It was supposed to be a match made in heaven — college basketball phenom Paige Bueckers would be drafted No. 1 overall in 2025 by the Los Angeles Sparks. The draft lottery had other plans. The Dallas Wings were awarded the top pick, with the Sparks getting the No. 2 selection.
There is no guarantee that Bueckers will be the top pick in 2025, as she hasn't declared for the draft. She could wait until 2026, when the new collective bargaining agreement goes into effect. If she declares for April's draft, though, she will almost certainly go to Dallas.
The days of watching Bueckers, Cameron Brink, and Rickea Jackson play together ended before they even started. There will be a new guard in Los Angeles in 2025, but it won't be a rookie. Kelsey Plum returns to Southern California after Sunday's blockbuster trade involving the Aces and Storm.
Plum entered the offseason as an unrestricted free agent after she didn't sign an extension with Las Vegas. The Aces cored her earlier this month, so she could only leave the team via a trade. That trade materialized because of the draft lottery, as ESPN's Alexa Philippou reported that the Sparks were "uncertain" about who would be available at No. 2.
Sources told ESPN the Sparks were ultimately uncertain about who would even be available to be drafted No. 2 overall. Combined with the hope of bringing Plum in for multiple years, that made it more palatable to give up the lottery pick. https://t.co/ZN47Hb0cst
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) January 27, 2025
Sparks were 'uncertain' about who would be available to be drafted with No. 2 pick
You can bet that if LA had the No. 1 pick, the Sparks would have held onto it, hoping Bueckers would declare for the draft. She's too good a talent to pass up on. Rather than wait to see who will be available at No. 2, Los Angeles took matters into its own hands.
Olivia Miles has gained traction as a player who also could be drafted No. 1 overall in April, but like Bueckers, she hasn't confirmed her future plans. The Sparks would've been a good landing spot for the Notre Dame guard if Bueckers is selected as the top pick, but again, there is no guarantee that Miles will be available. She may be on the board for the Storm, who now have the No. 2 pick.
Los Angeles' decision to trade for Plum could propel the organization back to relevancy, as it's been five years since the team made the playoffs. Philippou reported that the guard wants to be with the Sparks past the 2025 season, which makes sense, considering she "approved" the trade.
LA fans entered the offseason thinking they'd get Bueckers but wound up with Plum instead. That's not too shabby, huh?