For years, the WNBA was often pushed to the background, overshadowed by its male counterpart and dismissed in the larger basketball conversation. But last year changed that narrative. Rookies like Caitlin Clark, who had a record-breaking college career, transitioned seamlessly into a record-shattering season in the pros. And Angel Reese carried her NIL success into the league, commanding attention on the court and establishing herself as an influential figure because of it.
These rookies aren’t just making names for themselves; they’re proving the WNBA isn’t politely asking for recognition anymore; it’s demanding it. The 2024 class brought in unprecedented viewership and attendance, drawing over 18,000 fans to the arena for the finals. The league’s presence is impossible to ignore now. And with the 2025 class incoming, the momentum is only building.
You’ve likely heard of Paige Bueckers thanks to her viral social media presence and seen Hailey Van Lith’s headline-making highlights. However, a formal introduction to the next generation of players redefining the game is long overdue. Meet the 10 prospects we’ve got our eye on for the upcoming WNBA draft.
10) Hailey Van Lith (TCU, Senior)
Pro Comparison: Kelsey Plum
Hailey Van Lith may have played a supporting role for much of her collegiate career, starting at Louisville before transferring to LSU, where her name began to rise in prominence. Now, in her fifth year at TCU, Van Lith has maximized her stock. The 5'9" guard earned league tournament MVP honors and, for the first time, is leading TCU to the Sweet 16. Averaging 17.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, she is getting the playing time and spotlight she's always wanted. While she may not have the height for big blocks or defensive dominance, she compensates with a low, quick-playing style, maneuvering through bigger players in the paint and finishing at the rim.
What truly sets Van Lith apart is her ability to stay alert and reactive, reading the game to navigate tight spaces when needed. And if her collegiate career wasn't enough, her achievement as an Olympic 3x3 bronze medalist certainly rationalizes her being deserving of a first-round draft pick.
9) Ayoka Lee (Kansas State, Graduate)
Pro Comparison: Stephanie Dolson
At this point in her career, Ayoka Lee has a trophy case that's quite full. At Kansas State, Lee holds the record for the most points scored in NCAA women’s basketball history, with a career-high 61 points in a game. With over 1,000 rebounds and 300 blocks, Lee has proven herself as a strong defensive player, while also being a versatile offensive threat.
Standing at 6'6", the Kansas State center isn’t afraid to use her height to attack the rim and protect it. Lee is aggressive yet polished in her ball handling, poised while navigating through defenses, and always willing to dive for the ball to maintain possession.
8) Aneesah Morrow (LSU, Senior)
Pro Comparison: Jonquel Jones
According to Angel Reese, Aneesah Morrow is "one of the top post-players in the country" right now.
Morrow plays with a maturity beyond her years, competing like a pro among college undergrads for the reigning 2-peat champions at LSU. The 6'1 forward known as a "walking double-double" by her coach, Kim Mulkey, hasn't earned that nickname as a courtesy, but with 100+ double-doubles under her belt, it's hard to regard her as anything else. Morrow is an assertive player, and her presence and impact on the court are always felt. With powerful drives to the basket and a noticeable use of size and speed, she’s unafraid to use her body to get to the rim — a distinctive style that solidifies her status as a dominant "point forward."
7) Harmoni Turner (Harvard, Senior)
Pro Comparison: Dewanna Bonner
Ivy League schools often get a bad rap for their athletic programs, but Harmoni Turner is rewriting that narrative in just one season. A gold medalist and a certified bucket, Turner’s dedication was clear, even in high school when she would spend her lunch breaks in the gym, refusing to leave until she'd scored 1,000 points.
Now a 5'10" guard at Harvard, averaging 19 points per game, she’s led the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 18 years. Her dominance also earned her the title of Ivy League Player of the Year, a first for Harvard in two decades.
With each game, she continues to break records and set new career highs. Quick to attack the paint and unafraid on her drives, Turner’s wide strides to the rim make her one of the most entertaining players to watch.
6) Georgia Amoore (Kentucky State, Graduate)
Pro Comparison: Marine Johannes
Recently, a meme has emerged comparing Georgia Amoore to the LeBron "No Help" graphic, which depicts James winning the 2018 playoff series with no other teammate averaging more than 11.5 points. This comparison accurately captures Amoore's role as the standout star of Kentucky’s women’s basketball team. Unfortunately, it also mirrors her experience in this year’s NCAA tournament, but the silver lining is that it ultimately promotes her standing as a top pick in the draft.
Amoore is far from a passive player—her career-high of 43 points and quick, confident three-point shooting are a testament to her offensive prowess. Her handles are instantly recognizable, and many would argue that her signature crossover dribble should likely be trademarked because she does it so well.
5) Te-Hina Paopao (University of South Carolina, Senior)
Pro Comparison: Aliyah Boston
Te-Hina Paopao is not a name you easily forget. If you’ve followed any of the recent winning streaks in NCAA history, you’ll find Paopao at the heart of them. She’s why the University of South Carolina will never be the underdogs they sometimes convince themselves to be. And it's simply because the team is as good as it gets. Sitting at the #2 overall seed and #1 in SEC's conference, Paopao, under the guidance of Dawn Staley, has led them there.
Paopao is an intense contender with a grip on the ball like no other, and at the end of the day, it comes down to one simple fact: she knows ball. Not only is she exceptional on off-screens, but she also delivers when it matters most, knocking down shots in tie-breaking moments. While most members of "Dawn's Daycare" are bred to be tougher, more relentless, and more on-court clever than any other opposing team, Paopao takes this standard of greatness to another level and holds it there constantly.
4) Kiki Iriafen (USC, Senior)
Pro Comparison: Rickea Jackson
Kiki Iriafen may often find herself in the shadow of her USC teammate Juju Watkins, but she’s quickly establishing herself as a key player after transferring from Stanford just last year. Critics have pointed out that the USC team’s playing style can feel disjointed and lack a "team-ball" system of play. But Iriafen’s ability to work harmoniously with Watkins—particularly on crucial rebounds—has been critical. It was especially seen in tense rivalry games against UCLA, which resulted in a double win.
As a forward, her presence on the court is undeniable, averaging 30 minutes per game, shooting nearly 50% from the field, and putting up 19 points per game. Iriafen’s mastery of high-low versatility makes her the glue that holds together USC’s otherwise delicate roster.
3) Sonia Citron (Notre Dame, Senior)
Pro Comparison: Sabrina Ionescu
Just because she keeps quiet on the court (does she have a celebratory, braggadocious, or trash-talking bone in her body?), it doesn’t mean Sonia Citron is one to sleep on. Suiting up for Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish, the 6'1" guard stands just a bit taller than her teammate Olivia Miles, but her impact looms even larger. Role players are essential, but those who consistently exceed expectations—sending games into overtime and the ability to make crucial plays quickly—are the ones who stand out when it’s time for the draft, and Sonia Citron does that.
At the wing, Citron doesn’t take her position lightly. She’s constantly knocking down three-pointers with quick releases and holds a 3-point shooting percentage of 36.7%. On defense, she’s proven herself against some of the NCAA's toughest contenders, including Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins, helping lead Notre Dame to a 3-0 record against top-seed teams. Citron is always quick to meet her opponents at the rim and has a merciless habit of violent shot-blocking. She's the player you'd trust with seconds left on the clock to tie the game with a logo three, and that's because she's done it before. Although her game has a bit of maturing to do, we'd be remiss not to project her as a first-round pick.
2) Olivia Milles (Notre Dame, Senior)
Pro Comparison: Chelsea Gray
Notre Dame’s recent streak of upsets has a clear signature: Olivia Miles. Alongside her “bully backcourt” partner, Hannah Hidalgo, the duo has become the driving force behind Notre Dame's recent success. As a 5'10" guard, Miles plays with the force and dominance of someone well over six feet, shrugging off size mismatches and always finding her way to the paint.
Miles's impact isn’t limited to her time on the ball—she’s just as dominant off it, marking herself as a true playmaker through setting screens and creating open threes for her teammates.
Miles is a quiet but relentless pest on defense and slyly positions herself during the right moments. Her game is pure momentum—blink, and you might miss her forcing a turnover and shifting the lead, all within a single quarter.
1) Paige Bueckers (UConn, Graduate)
Pro Comparison: Diana Taurasi
If you haven’t heard of Paige Bueckers by now, you’re likely too late. The 6' guard, leading UConn’s women’s basketball team with a velvety touch on the ball, has a receipt-long list of accolades. For one, she's the first—and only—freshman ever to win National Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in the same season. Heavily decorated, it’s no surprise she’s landing major commercials, securing top NIL deals, and is the first college athlete with a Nike sneaker, all while projecting as the #1 draft pick. She's basically the Beyonce of college basketball—or more controversially, "the Caitlin Clark before Caitlin Clark."
Fame is nothing new for Bueckers. In high school, she went viral for her Kyrie-like handles, drawing NBA stars like Karl-Anthony Towns and Steph Curry to watch her play, while coaches like Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley lined up to poach her. Nicknamed "Paige Buckets," she's projected to have a 50-40-90 kind of season. With a career field goal percentage of 53.2%, especially efficient in mid-range jumpers, she’s a sniper in her own right, making every game a box-office event. But what truly sets her apart is her unselfish approach to the game, leading UConn to Big East championships year after year under her reign.
The proof is already there: UConn set the record for the highest ticket sales in history, and her projected WNBA team, the Dallas Wings, sold out in tickets before Bueckers has even been drafted. In the coming years, we're primed to witness "the Bueckers effect", a phenomenon that's already in progress.