Caitlin Clark was last year’s sure-fire #1 pick WNBA Draft. This year belongs to Paige Bueckers.
The UConn guard is presumed to be the No. 1 overall pick. 2025 WNBA Draft next April. But even though Bueckers is expected to be the first player off the board, it’s unclear where exactly she will land.
That will be determined on Sunday and each team will need a little luck on their side. The 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery will feature four teams: The Sparks of Los Angeles, Dallas Wings, Chicago Sky And Washington Mystics – all of whom are vying for the top pick.
The Sparks have the best chance of landing the No. 1 pick, followed by the Wings and Sky (tie) and the Mystics. The Sparks find themselves back in the WNBA Draft lottery after using the No. 2 and No. 4 overall picks in the 2024 WNBA Draft select Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson, respectively.
Here’s what you need to know about the 2025 WNBA Draft Order and more:
When is the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery?
The 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery will take place on Sunday, November 17 at 5 p.m. ET.
How to Watch the WNBA Draft Lottery
The draft lottery will be broadcast on ESPN, marking the 13th consecutive year that the network has televised the event.
2025 WNBA Draft Odds
The four teams that missed the playoffs last season are entered into the draft lottery, and the odds are determined by each team’s cumulative record over the past two seasons. The Sparks were a combined 25-55 in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, while the Wings and Sky are tied at 31-49. The Mystics finished the last two seasons 33-47.
Here’s how the odds for the No. 1 pick stack up, according to the WNBA:
*Dallas has the right to trade its own first-round pick for Chicago’s.
How does the WNBA draft lottery work?
According to the WNBA“14 balls numbered 1 to 14 will be placed in a lottery machine and shuffled. Four balls will be drawn to determine a four-digit combination. The team assigned to that four-ball combination will receive the No. 1 pick. four balls will then be placed back into the machine and the process will be repeated to determine the second choice. The team with the lowest two-year cumulative record whose number combinations do not appear in the first two combinations of four. Balls will select third and the remaining team will select fourth.
When is the 2025 WNBA Draft?
The 2025 WNBA Draft will take place on Monday, April 14, 2025.
WNBA 2025 Draft Order
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To be determined
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To be determined
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To be determined
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To be determined
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Washington Mystics from Atlanta Dream via Dallas Wings (Allisha Gray, 01/21/23)
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Phoenix Mercury*
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Indiana fever
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Seattle Storm
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Chicago sky seen from the Connecticut sun
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Minnesota Lynx
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Freedom of New York*
*New York has the right to trade its own first-round pick for Phoenix’s first-round pick.
Who is the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft?
Paige Bueckers, UConn guard was expected to be a top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, but she ultimately decided to return to UConn for the 2024-25 season. She is now presumed to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Bueckers was named the AP Player of the Year and Naismith College Player of the Year in 2021 following an outstanding freshman campaign, but was limited the following two seasons due to injuries. She is averaging 19.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 87 career games with the Huskies.
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This article was originally published on USA TODAY: 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery: Day, Time, How to Watch, Odds for No. 1 Pick
