Final look at 2025 WNBA top prospects ahead of draft on Monday

2024 was an eventful year to say the least for the WNBA. Welcoming in players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Cameron Brink and many others who are portrayed as future icons for years to come, the 2025 draft class may just offer talent that will continue to propel the league, too. Ahead of the draft from Hudson Yards in the heart of Midtown Manhattan on Monday, here’s one final check-in at what the top-five projected prospects bring to the table.

Bleacher Report’s most recent mock draft from April 10th slates these five individuals as the most pristine up-and-coming players that managers across the league are hoping to call their own.

1. Paige Bueckers, G, UConn

If you follow basketball closely, or even if you don’t, Paige Bueckers is a name you’ve probably heard quite often. Concluding her four-year collegiate career at UConn with the 12th title in the history of the women’s program, she comes as complete as any 23-year-old possibly can.

What really makes her a standout amongst all other prospects is her leadership on and off the court. Not every college student hoops as selflessly as she does through both thick and thin. Overcoming numerous knee sprains early this year, the six-footer continued to demonstrate her passion for the Huskies on the sidelines too, playing a huge factor in the team’s National Championship success.

The Minnesota native also displayed immaculate court vision and playmaking skills throughout her four seasons. Her 4.6 assists per game in 2024-25 goes to show that her ability to read plays and defensive strategies to a tee demonstrate that she can find open passing lanes and set her teammates up for success with the scoring opportunities she’s able to create.

She’s got the IQ, the heart, and she’s got the jumper too. Bueckers averaged nearly 20 points per game this season, nearing career-high numbers for her UConn tenure. She quickly became the primary option for her squad after wasting no time to establish her offensive talent from anywhere on the floor, whether it was from mid-range, long distance, or in the paint. She shot an above-50% field goal percentage all four years in a Huskies uniform.

2. Dominique Malonga, F, ASVEL Lyon

Malonga enters the 2025 draft class with a different spark than others, the 6-foot-6 French star brings forth an aspect that can’t be taught. Size.

Her size advantage compared to others plays a big factor in the WNBA on both ends of the floor. She found her footing at just 16 years old when she became the youngest female French athlete to dunk in a game. But with her size comes well-rounded performances as well.

While playing for ASVEL Lyon she also stood out on the international stage in 2024, making her mark as the youngest member of the 2024 French national team at the Summer Olympics. Going home from the games with a silver medal was just one of many future awards for her young career.

While the league lacks traditional bigs in the middle, Malonga has the proven ability to return to the league what has been transitioned away, dunking and usage of length down low.

3. Sonia Citron, F, Notre Dame

Citron could quite possibly carry the most memorable story at this year's draft. The New York native is in prime position to go top-three at the draft located in her home state. This Notre Dame senior holds promising potential with her versatility and quickness on the floor.

The 6’1” guard averaged a consistent 14+ points per game on near 47% field goal percentage in every season of her four-season career with the Fighting Irish. Her smaller stature gave her an advantage against others to be a quick and sneaky shooting guard who can adapt to nearly any situation thrown at her.

Yes, she can bring that scoring spark to any team she’s on, but she hustles on the defensive end to go with that firepower. Citron showcased her talent when she had the task of guarding USC Trojans top-scorer Juju Watkins. Also because of her size, she can disrupt offenses she goes head-to-head with and be a distraction when least expected.

Niele Ivey, the head coach for Notre Dame’s women’s basketball program spoke heavily on Citron, stating that she is “the type of player that I know exactly what I’m going to get everyday, no matter what”.

4. Kiki Iriafen, F, USC

Aside from Bueckers, Iriafen knows all about making a deep run in March Madness. Although she came out on the losing side, the USC forward knows what it takes to be a go-to player on a top squad.

Stats do Iriafen justice on their own. In 2024-25, she showcased the offensive capabilities with 18.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game as a top contributor to the runner-up USC Trojans. Her mid-range jumper is backed by her 47.5% efficiency on the inside this season, making herself a threat from anywhere on the floor, in any given matchup.

As part of JuJu Watkins’ squad, despite a disappointing end to their campaign with Watkins being sidelined with a torn ACL, and falling to UConn in the Elite Eight, in her school’s long run she was able to continue to display her dominance on the inside, in both the paint and on the boards.

The California native holds the title of the 2024 nation’s top power forward, and a nod on the 2025 All-Big Ten First Team.

5. Aneesah Morrow, F, LSU

Angel Reese certainly made a name for herself while she was at LSU, but how much of an impact did she have on this Tiger's future career in the WNBA?

Morrow wrapped up her senior season as a definitive number-one on the LSU women’s roster. It wasn’t only in her final year where she set herself apart from other prospects, as Morrow caught the eyes of many when she made herself known as a double-double machine with a career-best streak of 23 consecutive games.

Her double-digit numbers were mainly met with rebounds, which comes obvious as she sits fifth in NCAA history for career rebounds after snagging nearly 14 per game in this season.

One of the many leaders in her life that she received praise from was her own collegiate head coach, Kim Mulkey, who often expressed how impressed she was with ability to contribute in all areas of the game. Most specifically, she touched on her lockdown efforts where she averaged 2.5 steals in each game of her Tiger career.

This year's WNBA draft will be hosted in the home-state of the defending champs, the New York Liberty, at the west-side theatre ‘The Shed’ from Hudson Yards. The Dallas Wings will be on the clock first-overall at 7:30PM ET.

This year's draft is another one for the record books as the Golden State Valkyries will make their first-ever draft selection in franchise history at number five. They’ll kick off their inaugural season in what is sure to become a California classic at Crypto.com Arena against the Sparks.

2025 Draft Order (Round One):