The Athletic's projections for 2025 WNBA draft
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This report has Paige #1 and Azzi #5 as 2025 WNBA Mock Draft.
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So many ACL injuries among those players.
Charliebball
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after this past draft that's an awfully weak draft class with only one proven star and several possible stars coming back from serious injuries......Not surprisingly (even for Sabreena who frequently undersells UConn), Paige is #1.
She has Azi at #10, and Aubrey at #22. Like the sentence below about Azi's gravitational pull
"Fudd’s potential is mostly theoretical at this point, given how little she has played over the last two years. But the outlines of a star shooting guard remain. Fudd has outstanding mechanics and is disciplined with her fouls and turnovers. At worst, she’s a spot-up shooting specialist, but at best, she can also create her own shot and bend the defense with her shooting gravity. Nevertheless, we still need to see a healthy season from Fudd before using a high draft pick on her."
"Griffin is one of the most impactful wing defenders in college basketball. She doesn’t really score in the run of play; her buckets mainly come in transition or on second chances. But she makes life absolutely miserable for opponents."
triaddukefan
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I'd take Rivers from State over most of the 12 players listed.
Agree completely!!!
Very interesting. I agree the injuries make this class really hard to assess. But I think the talent is pretty comparable. I think the order is a bit weird and I think some names are missing. I think the Athletic did a much better job imo but even then I think the list will look vastly different in January. The fun thing about college imo is the development, like what if some players take another step? Like what if Aziaha James and Sania Rivers take another step. Or even Reigan Richardson from duke. And then Olivia Miles and Azzi are better than the pre-injury sophomore season version of themselves.
But just the potential top 6,
(Paige - Caitlin, Kiki - Brink, Yoki - Cardoso, Morrow - Jackson, Amoore - Sheldon, Westbeld -Edwards) seem pretty comparable. To be fair I like Jackson a bit more than Morrow and AE more than Westbeld.
Then to your point aside from James and Citron the bottom half is largely filled with players of rough injury histories. I really still like those players Azzi, Sedona Prince, Olivia Miles l, Charlise Leger Walker (im biased with Azzi of course)
Charliebball
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She's very athletic but she's a lousy three-point shooter and if she can't improve on that it's going to be tough to make it at the pro level
I don't see that many guards going that early in the draft. I do think right now they look like the best players available but teams don't draft best player available, they draft based on needs. If you draft best available you are destined to pick near the top of the draft every year because you aren't improving your team in the places where it is needed.
The second thing is you always have players emerge that maybe didn't see too much light before and they blossom. They you have the big players and this list only had one and you can bet their will be at least a couple from other leagues around the world.
The second thing is you always have players emerge that maybe didn't see too much light before and they blossom. They you have the big players and this list only had one and you can bet their will be at least a couple from other leagues around the world.
Well, they all have 1 full year. I expect most to work hard and improve their game. It's a little early to say, "awfully weak". It would be better to revisit the draft class a year from now.
Dillon77
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Rivers may be one of the best athletes in that class, but I don't think she's going to achieve her full potential until Wes Moore (or someone) moves her off the point and let's her play off the ball. While she's adept at running downhill, she's not really a lead guard and I think the effort takes away from her developing other aspects of her game...like expanding her jump shot.
When and if that happens, she can be a weapon....
Why not let Zoe Brooks take over and I believe they're bringing in a talented freshman...Jones?
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The returners from injury show how strong this last class really was.
I can’t really see a lot of these players making it in the W. Morrow, for example. She’s either a big slow guard with weak handles and so-so perimeter shooting skills or she’s a really small, quick power forward with excellent intensity and really strong hands. Either way the odds are against her.
Harmon also looks like a tough sell. Excellent quickness and handles, finishes well at the rim, but so-so perimeter shooting. Aamoore looks like a much better fit in the W because she has the same quickness, even better handles and solid perimeter shooting.
I like Soni Citron’s prospects though. A big guard with a solid all around game. And if Miles can make a complete comeback, she could have a good chance.
Iriafen is impressive and could go either 1 or 2 in the draft depending on need. Paige brings better offense and is a much higher profile player for team marketing purposes. But I don’t see Prince or Lee going very high. Too many question marks about their health and/or intensity (for Prince).
I can’t really see a lot of these players making it in the W. Morrow, for example. She’s either a big slow guard with weak handles and so-so perimeter shooting skills or she’s a really small, quick power forward with excellent intensity and really strong hands. Either way the odds are against her.
Harmon also looks like a tough sell. Excellent quickness and handles, finishes well at the rim, but so-so perimeter shooting. Aamoore looks like a much better fit in the W because she has the same quickness, even better handles and solid perimeter shooting.
I like Soni Citron’s prospects though. A big guard with a solid all around game. And if Miles can make a complete comeback, she could have a good chance.
Iriafen is impressive and could go either 1 or 2 in the draft depending on need. Paige brings better offense and is a much higher profile player for team marketing purposes. But I don’t see Prince or Lee going very high. Too many question marks about their health and/or intensity (for Prince).
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I wonder where in the draft the expansion team will pick at.
Dillon77
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Gosh, don't they traditionally get the #1 spot? (It's been awhile since this last happened.)
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I’m not sure but I was thinking the fourth spot
Dillon77
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- I think it's fair and prudent to see how Fudd, Griffin, Harmon and Miles come back from their knee injuries. If they make solid progress this year, it bodes well for the following years in the pro's. Good luck to them all.
- Looking at forwards, I'll be interested to see where Iriafen lands in college next season and how playing in that system helps/hinders her development, which came on strong last season. Westbeld has improved her footwork and rebounding working with Carlos Knox, who was brought in last year by Coach Ivey specifically to help with skill development for players who had pro potential. Will be interesting to see how that progresses with both players.
- While I'm admittedly biased on Sonia Citron, I think Merchant got it right: At 6'1", she can play wing or the #2 and rebounds/plays defense well, while shooting from all three levels.
- With Strong coming into Storrs, will Pagie move out of the #4 and to off-guard? Or point?
- Looking at forwards, I'll be interested to see where Iriafen lands in college next season and how playing in that system helps/hinders her development, which came on strong last season. Westbeld has improved her footwork and rebounding working with Carlos Knox, who was brought in last year by Coach Ivey specifically to help with skill development for players who had pro potential. Will be interesting to see how that progresses with both players.
- While I'm admittedly biased on Sonia Citron, I think Merchant got it right: At 6'1", she can play wing or the #2 and rebounds/plays defense well, while shooting from all three levels.
- With Strong coming into Storrs, will Pagie move out of the #4 and to off-guard? Or point?
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Dillon77
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I correct myself:
Historically, WNBA expansion teams have not received the first pick in the draft; for example, Atlanta and Chicago had first-round draft picks at No. 4 and No. 6 when they joined the league. So, I guess we'll have to wait and see...
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Yes, to all of it. And it is really hard for me to see Iriafen going anywhere but ND. That would be the wise choice for her, I think. But what do I know?
I'm biased against Soni, for the usual reasons, but I love her game. One of my favorite players. She looks like the prototype big guard practically built for the W.
As for Paige and Sarah, it will be very interesting to see how that lineup settles once March rolls around. If all goes well, Geno may have to run a longer rotation than he normally does.
Charliebball
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Do you think Geno even remembers how to manage a team with 13-15 healthy players? When was the last time he had such a wonderful problem?
triaddukefan
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I'd take my chance on a 6'1 supremely athletic, smooth, all around player who has remained healthy over a smaller player with torn-up knees.
Yes, they do need to let Brooks start and move off of the ball. While Rivers isn't an ideal lead guard, she is more than capable as a secondary ball handler and distributor. I think Moore is a smart enough coach to make that move next season. Yes, they have a 5'7 highly ranked PG coming in.
Charliebball
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Miles, Citron and Brooks......all NJ girls that got away from UConn........a real shame........
triaddukefan
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Miles, Citron and Brooks......all NJ girls that got away from UConn........a real shame........
More of a shame that they got away from Rutgers,
but that's for another thread
Charliebball
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Rutgers should be keeping some of the better NJ players in the state and attract NY players too but the school's coaching situation has been a mess.......perhaps better days are ahead...........not betting on it.........More of a shame that they got away from Rutgers,
Dillon77
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Citron's actually from Eastchester, NY (in Westchester), but I get the point!Miles, Citron and Brooks......all NJ girls that got away from UConn........a real shame........
Hidalgo is a Jersey girl as well, but Geno got an early commitment from KK Arnold from Wisconsin that seemed to work out just fine.