John's 2 Round WNBA Mock Draft (4/6/2025)
1st Round
Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers (G, UConn)
This goes without saying; the Wings won’t blink here. Paige is as good of a prospect as Caitlin Clark, so she will go 1st overall.
Seattle Storm (Pick acquired in Kelsey Plum Trade): Dominique Malonga (C, ASVEL)
Pinning down what the Storm want to do is difficult, but I expect them to go with the highest potential player. Even if Ezi Magbegor returns in Free Agency next year, I believe you can figure out a way to play both of these bigs together. I also think there’s a ton that Dominique can learn from Nneka this year if she does come over from France, so Storm fans should be excited at the prospect of her in yellow and green.
Washington Mystics (Pick acquired in Ariel Atkins Trade): Sonia Citron (Wing, Notre Dame)
Washington Mystics: Shyanne Sellers (Wing, Maryland)
Picks 3 and 4 can go either way, but Citron and Sellers make sense here for a Mystics team that is looking for upside. They have a team deep with above-average role player talent, but I do feel like they’re looking for their next franchise building blocks. A player of Sellers’ size and ability has to be enticing to GM Wideman. If they let her fall to 5, I don’t think she gets back to them at 6.
Golden State Valkyries: Kiki Iriafen (F, USC)
The Valkyries should be thrilled to have a player of Iriafen’s stature at pick 5. Kiki’s stock has been up and down as of late, but her athletic profile and what she showed in the absence of JuJu Watkins in the Sweet 16 should set the blueprint on how they can make Kiki the center of their brand new franchise.
Washington Mystics (Pick acquired in Allisha Gray Trade of ‘23): Aneesah Morrow (F, LSU)
As I mentioned above, I think the Mystics will be happy to have whichever one of Iriafen or Morrow fall to them here. The talented forward out of LSU presents a good mix of offense and defense, and between her, Citron, and Sellers, Mystics fans could be looking at a new big three of the future.
Connecticut Sun (Pick acquired in Natasha Cloud Trade): Juste Jocyte (Wing, Lyon)
Connecticut Sun (Pick acquired in Alyssa Thomas Trade): Saniya Rivers (Wing, NC State)
The Sun have made it very clear that they are ready to rebuild following the departure of Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Brionna Jones. At 7 and 8, the Sun can stash a very promising player in Jocyte, who could be a very quality 3-level scorer in the coming years, as well as bring in a player now in Rivers who can get people to come out for games.
Los Angeles Sparks (Pick acquired in Kelsey Plum Trade): Georgia Amoore (G, Kentucky)
I’ve said it on the podcast, but Amoore reminds me a lot of the newest Spark Kelsey Plum. By adding Amoore, who slips a few spots here, the Sparks can have a constant diet of 3pt shooting and quality passing. LA spent a long portion of last year figuring out their back court, but with Burrell looking to make a jump into the starting lineup this year, Amoore could figure to be a 6th woman of the year candidate.
Chicago Sky (Pick acquired in Marina Mabrey Trade of ‘24): Serena Sundell (G, Kansas State)
The Sky are looking for guard play. Angel Reese was effusive in her praise for Chelsea Gray during her time in Miami for Unrivaled, so the Sky should look for a long-term PG to run with her and Kamilla. Sundell could learn a lot from Courtney Vandersloot, who’s returning to Chicago, where she previously spent 12 years.
Minnesota Lynx: Te-Hina Paopao (G, South Carolina)
Paopao falling to Minnesota should excite the front office. Te-Hina had a wildly successful college career, and should understand how to fit right into a team that is ready to win now. A guard who can do a little bit of everything in a relief role should be very useful for Minnesota, who’s roster is pretty well set entering 2025.
Dallas Wings (Pick acquired in Alyssa Thomas Trade): Ajsa Sivka (F, Schio)
No one is asking the Wings to win now, so the last pick in the 1st round serves as a good opportunity for them to stash a good international player in Sivka.
2nd Round
Las Vegas Aces (Pick acquired in Kelsey Plum Trade): Hailey Van Lith (G, TCU)
I love HVL in Vegas. A de facto Kelsey Plum replacement, I think she fits their winning culture very well. She’s shown in this tournament that she is a dog on either side of the ball, is a quality passer who could learn new skills from the Point Gawd Chelsea Gray, and has a high motor, which is the Aces mentality.
Dallas Wings: Sania Feagin (F, South Carolina)
Minnesota Lynx (Pick acquired in Kahleah Copper Trade of ‘24): Sarah Ashlee Barker (G, Alabama)
Barker made her presence known during the double OT thriller against Maryland in the second round of this year’s tournament. A relentless scorer, Barker would give the Lynx a very solid 4th or 5th option when she’s on the court, and her ability to get hot could help Lynx win some games if some of their stars are struggling on a given night.
Chicago Sky (Pick acquired in Dana Evans Trade): Aziaha James (G, NC State)
Very similar to the Barker pick before this, James would offer the Sky another potent scoring option to pair with their bigs. With her shooting, James can open another dimension for Chicago.
Golden State Valkyries: Harmoni Turner (G, Harvard)
Coach Natalie Nakase has emphasized that she wants to establish a team that thrives on 3-pt shooting. Turner shot 36% on 7 attempts per game, so she’d enter the team as a very willing 3-pt shooter.
Atlanta Dream: Jania Barker (F, UCLA)
Indiana Fever (Pick acquired in Alyssa Thomas Trade): Lucy Olson (G, Iowa)
Setting CC up with another guard from Iowa? Sounds right to me!
Indiana Fever: Rayah Marshall (F, USC)
Los Angeles Sparks (Pick acquired in Lexie Brown Trade): Maddy Westbeld (F, Notre Dame)
Chicago Sky: (Pick acquired in Dana Evans Trade): Gianna Kneepkens (G, Utah)
Washington Mystics (Pick acquired in Queen Egbo Trade of ‘24): Anastasiia Kosu (F, UMMC Ekaterinburg)
There look to be a lot of players set to get minutes in Washington. Similar to the Sun and Wings, the Mystics can stash the next best international prospect here, and get ready to run things through their three 1st round rookies.
Minnesota Lynx: Makayla Timpson (F, Ole Miss)
Connecticut Sun (Pick acquired in Marina Mabrey Trade of ‘24): JJ Quinerly (G, West Virginia)
In case you’re wondering, no I don’t think Sedona Prince gets drafted.