In April, Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings made headlines as she was selected first overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Upon hearing her name called by commissioner Cathy Engelbert, Bueckers stood up, placing her hand over her heart, and took in the significant moment. The 2025 draft class carries the expectations set by a stellar 2024 class, notably with Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky making a remarkable impact right from their debut seasons.
Despite facing some injuries that caused her to miss five games, Bueckers has quickly established herself among the league’s elite, ranking in the top 10 in points, assists, and steals per game. Her rookie campaign has broken several league records—she became the first player in WNBA history to reach both 60 points and 30 assists in the first five games, and she achieved the fastest milestone of 200 points and 50 assists.
Bueckers isn’t alone in this rising talent wave; she joins Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron and forward Kiki Iriafen as the first trio of rookies to be named WNBA All-Stars in the same season since 1999. Citron has had a standout performance, scoring 100 points faster than anyone else in her draft class and boasting an impressive shooting percentage. Her teammate Iriafen has equally made waves with her skill, becoming a force against veteran players and racking up consecutive double-doubles early in the season.
The talent emerging from the 2025 draft class signals a bright future for the WNBA. Future prospects include top talents like Olivia Miles from Notre Dame and UConn’s Azzi Fudd, indicating a continued influx of skill and competitiveness into the league. As the quality of rookies rises and expectations increase, having multiple All-Stars from the first-year class might soon be the norm.
Overall, the emergence of players like Bueckers, Citron, and Iriafen highlights the promising direction of women’s basketball, with fans hopeful for an exhilarating future full of standout athletes.