There might not have been a surprised face in the room, but there was no shortage of excitement when Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced Paige Bueckers as the first overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings.
The announcement came on the heels of Bueckers winning the NCAA tournament less than two weeks ago, making her the first player since Breanna Stewart in 2016 to be drafted No. 1 and win the national championship in the same year. She joins a select group of only six to do so in WNBA history, all from only two schools: Connecticut and Tennessee.
Although there were no doubts that Bueckers would land the first overall spot in the draft, concerns had been raised regarding the Wings being able to keep their lottery pick, since the only Texan franchise in the league has navigated rough waters both on and off the court in recent seasons.
Missteps and disappointments such as having to pull their Rebel-edition jersey from the stores due to its homage to a military program that excluded Black women, to not making the playoffs in 2024 after being a semifinalist in 2023, fueled speculations about Dallas not being appealing enough for someone with such stardom.
Potential trades and scenarios were considered as alternatives by media and fans, but for newly appointed general manager Curt Miller, that was never on the table.
“No, we were never going to trade the pick,” Miller stated during the post-draft media availability. “We knew we had a special opportunity, and very early on, it was Paige, and Paige only. And she’s such a special player. So, very fortunate. Takes us all the way back to that draft lottery where we knew we had an incredible opportunity.”
The Seattle Storm, which held the No. 2 overall pick, was one of the main teams brought up in trade scenarios as some deemed the four-time WNBA champion a more desirable destination for players like Bueckers. Despite a rocky start to the offseason that saw franchise player Jewell Loyd request a trade following harassment and bullying allegations against the coaching staff, recent investments raised the team’s stock.
Seattle has its own brand-new practice facility and hosts games in the recently renovated Climate Pledge Arena, with capacity for 18,300 fans—over 10,000 more than that of Dallas’ home court, College Park Center, in Arlington, Texas. With a maximum capacity of 7,000, the Wings held the second-lowest attendance in the WNBA in 2024, according to Across the Timeline.
With its lottery pick, the Storm selected 19-year-old French prodigy Dominique Malonga at No. 2. The 6-foot-6 center became the favorite for the second overall selection after the now TCU guard Olivia Miles opted to stay in college and enter the transfer portal rather than declaring for the draft. Although not fulfilling an immediate need in Seattle, Malonga is considered the type of talent that a team can’t pass on.
“She’s a unicorn. She is one of one, in my opinion. Her ability to do multiple things on a basketball court, guard multiple positions, whether it is the five, whether it’s the four, I think her versatility lends to a successful career in our league,” head coach Noelle Quinn said. “The thing that is very intriguing about her is just the way that she’s grown rapidly over the last few years. And so, if you think about her ability to go inside-out, stretch her game, but also her defensive prowess—you know, there’s some versatility to her game that won’t have me say she is this or that. She is 100% an amazing athlete.”
Malonga’s professional experience internationally at such a young age gives her an edge over collegiate athletes, who have mostly faced only players untested at the highest level. In addition to representing France in the Olympics, she geared up for LDLC ASVEL Feminin in the EuroCup 2024-25, finishing with a double-double average of 18.5 points and 11 rebounds per game. Those numbers beat those of Dana Evans, of the Chicago Sky, and Temi Fagbenle, of the Indiana Fever.
Deemed by San Antonio Spurs and French legend Tony Parker “the female Victor Wembanyama,” Malonga now has the chance to follow in the footsteps of her fellow countryman and expand Europe’s surge in American professional basketball to the women’s league.
The No. 1 and No. 2 pick in the WNBA draft will face each other on May 19, when Seattle travels to Dallas for their first meeting of the season.
Complete 2025 WNBA Draft Board
First Round
- Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers, Connecticut
- Seattle Storm: Dominique Malonga, France
- Washington Mystics: Sonia Citron, Notre Dame
- Washington Mystics: Kiki Iriafen, USC
- Golden State Valkyries: Juste Jocyte, Lithuania
- Washington Mystics: Georgia Amoore, Lentucky
- Connecticut Sun: Aneesah Morrow, LSU
- Connecticut Sun: Saniya Rivers, NC State
- Los Angeles Sparks: Sarah Ashlee Barker, Alabama
- Chicago Sky: Ajsa Sivka, Slovenia
- Chicago Sky: Hailey Van Lith, TCU
- Dallas Wings: Aziaha James, NC State
Second Round
- Las Vegas Aces: Aaliyah Nye, Alabama
- Dallas Wings: Madison Scott, Ole Miss
- Minnesota Lynx: Anastasiia Kosu, Russia
- Chicago Sky: Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame
- Golden State Valkyries: Shyanne Sellers, Maryland
- Atlanta Dream: Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina
- Indiana Fever: Makayla Timpson, Florida State
- Indiana Fever: Bree Hall, South Carolina
- Los Angeles Sparks: Sania Feagin, South Carolina
- Chicago Sky: Aicha Coulibaly, Texas A&M
- Washington Mystics: Lucy Olsen, Iowa
- Minnesota Lynx: Dalayah Daniels, Washington
- Connecticut Sun: Rayah Marshall, USC
Third round
- Seattle Storm: Serena Sundell, Kansas State
- Dallas Wings: JJ Quinerly, West Virginia
- Los Angeles Sparks: Liatu King, Notre Dame
- Seattle Storm: Madison Conner, TCU
- Golden State Valkyries: Kaitlyn Chen, Connecticut
- Dallas Wings: Aaronette Vonleh, Baylor
- Washington Mystics: Zaay Green, Alabama
- Indiana Fever: Yvonne Ejim, Gonzaga
- Seattle Storm: Jordan Hobbs, Michigan
- Las Vegas Aces: Harmoni Turner, Harvard
- Atlanta Dream: Taylor Thierry, Ohio State
- Minnesota Lynx: Aubrey Griffin, Connecticut
- New York Liberty: Adja Kane, France
