immediately<\/a>\u201d. Julie Allemand should slot in as a starting point guard, and Aaliyah Nye and Nyara Sabally have experience on championship rosters. Marina Mabrey has competed at an All-Star level before and could get there for real if she improves her consistency. EB<\/p>\nToronto Tempo. After the Golden State Valkyries sold out all their games and became the first expansion side to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season, the expectations around first-year teams have been raised. The experienced core of Allemand, Mabrey and Maria Kliundikova will help Toronto be more competitive right away, though the playoffs may still be a few years off. BAG<\/p>\n
This one is tough! Both teams made really compelling choices. I\u2019m inclined to say the Toronto Tempo because their expansion draft selections are easy to understand, but it feels like the Fire are hoping to make a Valkyries-esque splash this season. SK<\/p>\n
Toronto Tempo. Mabrey (a stone-cold baller) is a helluva pickup, and Sabally (who helped clinch the Liberty\u2019s 2024 WNBA title) is a beguiling veteran who could finally tap into her true potential as new-old coach Sandy Brondello puzzles through the Tempo\u2019s rotations. That said: I don\u2019t see either team being as good out of the box as the Valkyries, who scrapped their way to a 2025 playoff spot and aren\u2019t likely to give any ground to this year\u2019s newcomers. AL<\/p>\n
This will be a good draft for \u2026<\/p>\n
UCLA Bruins. Lauren Betts only improved her case to be a top-five pick by leading the Bruins to the national title and earning Most Outstanding Player honors. Who will be the second UCLA player off the board? That\u2019s the big question. Gianna Kneepkens is one of the most talented shooters in the class, while Gabriela Jaquez (21 points and 10 rebounds in the final) and Kiki Rice (12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds in the tournament) had standout postseasons. UCLA could become the first school with four first-rounders since UConn\u2019s Fab Four in 2002. EB<\/p>\n
UCLA players. The Bruins\u2019 title run turned an already respected group into the story of the draft. Betts, Rice, Jaquez, Kneepkens and Angela Dugalic all gained traction at the ideal time and multiple mocks see UCLA flooding the first round with players who look immediately usable in pro rotations. BAG<\/p>\n
The Washington Mystics are poised to pick up quite a few players in the first round. Washington have the No 4, 9, and 11 picks, which could see them drafting Betts, Olivia Miles, or even Fam at that top spot, as well as potentially Cotie McMahon, Jaquez, or Ta\u2019Niya Latson. SK<\/p>\n
The Atlanta Dream, who scored all-star Angel Reese in a shock trade for two noodle packs and a jar of Ragu. She gives the Dream something their transition offense sorely needed \u2013 a player who can net them extra possessions off the glass. All they\u2019re missing now is shooting, and TCU\u2019s Marta Suarez or UCLA\u2019s Jaquez (if she falls or they trade up to get her) would neatly fit the bill. AL<\/p>\n
Whose stock has risen more in the last month?<\/p>\n
Outside anyone with \u201cUCLA\u201d next to their name, I\u2019ll say South Carolina\u2019s Raven Johnson. Before this season, she was already one of the most decorated players in the history of a very decorated program. The Gamecocks\u2019 title-game run boosted that r\u00e9sum\u00e9, leaving her with four national championship appearances, five Final Fours and five conference championships. The SEC Defensive Player of the Year played a key part in shutting down Fudd and Sarah Strong in the Final Four, holding UConn to their fewest points since 2022. She could jump into the top 10. EB<\/p>\n
Raven Johnson. Her extra year at South Carolina seems to have done exactly what she needed. Her improved shooting, command and all-around growth have impressed draftniks, who have slotted her as a first-round player who could help a good team with defense, strength and winning habits. BAG<\/p>\n
It\u2019s pretty tough to deny that UCLA\u2019s Betts, Jaquez, Kneepkens, and Rice are all getting even more attention post-tournament, and they deserve it. All four played crucial roles in their win over South Carolina in Phoenix, and will be assets to any team that drafts them. SK<\/p>\n
Feels like Iyana Martin has been drawing more buzz since her flashy run in for Spain in recent Fiba World Cup qualifiers. At just 20 years old, she\u2019s got a ton of room for growth \u2013 and at a slight 5ft 9in, she\u2019ll surely have to hit the weights to keep from getting bodied off the ball by the W\u2019s brawny perimeter defenders. AL<\/p>\n
Raven Johnson may leap up into the top 10 after an impressive college season. Photograph: John Locher\/APWhich international player could surprise?<\/p>\n
Frieda B\u00fchner had a very short stint in the US college game in 2022-23, playing four games for Florida before she returned to Germany. She\u2019s since had a nice career in the Spanish league, averaging 17.1 points this season. Buhner also has a solid international record for a 21-year-old: she came off the bench at the Paris Olympics in 2024 and was named to the All-Star Five of last month\u2019s Fiba World Cup qualifying tournament. EB<\/p>\n
Frieda B\u00fchner. She is not generating the same buzz as Fam, but the profile is compelling: size, strength, fast decisions, interior scoring and encouraging indicators on the jumper. In the right developmental setting, she could wind up looking like one of the steals of the international group. BAG<\/p>\n
Nell Angloma might be the Juste Jocyte of this year\u2019s draft. The France-to-USA pipeline is strong, and she could end up drafted higher than a lot of people think. She\u2019s only 19 and has plenty of time before she even touches her ceiling, and could be a great asset for Toronto in particular. SK<\/p>\n
Stella Colas could get a look near the end of the draft. The Frenchwoman had acquitted herself well in second division play last year and overcame an uneven start to this season to show flashes of creative playmaking. But with so many great guards available, she remains a long shot to hear her name called on Monday night. AL<\/p>\n
Later-round gem to watch<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s Yarden Garzon didn\u2019t have the valedictory season she had hoped for after transferring from Indiana to Maryland. But her length is a perfect fit for the pro game and her range is deep. If she can hit threes as consistently as she did at Indiana, where she was knocking \u2018em down at a near 50% clip, she\u2019ll crack a WNBA rotation \u2013 and quickly. EB<\/p>\n
Hannah Stuelke. ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo more or less gave the scouting report for why Caitlin Clark\u2019s former Iowa teammate is such an interesting sleeper: motor, size, athleticism and real upside as a rim-runner. She still feels unfinished, which may push her into the second- or third-round, but she could thrive if the right club takes a flyer on her. BAG<\/p>\n
Keep an eye on Stuelke, Tennessee\u2019s Zee Spearman, and Texas\u2019s Rori Harmon. All three have room to grow and deserve a spot somewhere in the league to maximize their potential. Harmon in particular could surprise a lot of people if the right team takes a chance on her. SK<\/p>\n
Maggie Doogan from Richmond made headlines in January when she set the record for most points (48) in a Division I game. She shot 50.6% from the floor this season to go with 21.1 points per game. She won\u2019t go as high in this year\u2019s draft as Maddy Siegrist, another crafty scorer from a small school, but she has enough similar traits that she could make an impact at a team\u2019s training camp. Another to watch: Harmon. She\u2019s undersized at 5ft 6in and has some shooting weaknesses, but she proved herself as one of the country\u2019s best on-ball defenders in the Longhorns\u2019 run to the Final Four. AL<\/p>\n
Who drafted the best last year?<\/p>\n
The Mystics struggled to close out games last year and couldn\u2019t crack the top of the East, but two of their three first-round picks \u2013 Notre Dame\u2019s Sonia Citron and Stanford\u2019s Kiki Iriafen \u2013 had standout seasons. They shattered franchise records and were two of three rookies (the other being Bueckers) to be All-Star selections. Washington are the only team with two top-10 picks this year \u2013 but they also fired their GM a week before the draft. We\u2019ll have to see how that works out. EB<\/p>\n
The Wings. If you land the Rookie of the Year, you are in the argument by default. Bueckers has given the Wings a true centerpiece on and off the court. The results lagged as the Wings shared the WNBA cellar with Chicago, but that is secondary. The draft is about acquiring the best asset available, and no player from last year\u2019s class offered more immediate or long-term value. BAG<\/p>\n
I think it\u2019s difficult to say anyone but the Wings, right? Bueckers is a generational talent and a strong leader, especially for someone who is still so young. The Mystics also picked up a whole collection of players whose names we\u2019ll be hearing for years to come. SK<\/p>\n
Mystics GM Jamila Wideman did a nice job grabbing Citron, Iriafen, Georgia Amoore and Lucy Olsen before management showed her the door after one season in the role. Three out of the four turned out to be gainful contributors \u2013 not least Citron, an All-Star (with Iriafen) who finished runner-up to Bueckers for rookie of the year. Where the team goes from here is anyone\u2019s guess, but it can\u2019t be said they weren\u2019t set up for success. AL<\/p>\n
The top 10 picks will be* \u2026<\/p>\n
Ella Brockway\u2019s top 10<\/p>\n
Dallas Wings \u2014 Awa Fam, center, Spain<\/p>\n
Minnesota Lynx \u2014 Azzi Fudd, shooting guard, UConn<\/p>\n
Seattle Storm \u2014 Olivia Miles, point guard, TCU<\/p>\n
Washington Mystics \u2014 Lauren Betts, center, UCLA<\/p>\n
Chicago Sky \u2014 Kiki Rice, point guard, UCLA<\/p>\n
Toronto Tempo \u2014 Flau\u2019jae Johnson, shooting guard, South Carolina<\/p>\n
Portland Fire \u2014 Gabriela Jaquez, shooting guard, UCLA<\/p>\n
Golden State Valkyries \u2014 Nell Angloma, forward, France<\/p>\n
Washington Mystics \u2014 Gianna Kneepkens, shooting guard, UCLA<\/p>\n
Indiana Fever \u2014 Raven Johnson, point guard, South Carolina<\/p>\n
Bryan Armen Graham\u2019s top 10<\/p>\n
Dallas Wings \u2014 Awa Fam, center, Spain<\/p>\n
Minnesota Lynx \u2014 Lauren Betts, center, UCLA<\/p>\n
Seattle Storm \u2014 Olivia Miles, point guard, TCU<\/p>\n
Washington Mystics \u2014 Azzi Fudd, shooting guard, UConn<\/p>\n
Chicago Sky \u2014 Kiki Rice, guard, UCLA<\/p>\n
Toronto Tempo \u2014 Iyana Mart\u00edn, point guard, Spain<\/p>\n
Portland Fire \u2014 Gabriela Jaquez, shooting guard, UCLA<\/p>\n
Golden State Valkyries \u2014 Gianna Kneepkens, guard, UCLA<\/p>\n
Indiana Fever \u2014 Flau\u2019jae Johnson, shooting guard, LSU<\/p>\n
Indiana Fever \u2014 Raven Johnson, point guard, South Carolina<\/p>\n
Stephanie Kaloi\u2019s top 10<\/p>\n
Dallas Wings \u2014 Azzi Fudd, shooting guard, UConn<\/p>\n
Minnesota Lynx \u2014 Awa Fam, center, Spain<\/p>\n
Seattle Storm \u2014 Olivia Miles, point guard, TCU<\/p>\n
Washington Mystics \u2014 Lauren Betts, center, UCLA<\/p>\n
Chicago Sky \u2014 Flau\u2019jae Johnson, shooting guard, LSU<\/p>\n
Toronto Tempo \u2014 Nell Angloma, forward, France<\/p>\n
Portland Fire \u2014 Raven Johnson, point guard, South Carolina<\/p>\n
Golden State Valkyries \u2014 Gianna Kneepkens, shooting guard\/wing, UCLA<\/p>\n
Washington Mystics \u2014 Cotie McMahon, forward, Mississippi<\/p>\n
Indiana Fever \u2014 Ta\u2019Niya Latson, shooting guard, South Carolina<\/p>\n
Andrew Lawrence\u2019s top 10<\/p>\n
Dallas Wings \u2014 Awa Fam, center, Spain<\/p>\n
Minnesota Lynx \u2014 Azzi Fudd, shooting guard, UConn<\/p>\n
Seattle Storm \u2014 Nell Angloma, forward, France<\/p>\n
Washington Mystics \u2014 Lauren Betts, center, UCLA<\/p>\n
Chicago Sky \u2014 Olivia Miles, point guard, TCU<\/p>\n
Toronto Tempo \u2014 Kiki Rice, guard, UCLA<\/p>\n
Portland Fire \u2014 Raven Johnson, point guard, South Carolina<\/p>\n
Golden State Valkyries \u2014 Ta\u2019Niya Latson, shooting guard, South Carolina<\/p>\n
Washington Mystics \u2014 Flau\u2019jae Johnson, shooting guard, LSU<\/p>\n
Indiana Fever \u2014 Gabriela Jaquez, shooting guard, UCLA<\/p>\n
* This is what our writers think the order will be, rather than what they think it should be.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The No 1 overall pick will be \u2026 For the past three years, the No 1 pick has…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":581463,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[99,434],"class_list":["post-581462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wnba","tag-sports","tag-wnba"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581462","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=581462"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/581462\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/581463"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=581462"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=581462"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=581462"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}