The twenty ninth WNBA Draft is ready to happen on April 14, the league introduced Wednesday.
For the second consecutive yr, followers will be capable of attend the draft when it takes place at The Shed in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards.
“At a time when the passion and excitement surrounding the WNBA has never been higher, we continue to focus on creating elevated events that WNBA fans won’t want to miss,” commissioner Cathy Engelbert mentioned in an announcement.
In 2024, about 1,000 followers had been on-site on the Brooklyn Academy of Music — steps away from Barclays Heart — to witness the Indiana Fever choose Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 total choose.
This yr, the Dallas Wings personal the highest choose within the draft with UConn star Paige Bueckers being the consensus No. 1 total choose. Bueckers, who’s averaging 19.0 factors, 4.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and a pair of.0 steals per recreation on 53.6%/40.6%/89.9% splits, has but to declare for April’s draft, nonetheless. The star has one other yr of faculty eligibility and will return to UConn for an additional season if she chooses.
The Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics (picks three and 4) and Golden State Valkyries — the league’s first growth crew in 17 years — spherical out the highest 5, respectively. The hometown Liberty are slated to pick out seventh total.
Whereas Bueckers is the clear-cut favourite to be chosen first if she declares, Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles may hear her identify referred to as proper after. Miles’ teammate, Sonia Cintron, is anticipated to be a high lottery choice, too.
Worldwide prospects Justė Jocytė (Lithuania) and Dominique Malonga (France) are anticipated to be chosen and lead a rebuild within the states.
Hours earlier than listening to their names referred to as, prospects will go to the Empire State Constructing for a lighting ceremony to rejoice the draft.
The WNBA’s twenty ninth common season will tip off on Friday, Might 16.
