Paige Bueckers projected to go No. 1 in 2025 WNBA Draft to Dallas Wings

The WNBA is to welcome its new rookie class, which Paige Bueckers led when the league holds its annual design on Monday evening.

The Uconn Star, who leads the Huskies to their 12th National Championship, will probably go number 1 of the Dallas Wings. Bueckers will be a large piece on and next to the space for the wings.

[MORE: ‘My journey became hers’: Geno Auriemma, Paige Bueckers share fairytale ending]

Seattle has the second choice and could take the Dominique Malonga in France. The 19-year-old helped France to win the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Paris last summer. If she designed second place, she would only be the fifth foreign player who would take part in the first two tips in the history of the league. Margo Dydek came first in 1998 and Lauren Jackson was the number 1. Liz Cambage was second in 2011 and Awak Kuier became number 2 in 2021.

The Washington Mystics will control the direction of the design after the two best picks with the third, fourth and sixth picks. Washington has a new trainer and general manager.

Five teams have no choice in the opening round because New York, Indiana, Phoenix and Atlanta exchanged their picks. Las Vegas forfeited his choice after an examination of the league in 2023, in which the franchise violated the rules for inadmissible players and guidelines at the workplace.

[MORE: 2025 WNBA Draft: How to watch, date, TV channel]

Here are some other tidbits for the draft on Monday evening:

All eyes on France

The 6-foot 6 Malonga is not the only foreign player in the design that has improved her skills in France. Young Jocyte, Malonga’s teammate in Lyon in the French basketball league, is expected to be taken in the first round.

Jocyte is a versatile player who can play one of the wax positions and is really effective in the pick -and roll. The 19 -year -old Lithuanian, who is also 19 years old, scored 22 points against Belgium in Eurobasket qualifying a few months ago. She has a hardness with her and is fundamentally arriving.

“She is left-handed and knows how to play in her hands with or without the ball,” said former mystics coach Mike Thibault. “Not a real point Guard, but can handle the ball. She is a clever player who knows how to use screens.”

AJSA Sivka from Slovenia could also be a first choice. It is a multi -stage hit with efficient gunfights. It made over 42% of the 3-point line. With 6-foot 4 it is a difficult matchup to defend it.

“She has all the skills to be a good player in the WNBA,” said Thibault.

Start over

The Golden State’s Valkyries enter the league as an expansion franchise and have the fifth choice in the draft. The Valkyries had their expansion player and will now try to find a cornerstone that goes with them. Potential candidates for the Valkyries are the USC -Kiki Irials and the LSU – Anesah Morow.

New event location

The design takes place in the scales in New York and will be present for the second time in a row. The league considers an orange carpet to arrive for weapons.

Reporting by the Associated Press.

Would you like great stories that are delivered directly to your inbox? Create or register in your FOX sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to get a personalized newsletter every day!

CONSEQUENCES Follow your favorite to personalize your FOX sports experience