By the time it was all said and done, 38 names had been called over three rounds at the 2025 WNBA Draft. While players like Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, and Aneesah Morrow were all but guaranteed a first-round selection, others had to wait anxiously to find out if they would be picked up by WNBA franchises.
There were definitely a few curve balls on the night, with teams leaning heavily toward international players in this year’s draft. Also, nine of the first 14 picks were guards, which showed that organizations rated the position highly among the class’ crop of prospects.
There were, however, some surprising omissions, with a handful of talented players being snubbed on the night.
3 Surprising Names Passed Up by Teams at the 2025 WNBA Draft
The level of play in women’s college basketball has improved significantly over the last few years, and there were plenty of top-tier players coming into the 2025 WNBA Draft. While some high-profile players like Olivia Miles and Flau’jae Johnson chose to remain in college, others saw the pros as the next step in their careers.
Unfortunately, with just 13 teams and 38 picks in total, some players were going to be passed up despite their impressive resumes.
DeYona Gaston, Auburn
In an ultra-competitive SEC, Gaston was one of the conference’s most dangerous offensive threats. The Auburn Tigers star ranked third in the SEC in scoring with 22.3 points per game and shot 54.3% from the field.
On the defensive front, the 6-foot-2 forward was also effective, contributing 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and a block per game.
Sedona Prince, TCU
TCU produced a magical run at the NCAA tournament, going all the way to the Elite Eight. A big factor in their success was Sedona Prince’s offensive productivity and sound defense. At 6-foot-7, Prince has a presence in the post and is capable of contributing in a variety of ways.
In her final season with the Horned Frogs, she averaged 17.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. If that wasn’t enough, she also finished with 105 blocks (3.0 per game), which was the third-highest in the NCAA.
There were several theories as to why Prince wasn’t selected. The forward is set to turn 25 in less than a month and suffered a dislocated right elbow that forced her to miss the 2022-23 season. Accusations from her former partners of physical and sexual abuse could have been a concern for teams. Prince’s attorney has denied the allegations against her.
Deja Kelly, Oregon
Perhaps the biggest snub of the night was that all 13 teams passed on the opportunity to add guard Deja Kelly to their rosters. The gifted shooter made a name for herself at the University of North Carolina, where she spent four seasons before transferring to Oregon last year.
Kelly was a three-time first-team All-ACC selection in 2022, 2023, and 2024. She recorded an incredible 1,858 points with the Tar Heels and added another 389 points with the Ducks in 2024.
In arguably her most impressive display of the season, Kelly finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals to help Oregon overcome Vanderbilt in the NCAA tournament on March 21.
Last season, Kelly averaged 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.5 steals over 32 games.
The 2025 draft class was definitely guard-heavy, but Kelly not being selected in the 38 picks was a major surprise.