
The Golden State Valkyries entered the 2025 WNBA Draft with a roster devoid of talent across the board. Selecting Justė Jocytė at No. 5 overall felt a bit early, considering she likely wasn’t the best player available. However, she is a promising international prospect with plenty of upside. It’s just not the most exciting pick for an expansion team.
Shyanne Sellers falling to the second round at No. 17 could be the steal of the draft. Picking Kaitlyn Chen in the third round was a heartwarming moment. She’s not a big name, but she was an underrated contributor to UConn’s championship run after transferring from Princeton.
Golden State needs all the talent it can get, but it would’ve been nice to see them add some talent to their frontcourt as well.
Indiana Fever
Grade: A-
Picks: Makayla Timpson, F/C, Florida State (Round 2, Pick 19); Bree Hall, F, South Carolina (Round 2, Pick 20); Yvonne Ejim, F/C (Round 3, Pick 32)
The Indiana Fever are in a prime position to make some major noise in 2025. They have one of the most complete starting lineups in the league, led by Caitlin Clark. Makayla Timpson is a perfect fit for what the Fever wants to do. She’s a rim runner who fits nicely with Clark. She’ll get to play behind veterans DeAanna Bonner and Natasha Howard and add defensive juice to the second unit.
Bree Hall was another rock-solid pick. She may not come with a massive upside, but she’s a versatile wing defender who can also put the ball in the basket.
Las Vegas Aces
Grade: B
Picks: Aaliyah Nye, G/F, Alabama (Round 2, Pick 13); Harmoni Turner, G, Harvard (Round 3, Pick 34)
The Las Vegas Aces forfeited their first-round draft pick but picked at the top of the second round. Aaliyah Nye is a good fit for the Aces because she spaces the floor and can shoot the ball with the best of them. She went much earlier than expected, but she fills a need due to her shooting ability and positional versatility.
Harmoni Turner could be a steal. Coming out of Harvard, she doesn’t get the recognition she deserves, but her production, experience, and scoring ability are enticing, and she is oozing with potential.
Los Angeles Sparks
Grade: A-
Picks: Sarah Ashlee Barker, G/F, Alabama (Round 1, Pick 9); Sania Feagin, F/C, South Carolina (Round 2, Pick 21); Liatu King, F, Notre Dame (Round 3, Pick 27)
Sarah Ashlee Barker’s 45-point performance in the NCAA Tournament seems to have helped her draft stock, as she leaped into the top 10. It came as a surprise, but Barker is a good fit for the Los Angeles Sparks since they needed depth on the wings. Barker obviously can fill it up, but she also plays with tenacity on the defensive end.
Sania Feagin helps solidify the frontcourt with questions about when Cameron Brink will return. The Sparks were already on the rise, but they got even better on both ends of the floor through the draft.
Minnesota Lynx
Grade: C
Picks: Anastasiia Olairi Kosu, F, Russia (Round 2, Pick 15); Dalayah Daniels, F, Washington (Round 2, Pick 24); Aubrey Griffin, F, UConn (Round 2, Pick 36)
The Minnesota Lynx fell just short of winning the WNBA Finals last season, and they’re one of the early favorites to win the title in 2025. However, this draft class leaves much to be desired.
The roster doesn’t have a lot of holes, but they needed to add depth across the board. Anastasiia Olairi Kosu is an intriguing prospect because of her athleticism and potential to be a strong defender at the next level. Dalayah Daniels and Aubrey Griffin don’t offer much upside and could struggle to make the final roster.
New York Liberty
Grade: C
Picks: Adja Kane, C, France (Round 3, Pick 37)
The defending WNBA champion New York Liberty had just one selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft. There are some unknowns about Adja Kane’s game, but she has the potential to make the roster because her length gives her an upside on the defensive end.
Kane finished in the top five in blocks in the same league as Dominique Malonga. She’s only 20 years old and could also be a stash prospect for the Liberty, who already have a deep roster.
Phoenix Mercury
Grade: N/A
Picks: None
Seattle Storm
Grade: A
Picks: Dominique Malonga, C, France (Round 1, Pick 2); Serena Sundell, G, Kansas State (Round 3, Pick 25); Madison Conner, G/F, TCU (Round 3, Pick 29); Jordan Hobbs, G/F, Michigan (Round 3, Pick 33)
The Seattle Storm aren’t the perfect landing spot for French phenom Dominique Malonga, but they couldn’t pass up on that kind of talent and upside. It’ll be up to head coach Noelle Quinn to figure out how Malonga fits next to Nneka Ogwumike and Ezi Magbegor, but that’s not a bad problem to have.
Getting Serena Sundell at the top of the third round is the biggest steal of the draft, as she’s a first-round talent. She can help fill the void left by Jewell Loyd’s departure and operate as a primary ball-handler when Skylar Diggins-Smith needs a break. Madison Conner led the country in 3-pointers as well and could shoot her way into a roster spot.
Washington Mystics
Grade: A
Picks: Sonia Citron, G/F, Notre Dame (Round 1, Pick 3); Kiki Iriafen, F, USC (Round 1, Pick 4); Georgia Amoore, G, Kentucky (Round 1, Pick 6); Lucy Olsen, G, Iowa (Round 2, Pick 23); Zaay Green, G, Alabama (Round 3, Pick 31)
The Washington Mystics entered the 2025 WNBA Draft with three of the first six picks, so they had no choice but to get this right. With several holes to fill on their roster, new general manager Jamila Wideman answered the call.
Sonia Citron and Georgia Amoore are two of the most WNBA-ready prospects in the class. Kiki Iriafen isn’t the most seamless fit, given the talent Washington already has in the frontcourt, but she was the best player available and can be an elite scoring big at the next level. Lucy Olsen is an underrated selection. She’s a three-level scorer who lacks elite athleticism but also possesses a high basketball IQ.