The WNBA is a tough league to interrupt into, however with growth groups and the continued progress within the school recreation, rookies are making an influence sooner than ever. In 2023, I beneficial not drafting any rookies that weren’t the general No. 1 decide, Aliyah Boston, as a result of it was extraordinarily troublesome for rookies to make a roster. In 2024, I might have solely recommended drafting lottery picks in fantasy leagues (prime 4). However issues have modified.
The 2024 draft class was an outlier from earlier historical past; all 4 lottery picks averaged over 20 fantasy factors per recreation for the primary time for the reason that lottery was carried out in 2002. Nevertheless it wasn’t simply lottery picks; eight rookies from that 2024 class averaged over 15 fantasy factors per recreation, tied for the second-most all-time, trailing solely the 2001 rookie class.
This 12 months might construct off of final 12 months. Whereas there is not a rookie who might doubtlessly be an All-Star or put up record-breaking numbers, exterior of Paige Bueckers (ADP 11.4), there may be the potential for lots of first rounders to make a roster and contribute instantly.
Numerous groups that held first spherical picks within the 2025 draft had must fill this season.
Together with, eight picks by groups that did not make the playoffs final season (Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics), two picks by the Connecticut Solar, who misplaced all 5 starters within the offseason, one decide was by an growth group, the Golden State Valkyries, and one decide by the Seattle Storm, a group that completed fifth within the league in 2024.
Listed below are 5 rookies which have the perfect likelihood of being strong fantasy contributors all through the season.
The Mystics have a scarcity of expertise and depth on the guard place; their solely actual veteran is Brittney Sykes. This opens a possibility for one of many 4 guards they drafted this 12 months to step up and get a beginning position instantly.
Citron did all of it in school, averaging 14.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, and 1.9 SPG in her senior season whereas making a career-high 51 three-pointers.
Notre Dame guards have had numerous success within the WNBA, particularly these chosen inside the prime three picks of the draft. This is a take a look at every of the guards from Notre Dame drafted within the prime three picks relationship again to 2013.
Notre Dame guards drafted in prime 3 (Since 2013)PlayerPPGRPGAPGSPGJackie Younger (2019)6.63.34.50.8Jewell Loyd (2015)10.73.51.90.6Kayla McBride (2014)13.02.31.71.0Skylar Diggins-Smith (2013)8.51.93.81.3
These guards have thrived as a result of they performed in a system that required them to be two-way gamers and have a excessive basketball IQ. The guards I discussed above are gamers that frequently improved over their school careers and had been at all times making an attempt to increase their recreation, so that they had been pro-ready once they bought to the league.
Jocyte is the first-ever draft decide for the brand new growth group, who was in search of somebody who can contribute instantly. The Valkyries solely have one participant on their present roster who was a constant starter for his or her earlier group final season (Julie Vanloo); The remainder of the group both primarily got here off the bench or did not play.
Jocyte already has skilled expertise; she began taking part in within the EuroLeague at 14 years previous and within the 2024-25 EuroCup Girls’s match, she was Lyon ASVEL’s second-leading scorer and averaged 12.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 1.6 3PG.
I believe her recreation will switch nicely to the WNBA. She jogs my memory numerous Leonie Fiebich, a global rookie who was an amazing contributor on the Liberty final 12 months. They each can play ahead or guard and do every part on the courtroom, together with stretch the ground and hit 3-pointers. Positionless gamers like this have fared nicely within the WNBA as a result of they are often matchup nightmares.
Georgia Amoore, G, Washington Mystics (ADP 54.0)
The Mystics have a scarcity of expertise and depth on the guard place and Amoore was the most effective school level guards within the nation final season. She scored or assisted on 36.2 PPG within the 2024-25 season, the fourth most in D1. In her fifth collegiate season, she averaged 19.6 PPG, 6.9 APG, 2.3 RPG, 1.0 SPG, and a pair of.5 3PG.
Amoore’s recreation might translate rather well to the WNBA; whereas she’s undersized, she’s fast and agile, and may shoot the lights out from three, much like Kelsey Plum. Amoore has discovered methods to be environment friendly even towards bigger defenders and has a deadly stepback. She’s additionally nice within the decide and roll, which is a superb weapon within the WNBA, which permits her to get teammates concerned. Whereas she might not begin for the Mystics, she could possibly be an amazing sixth participant off the bench in her rookie season.
Connecticut may have a brand new beginning 5 in 2025 and traded Natasha Cloud to the Liberty in March. Rivers could possibly be inserted into the beginning lineup instantly. The 6-foot-1 guard is a superb two-way participant and may do all of it. She was certainly one of three gamers in school with 100 assists, 50 steals, and 40 blocks final season, together with JuJu Watkins and Sarah Robust. Rivers averaged 11.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.6 SPG, and 1.3 BPG in her senior season.
Rivers’ measurement and size give her a bonus over different guards coming into the league. She is a Swiss Military knife that may do all of it and play no matter position the group wants of her in that second. Rivers’ recreation is paying homage to Betnijah Laney-Hamilton; who is not a star on the Liberty, however continues to be an enormous contributor. Rivers has the potential to be the main scorer one evening and lead the group in assists or rebounds one other evening.
Aneesah Morrow, F, Connecticut Solar (ADP 46.5)Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
Morrow has an opportunity to begin as a result of the Solar haven’t got probably the most depth on the ahead place. Nonetheless, the group did decide up Tina Charles, which might influence Morrow’s rebounding charges barely.
Morrow was a double-double queen in school, posting 104 double-doubles over her profession, the second most in DI historical past. She additionally had 64 profession video games with no less than 20 factors and 10 rebounds, probably the most by any participant prior to now 25 seasons. She wasn’t simply nice on the offensive finish although; she additionally averaged 2.5 SPG in 2024-25.
Whereas Morrow dominated in school, I believe her mentality, type of play, and hustle will switch to the league instantly. Morrow is used to taking part in with new teammates; she transferred after two seasons at DePaul to LSU, which was a faculty within the hardest convention within the nation and performed alongside Angel Reese. Regardless of taking part in with a brand new group, towards harder opponents, and alongside a future WNBA All-Star, Morrow nonetheless averaged a double-double in her first season with the Tigers in 2023-24, and he or she did it once more in her senior season.
She is used to taking part in with and towards WNBA-caliber gamers. Whereas she’s just a little undersized, that hasn’t stopped her manufacturing on the boards; her hustle and dedication to doing the little issues make her slight measurement drawback disappear. She additionally has stamina and averaged over 32 minutes per recreation in every of her final three seasons in school.