2025 WNBA Off-Season

[EricLA]

Real talk. Where do you guys have Betts on your draft boards? I am scared to death that she is a trap. And I wouldn’t be able to take her any higher than 6.

I honestly think that is about right. I mean she's not exactly tearing it up at UCLA right now. She's averaging 15 PPG, 7.5 RPG and 3.7 APG. Good numbers but not great. Given that slow footed centers like her seem to be waning in the WNBA, I will be VERY curious if/when the GM's pull the trigger and draft her.

 

[GoChips20]

I honestly think that is about right. I mean she's not exactly tearing it up at UCLA right now. She's averaging 15 PPG, 7.5 RPG and 3.7 APG. Good numbers but not great. Given that slow footed centers like her seem to be waning in the WNBA, I will be VERY curious if/when the GM's pull the trigger and draft her.

I’m not high on Betts and if she turns out to have an Aliyah Boston-esque W career I’ll be pleasantly surprised. That said, 15ppg on a team as stacked with scorers and has played tough competition doesn’t concern me at all. 4 assists/game is pretty good for an off-guard, let alone a center. The rebounds could be higher, but I think the bigger issue is that she’s solely reliant on others to get her the ball and doesn’t have much dynamism to her game.

 

[JellyBean]

Let's not forget Amore who will be returning from her ACL injury. And Melbourne is on the roster too.

I totally forgot about Amore and Melbourne. But I would still draft Miles if she was available. She is worth it.

 

[cancontent]

I totally forgot about Amore and Melbourne. But I would still draft Miles if she was available. She is worth it.

Not saying she wouldn't be, but noting that the number of guards the Mystics have in total. I don't envy the Mystics with respect to how they're going to determine who to draft. Their options are many but they also have to make sure they take a balanced approach.

 

[JellyBean]

Real talk. Where do you guys have Betts on your draft boards? I am scared to death that she is a trap. And I wouldn’t be able to take her any higher than 6.

To be honest, all of these picks are a trap because of how teams are set up and core development. I mean look back at the 2023 draft for an example. Some of those players, I will use Grace and Haley for examples, make a team and then get bounced around until they land on a team with the right fit and need. It happens, sadly. As for Betts, I have her among my top 5, hopefully coming here to Minnesota but it all depends on how the off season goes and where players go.

 

[Stagnant]

This is how I would rank the recruits right now. My personal rankings:

1 - Awa Fam
2 - Flau’jae Johnson
3 - Azzi Fudd
4 - Olivia Miles
5 - Gianna Kneepkens
6 - Ta’Niya Latson
7 - Lauren Betts
8 - Madina Okot
9 - Janiah Barker
10 - Kiki Rice

 

[boontonbomber]

Watched that SC, Texas game, and Okot is rather impressive. Especially since she's only been playing the game since 2020. 6'6", really moves well, and she is young for that much size . She will still only be 21 years old when she graduates. I see her becoming a very effective player in the W.

 

[bballnut90]

Real talk. Where do you guys have Betts on your draft boards? I am scared to death that she is a trap. And I wouldn’t be able to take her any higher than 6.

She’s dropped after the very underwhelming showing over Texas but I think folks are overstating her lack of athleticism. Still top 4 in my book. Bigs with her size, passing and touch around the basket are hard to come by.

 

[GoChips20]

This is how I would rank the recruits right now. My personal rankings:

1 - Awa Fam
2 - Flau’jae Johnson
3 - Azzi Fudd
4 - Olivia Miles
5 - Gianna Kneepkens
6 - Ta’Niya Latson
7 - Lauren Betts
8 - Madina Okot
9 - Janiah Barker
10 - Kiki Rice

I think this is one of the best draft rankings I’ve seen (assuming this is based on talent and not specific team needs).

Fudd is having a fantastic season and playing to her potential at last, but I worry about her injury history over a longer, more compressed season in a more physical league. I usually don’t find Rebecca Lobo as UConn-biased as many do but she’s really doubling down on Fudd at #1.

Flau’jae has a pro-ready physique and doesn’t get nearly enough credit for her efficiency (47% career FG% and 38% three-point %) and defensive ability.

Miles has been, at worst, the #3 PG in the country (usually behind Bueckers and Clark) over her career.

I haven’t seen as much of Fam. If she has 75% of Malonga’s potential, I think she’s a worthy #1 in a year where there isn’t a clear-cut top pick. I’ve read she may not come over right away, but hard to put much stock in that knowing that rookie deals will go up significantly.

 

[GoChips20]

Have to think Marta Suarez is on some first-round draft boards at this point. She doesn’t have the potential that Janiah Barker does, for instance, but at some point what you’ve done on the court in 4 years has to matter.

 

[GamecockFam]

Look, you can probably find me gushing over Marta in some threads from a few years ago because she was one of my favorite unhearlded players from like 2021-2022 when she was on Tennessee's roster. With that said, Marta still feels like a second round pick to me because of her lack of athleticism. I think she could find a role but it would be a risk. At best I think she is a Katie Lou Samuelson type of player in the W.

 

[GamecockFam]

I think this is one of the best draft rankings I’ve seen (assuming this is based on talent and not specific team needs).

Fudd is having a fantastic season and playing to her potential at last, but I worry about her injury history over a longer, more compressed season in a more physical league. I usually don’t find Rebecca Lobo as UConn-biased as many do but she’s really doubling down on Fudd at #1.

Flau’jae has a pro-ready physique and doesn’t get nearly enough credit for her efficiency (47% career FG% and 38% three-point %) and defensive ability.

Miles has been, at worst, the #3 PG in the country (usually behind Bueckers and Clark) over her career.

I haven’t seen as much of Fam. If she has 75% of Malonga’s potential, I think she’s a worthy #1 in a year where there isn’t a clear-cut top pick. I’ve read she may not come over right away, but hard to put much stock in that knowing that rookie deals will go up significantly.

I think I would choose Miles over Flau'jae and Azzi. I also think that Latson will be a better pro than Kneepkens, as I think the spacing and speed of the game will favor her style of play. Without considering team needs, I think this would be the top 10 draft board:

1. Awa Fam
2. Olivia Miles
3. Flau'jae Johnson
4. Lauren Betts
5. Azzi Fudd
6. Ta'niya Latson
7. Gianna Kneepkens
8. Kiki Rice
9. Madina Okot
10. Janiah Barker

Dark Horses to move up the board (with a good second half to their seasons): Gabriela Jaques, Yarden Garzon, Laila Phelia, Raven Johnson, Cotie McMahon

 

[bballnut90]

I think I would choose Miles over Flau'jae and Azzi. I also think that Latson will be a better pro than Kneepkens, as I think the spacing and speed of the game will favor her style of play. Without considering team needs, I think this would be the top 10 draft board:

1. Awa Fam
2. Olivia Miles
3. Flau'jae Johnson
4. Lauren Betts
5. Azzi Fudd
6. Ta'niya Latson
7. Gianna Kneepkens
8. Kiki Rice
9. Madina Okot
10. Janiah Barker

Dark Horses to move up the board (with a good second half to their seasons): Gabriela Jaques, Yarden Garzon, Laila Phelia, Raven Johnson, Cotie McMahon

I think this list is spot on for what I would pick.

I think a lot of people are sleeping on Flaujae by putting her at 5th or 6th. Several things to note about her:
-minimal (if any) injury history
-probably the best athlete in the draft
-her game has steadily improved every year in college
-she probably has the biggest slate of any college athlete between basketball, music and NIL, and she's handled it all flawlessly

I also agree about Olivia Miles. I think she has the tools to be an All Star PG in the league with her ability to pass and create her own shot. Historically PG play has left a lot to desire in the W but we're getting an influx of top tier ones between Clark, Paige and Miles.

I'll also add in Rori Harmon for a late 1st or early 2nd round pick. She's undersized but an elite defender and offensively reminds me a lot of Sue Bird (but without a 3pt shot). She's always looking to get others involved but is capable of stepping up in big moments and has a killer pull up jumper. Her assist/TO ratio is always off the charts and she usually thrives against the best teams.

 

[GoChips20]

I think this list is spot on for what I would pick.

I think a lot of people are sleeping on Flaujae by putting her at 5th or 6th. Several things to note about her:
-minimal (if any) injury history
-probably the best athlete in the draft
-her game has steadily improved every year in college
-she probably has the biggest slate of any college athlete between basketball, music and NIL, and she's handled it all flawlessly

I also agree about Olivia Miles. I think she has the tools to be an All Star PG in the league with her ability to pass and create her own shot. Historically PG play has left a lot to desire in the W but we're getting an influx of top tier ones between Clark, Paige and Miles.

I'll also add in Rori Harmon for a late 1st or early 2nd round pick. She's undersized but an elite defender and offensively reminds me a lot of Sue Bird (but without a 3pt shot). She's always looking to get others involved but is capable of stepping up in big moments and has a killer pull up jumper. Her assist/TO ratio is always off the charts and she usually thrives against the best teams.

Agree on Harmon. Reminds me of Jordin Canada, undersized with a streaky offensive game but good to great in all other areas. I think Harmon can be a bit more than that too.

There are some players I just trust will overcome their size. I mean, Hannah Hidalgo has a deeper paint bag and better finishes around the rim than some all-conference forwards. It was really on display in the USC-ND game last year against Kiki Iriafen.

 

[TerpWomenFan]

I think I would choose Miles over Flau'jae and Azzi. I also think that Latson will be a better pro than Kneepkens, as I think the spacing and speed of the game will favor her style of play. Without considering team needs, I think this would be the top 10 draft board:

1. Awa Fam
2. Olivia Miles
3. Flau'jae Johnson
4. Lauren Betts
5. Azzi Fudd
6. Ta'niya Latson
7. Gianna Kneepkens
8. Kiki Rice
9. Madina Okot
10. Janiah Barker

Dark Horses to move up the board (with a good second half to their seasons): Gabriela Jaques, Yarden Garzon, Laila Phelia, Raven Johnson, Cotie

 

[TerpWomenFan]

I'm not a Johnson fan. Fortunately, she can start to impress me with a monster SEC schedule. I'll be watching her.

 

[TerpWomenFan]

Jaquez on the other hand.

 

[GamecockFam]

Jaquez on the other hand.

Yeah, I think she bumped out Barker in my rankings with her performance today. She looks WNBA ready.

I was having mixed emotions about Barker in this game. For every positive there was an equally boneheaded negative that was all magnified by her bad attitude at the end of the game. No thank you! She seems like a good second round bet but after that interaction with Coach Close I wouldn't take her in the first round.

 

[Bigboote]

I've always liked Jaquez, would pick her in the second half of the first round. I think Betts is good, but don't think she has a high ceiling. I feel like she's actually regressed this season, although the season is young and I've only seen her 2-3 times, one being last night. The announcers yesterday were talking up her speed, how Coach Close said she consistently won sprints. That certainly didn't show in the game, where she was lumbering up and down the court in the second quarter after missing much of the first. If she really is fast, then either she's out of shape or she doesn't put forth all that much effort getting up and down the court.

 

[cancontent]