The 2025 WNBA Draft features the Dallas Wings taking Paige Bueckers at 1 while Nigeria's Kiki Iraifen is selected by the Washington Mystics. The WNBA Draft took place at The Shed in Manhattan, marking a historic moment for women’s basketball. UConn star Paige Bueckers was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Wings fresh off leading the Huskies to their first national championship in nine years. Her selection made her the sixth UConn player to be chosen first overall in WNBA history and the first to win a national championship and be drafted No. 1 in the same year since Breanna Stewart in 2016. 1st round of the 2025 WNBA Draft The first round of the 2025 WNBA Draft showcased a blend of collegiate stars and international talent, with only 12 picks due to the Las Vegas Aces’ forfeited selection for violating league rules. Following Bueckers, the Seattle Storm selected 19-year-old French center Dominique Malonga at No. 2, acquired via a trade with the Los Angeles Sparks. Malonga, a 6-foot-6 pro since age 15 and a silver medalist with France at the 2024 Olympics, became the highest-drafted French player since 1997,. The Washington Mystics, holding three first-round picks, started at No. 3 by selecting Notre Dame’s Sonia Citron, followed by USC’s Kiki Iriafen at No. 4, and Kentucky’s Georgia Amoore at No. 6 (via a trade with the Atlanta Dream). The expansion team Golden State Valkyries made their first-ever draft pick at No. 5, selecting Lithuanian forward Justė Jocytė. The Connecticut Sun, with back-to-back picks, chose LSU’s Aneesah Morrow at No. 7—making and NC State’s Saniya Rivers at No. 8. The Los Angeles Sparks took Alabama’s Sarah Ashlee Barker at No. 9, while the Chicago Sky selected Slovenian forward Ajša Sivka at No. 10. Rounding out the first round, the Sky picked TCU’s Hailey Van Lith at No. 11, a slot they acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Lynx. Finally, at No. 12, the Dallas Wings selected NC State’s Aziaha James, an explosive scorer who helped her team reach the Final Four in 2024 and the Sweet 16 in 2025.