NEW YORK ― The 2025 WNBA Draft lived up to the hype.
As patrons flooded The Shed in New York Monday evening to see where the top prospect in college basketball would find new homes, there was an apparent buzz for the next wave of league talent. It was impossible to miss the attention that UConn guard Paige Bueckers drew, but other players like USC forward Kiki Iriafen, LSU forward Aneesah Morrow and TCU guard Hailey Van Lith also owned the night.
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WNBA DRAFT: Paige Bueckers advocating for 2 UConn teammates at 2025 WNBA Draft paid off.
Still, not every moment was filled with joy. As teams drafted their latest players, there were some head-scratching moves and shocking developments. (Not to mention, a fall down the board by TCU center Sedona Prince, leaving her undrafted.) Let’s review who came out ahead after such a momentous occasion and who might have some ground to make up.
These are the winners and losers of the 2025 WNBA Draft:
Winner: Hailey Van Lith re-uniting with Angel Reese
ALBANY, NEW YORK – MARCH 30: Angel Reese #10 of the LSU Tigers celebrates with Hailey Van Lith #11 of the LSU Tigers in a game against the UCLA Bruins during the second half in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena on March 30, 2024 in Albany, New York. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
In March, For The Win floated the idea of Hailey Van Lith joining Angel Reese in Chicago. But, we weren’t sure it would happen ― and then it did. The TCU guard is reuniting with her former LSU teammate in Chicago, and that feels like one of the most underrated storylines before the 2025 season. (Think of the TikToks they’ll make together. Tremendous content awaits.)
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Van Lith’s connection with Reese is undeniable and as she revealed at the WNBA draft, the pair never lost contact since she transferred to TCU. Their previous chemistry could help establish more balanced guard-to-big relationships on the hardwood, something that impacted the Sky’s offensive production last season. Additionally, Van Lith gets the chance to work with head coach Tyler Marsh, who has a reputation as a developmental leader and already worked wonders in Las Vegas with star guard Jackie Young.
Loser: South Carolina Gamecocks prospects
With head coach Dawn Staley in the building, the vibes were high for South Carolina’s trio of draft prospects ― Sania Feagin, Bree Hall and Te-Hina Paopao ― to be drafted. Feagin and Paopao were projected in recent mocks to land in the back half of the first round, while Hall was likely a second-round selection, with the possibility that someone could take on her in the first. So, they awaited the results with Feagin on-site and Paopao and Hall attending at-home draft parties. And they waited. Then, they waited some more.
Finally, after what felt like a lifetime of picks ― 18 to be exact ― the Atlanta Dream selected Paopao to add to their guard group of 3-point specialists. Two picks later, Hall joined the Indiana Fever’s guard-heavy roster led by Caitlin Clark, followed by the Sparks grabbing Feagin. The drops for the South Carolina prospects were a bit puzzling given their high upsides. However, being willing moldable players who come from the proverbial Dawn Staley school of two-way production certainly helps their case.
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While Paopao and Feagin are likely safer bets to make opening-day rosters, Hall is one to keep an eye on. If she can bring her stellar defense with her to Indy and lean on her 3-ball, the Fever front office will have to make some tough choices about keeping her. Good luck, Indiana.
Winner: The Washington Mystics
Apr 14, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Sonia Citron poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the number three overall pick to the Washington Mystics in the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
It wouldn’t be shocking if the Washington Mystics popped actual bottles of champagne in their draft room after Monday’s night haul. Months ago, Washington lost out on the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes, and it felt like the sky was falling. Through some clever wheeling and dealing (and an Ariel Atkins trade), it landed three first-round picks, paving the way for a strong foundation during a rebuild.
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The Mystics’ new rookie class isn’t just good; it’s sneaky good. Within the first 10 selections, they drafted Notre Dame guard Sonia Citron at No. 3, USC forward Kiki Iriafen at No. 4 and Kentucky guard Georgia Amoore at No. 6. Solidifying the guard depth and adding shooting were key priorities for Washington, and they accomplished that. The Mystics also added more front-court competition and rim protection with Iriafen.
If that wasn’t enough, they doubled down on getting highly productive players and ended their draft by getting Iowa guard Lucy Olsen, who’s a certified bucket, and Alabama standout Zaay Green. Excuse me, new-look Mystics. I was not familiar with your game.
Loser: TCU center Sedona Prince
The WNBA draft came and went without a single team drafting TCU Horned Frogs center Sedona Prince. Prince entered Monday night’s festivities as one of the oldest prospects at 24 years old and also came with major off-the-court abuse allegations. In short, any team drafting her would have likely faced a mountain of scrutiny about not only Prince’s potential production compared to other WNBA bigs but also her past away from the hardwood before arriving to the league.
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Prince also certainly didn’t help herself with a brutal final college game of four points on 25 percent shooting. She also fouled out. For now, her WNBA aspirations are indefinitely on hold. Time will tell if any team might invite her to training camp or sign her down the road.
Winner: WNBA draft prospects in the audience
Apr 14, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Kaitlyn Chen poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the number thirty overall pick to the Golden State Valkyries in the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin might have unknowingly started one of the best trends in women’s basketball. Martin attended the WNBA draft last year to support best friend Caitlin Clark and was drafted, out of the audience by the Las Vegas Aces.
This year, there were not one, but three players called up to the stage at The Shed in New York. Paige Bueckers likely deserves some credit for UConn players Kaitlyn Chen and Aubrey Griffin joining the Golden State Valkyries and the Minnesota Lynx. (Bueckers advocated for teams to draft her teammates, and it actually happened. Excuse us. It’s getting dusty in here.) Then, Alabama’s Aaliyah Nye, who came to support teammate Sarah Ashlee Barker, was drafted by the Aces with pick No. 13. You love to see it.
Loser: The WNBA draft stock of Shyanne Sellers and Serena Sundell
No draft comes without some sort of head-scratching event or a shocking moment, but we really need to talk about Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers falling to pick No. 17 in the second round, and Kansas State guard Serena Sundell lasting until pick No. 26 in the third. Both Sellers and Sundell were in many first-round projects across the WNBA space, and while dropping a few spots is expected, this sort of fall is worth strange.
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Perhaps WNBA general managers were lower on Sellers than most assumed because of a knee injury history during her final college season. We buy that. However, her upside and basketball IQ are so incredibly high that it almost makes us afraid to ask: Is her knee worse than what’s publicly known?
Then, there’s Sundell. A late first-round to early second-round landing is where most experts suspected she would fall. But a third-round pick? We did not see this coming. Sundell’s arguably one of the most underrated prospects in the 2025 draft. She’s highly efficient and can score from multiple levels. Additionally, she has superior vision for such a young player, which makes her dangerous as a facilitator. Maybe league front offices view Sundell differently than outside evaluators. Still, it wouldn’t surprise us if she makes the Storm’s opening-day roster. She’s the type of player that could be a valuable role player for a very long time.
Winner: The WNBA draft outfits
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 14: (R-L) Kiki Iriafen poses for a photo with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the fourth overall pick by the Washington Mystics during the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 14, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
For The Win would not be doing its due diligence if we did not mention how stunning the players looked Monday night. From Paige Bueckers to Aneesah Morrow, every player on the orange carpet was a vibe. We were totally there for the suits, the jackets, the skirts, the dresses ― the colors ― and everything in between.
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New Mystics rookie Kiki Iriafen deserves a personal shoutout because, as the kids say, she ate down. Her outfit was the best surprise of the night. Irifaen arrived wearing a very regal gold and brown dress made by a Nigerian designer, a tiny gold purse and lovely orange accent accessories. Put Iriafen down for the way-too-early list of best-dressed rookies for the 2025 season next to Bueckers.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2025 WNBA Draft winners, losers: Hailey Van Lith, South Carolina players
