2025 WNBA Draft Reactions
Welcome to the 2025 edition of Marisa’s WNBA draft reactions! This is my third year writing this, though it’s my first year on We Don’t Know Ball. You can read the 2024 and 2023 editions on Google Docs.
This is primarily an outfit reaction writeup, combined with the faintest whiff of basketball analysis. I’m just some lady on the internet; I have no basketball bona fides and no fashion credentials. Nonetheless, let’s get into it!
Draft invitees
16 players were invited to attend the WNBA draft in person in New York (Source). 15 of those players attended; Te-Hina Paopao chose to celebrate the draft with her family at home in SoCal. The orange carpet isn’t limited to draft prospects; from what I can tell, past and current WNBA players walk the orange carpet too. Draft-eligible players sometimes attend the draft as part of the audience, and come up to the stage when their name is called.
Outfit tierlist
This was a strong year for draft outfits! While there were fewer standout looks than in past years, there were a lot of looks that I’ve categorized as “great” or “nice.” Descriptions of the outfits and reactions to the picks are below.
S tier - Wow!
Kiki Iriafen
A tier - Great!
Paige Bueckers - Orange carpet suit
Aneesah Morrow
Dominique Malonga
Paige Bueckers - Draft suit
B-tier - Okay, nice
Aziaha James
Hailey Van Lith
Shyanne Sellers
Georgia Amoore
Madi Scott
C-tier - The forgettable or unenjoyable tier
Sonia Citron
Sarah Ashlee Barker
Ajša Sivka
Saniya Rivers
Sania Feagin
Serena Sundell
D-tier - ??
No D-tier outfits this year!
Actual draft reactions
First round (1–12)
Note that the lottery consists of picks 1–4 only.
1 - DAL - Paige Bueckers
Congratulations Paige!!!
Paige changed suits?? Still a black suit, but this one has sequined lapels only. Also, she’s doing a half-up half-down hairstyle now. I love the smoky eye, it’s very 90s in a way that I think is fun!
One thing I wonder about these v-neck suit outfits is what you do with your nipples. I guess you really can’t move your arms…not that blazers have great range of motion either.
I liked her previous suit a little better because I like sparkles! It’s okay though!
2 - SEA - Dominique Malonga
Hello Dominique Malonga! She’s wearing a Louis Vuitton suit, with a little gold clutch. This is not about the outfit exactly, but she’s got CLAMP hands. Classic black and white fit, tux-style lapels, gold jewelry.
Really excited to see her in the league!
Well, that’s it for the “guaranteed” picks, let’s see what happens from here on out.
3 - WAS - Sonia Citron
Sonia Citron is wearing a black blazer/miniskirt combo. In a separate video, she mentions that she was originally planning to wear something different but her friend convinced her to change her mind. The picture doesn’t get it across, but her hair is cute! I like the bow-shaped bun in the half-up/half-down!
Next year we might need some innovations in v-neck suit technology. Or we’ll need some more tactful camera operators.
4 - WAS - Kiki Iriafen
Oh my god??? She’s wearing a gold-copper-colored dress and updated her hair to ash blonde to match. This is probably the single most stunning dress I’ve seen on the orange carpet.
Her entire family is dripped TF out, I love them and I need to see a family photo.
Congrats Kiki!! (I am devastated for myself as a Valkyries fan)
5 - GSV - Justė Jocytė
Well! Who’s it gonna be?
We’re pretty short on guards, particularly point guards, which could point at Georgia Amoore. But in terms of all-around talent, I think that Aneesah Morrow is the best player available.
Oh okay! I didn’t think the Valkyries were going to go for another international player!
She’s not at the draft, so I can’t comment on her outfit. She lives in Lithuania and plays in France so she’s probably asleep??
Just kidding! We’ve got a late-breaking fit addition, folks! The Valkyries shared a video of Justė and (presumably) her family in a conference room, at what must have been an unholy hour of the night. She’s wearing a beige jacket/cargo pants set with a white crop top underneath.
6 - WAS - Georgia Amoore
Huh! This is a bit of a surprise.
Georgia Amoore’s outfit was designed by Russell Westbrook and created by his brand, Honor the Gift. It’s a blazer/miniskirt combo with a floral pattern. It’s fine! Earlier, I saw a video clip of all the draftees lined up together on stage and she looks sooo tiny compared to the other draftees!
7 - CON - Aneesah Morrow
Apparently the Connecticut Sun are the first WNBA team to cycle through their entire starting lineup in one offseason. Kind of hilarious.
Aneesah Morrow is wearing an all-leather ensemble, which I think is a first, at least for the last few years! The giant collar is. It is saying a lot. Also her eye makeup EATS, I think she’s the first attendee to do rhinestones??
Aneesah’s orange carpet video
Kim Mulkey outfit jumpscare! She looks like a stained-glass window fell on her.
8 - CON - Saniya Rivers
Hmm, it’s a new regime in Connecicut and they’re still drafting guards that can’t shoot…?
Both Rivers and Morrow mentioned “learning from [their] vets” and I am not sure who the vets on that team are gonna be! (The answer is Tina Charles, Lindsay Allen, Diamond DeShields, and I guess also Marina Mabrey, who wants to be traded.)
In her orange carpet interview, Saniya and Rickea Jackson were mock-bickering about Saniya’s hair and how Rickea was maybe supposed to lend her a wig but didn’t. Her hair is great though: bright red! All-white fit, chunky gold chains. I would call this a deconstructed suit?
Fourth picture in carousel
9 - LA - Sarah Ashlee Barker
Sarah Ashlee Barker is wearing an asymmetrical silver ensemble.
Ninth picture in carousel
She really resembles her mom!
Rebecca Lobo compared her to Sophie Cunningham, which was probably intended as a compliment.
10 - CHI - Ajša Sivka
Ajša Sivka is wearing a long taupe dress with a white leather jacket.
Eleventh picture in carousel
She said she looks up to Leonie Fiebich. Also Stewie.
11 - CHI - Hailey Van Lith
Hailey is wearing a long-sleeved sequined wide v-neck dress and has her hair pinned up on her right side, down on the left. My first thought was “Maleficent” which maybe isn’t fair because a big part of Maleficent’s look is the whole headpiece. She is wearing very cute sparkly bow-shaped barrettes.
WAIT she and Jalen Suggs are still together? Or back together? I thought they broke up years ago???
Need to know what highlighter she’s using too.
Why is the broadcast talking about the Liberty? Isn’t Dallas on the clock next? Please be serious.
12 - DAL - Aziaha James
All black fits for the whole fam! Love color coordination.
I am obsessed with her ruffle socks and shoes, and also with her 90s-esque sunglasses. Over the last few years we’ve seen draftees bring in a lot more of their own sense of fashion, so I’m glad to see that here.
Second round (13–25)
13–25 or 2.1–2.13
13 - LVA - Aaliyah Nye
She is in attendance in the audience! She’s wearing a black sequined blazer with a black miniskirt.
14 - DAL - Madison Scott
Madi Scott is wearing a double-breasted checkered black-and-black suit jacket with matching slacks and studded loafers. I like the loafers.
Twelfth picture in carousel
Holly keeps using the phrase “you wanted to talk about…” as a lead-in into a particular topic, which implies that there was some kind of buy-in from the draftees around what the interview was going to be about. I just…I don’t know about that.
15 - MIN - Anastasiia Olairi Kosu
She is not at the draft!
16 - CHI - Maddy Westbeld
She is also not at the draft! I’m going to stop mentioning every time a player is not at the draft!
17 - GSV - Shyanne Sellers
Happy for Shyanne! Hoping that she’s healthy!
Shyanne Sellers is wearing a slate grey suit with a white t-shirt. I really like the color, one of my favorite colors!
Tenth picture in carousel
Why does Holly have to make everyone cry?
Awww, her fiance (former Maryland player/current Seton Hall player Faith Masonius) is there, showing off the ring! Cute! (more pics on Instagram)
18 - ATL - Te-Hina PaoPao
They’ve got a camera on her at home in Oceanside!
She’s not wearing enough ula. She needs to be wearing more ula.
19 - IND - Makayla Timpson
20 - IND - Bree Hall
21 - LA - Sania Feagin
Sania Feagin is wearing a champagne-colored satin tea-length dress with a v-neck and leg slit. I do not think I will remember this outfit a year from now, but it is nice.
First picture in carousel
Her necklace and earrings are really perfect, really classic diamond pieces.
22 - CHI - Aicha Coulibaly
23 - WAS - Lucy Olsen
24 - MIN - Dalayah Daniels
25 - CON - Rayah Marshall
Third round (26-38)
26–38 or 3.1–3.13
26 - SEA - Serena Sundell
I think this is the latest I’ve ever seen someone in the green room picked?
Serena Sundell is wearing a black strapless floor-length dress made out of what appears to be velvet. This is a fine outfit. I do not know much about Serena Sundell or her game, to be honest.
Second picture in carousel
27 - DAL - JJ Quinerly
28 - LA - Liatu King
29 - SEA - Madison Conner
30 - GSV - Kaitlyn Chen
ASIAN AMERICA UP BIG IT'S KAITLYN CHEN TIME LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOO
AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY ASIAN-AMERICAN BASKETBALL LIFE except for when the Valkyries hired Natalie Nakase! (Now that I’m looking back on it, there were three AAPI players drafted in 2024, so we’ll have to bump this moment down a little more.)
Kaitlyn Chen is in attendance at the draft! She’s wearing a black dress with spaghetti straps, I think? I didn’t get a good look.
Here’s a video of her getting drafted!
31 - DAL - Aaronette Vonleh
I’ve always been fond of Aaronette, in large part because “Aaronette” is a very unusual name.
32 - WAS - Zaay Green
33 - IND - Yvonne Ejim
34 - SEA - Jordan Hobbs
35 - LVA - Harmoni Turner
36 - ATL - Taylor Thierry
37 - MIN - Aubrey Griffin
She is also in attendance as part of the UConn delegation. I see Paige is out there with her camcorder again!
She’s also wearing an all-black, all-leather fit! Big year for leather, I guess.
38 - NYL - Adja Kane
Bonus fit reactions
I want to see a little more of Hannah O’Flynn’s power blazer here. There seems like some lining-pattern-button synergy? I dunno about the bralette underneath though.
Andraya Carter is wearing a lovely cream-to-teal ombre blazer that I desperately want to see more of. Stand up, Andraya!
Do you think Nika Muhl’s actual car keys are on this key sash? (via Instagram)
Russell Westbrook is wearing a very comfy-looking denim outfit. I love the cerulean color of his beanie.
Wait, I love Azzi's dress, show her standing up again please!!
Is Aaliyah Edwards wearing the same outfit that she wore on her own draft night? It’s also a white fit with a high collar 👀 (I support outfit repeating btw)
And that’s a wrap on the first ever edition of We Don’t Know Ball! I aspire to be back soon with a retrospective on our 2024-25 season predictions.