Sunday Scroll: The future of the WNBA is now

The first WNBA Draft was held in 1997, the same year the league debuted. Unlike subsequent drafts, the 1997 edition came in three parts:

• To start, 16 stars, including the trailblazing Cynthia Cooper, were allocated across the W’s original eight teams.

• After that, the WNBA held an “Elite Draft” in which established pros were selected. Former Tennessee star Dena Head became the first-ever player drafted into the league when she was selected by the Utah Starzz (not a typo) in February 1997.

• Lastly, the college and international player draft (similar to today’s format) was held in April 1997, with 32 more players selected to join the WNBA’s inaugural season.

Today, being selected with the No. 1 overall pick remains a coveted career milestone. UConn star and recently crowned national champion Paige Bueckers (pronounced BECK-ers) will almost certainly be the first name called tomorrow, giving her the honor of joining one of the game’s most exclusive and successful clubs.

• Fifteen No. 1 picks have won Rookie of the Year — with 2024 No. 1 overall pick, the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark, most recently achieving the feat — while eight went on to claim league MVP honors, including three-time and reigning MVP A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces.

Thirty-eight hoopers will hear their names called throughout tomorrow’s three-round draft, with 12 picks in the first round and 13 in both the second and third rounds. As for the order, most picks are doled out in inverse order of the standings from the previous regular season.

• However, the top four picks are allotted via the Draft Lottery, which consists of the four teams who didn’t make the 2024 playoffs.

• The Dallas Wings won the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes No. 1 selection when the lottery was held last November, heartbreaking news for the LA Sparks, who held the highest probability of snagging the No. 1 pick after finishing dead last in 2024.

• The other caveat? Trades. Squads can wheel and deal picks and players in the lead up to tomorrow’s event. Expect some musical chairs before the festivities begin.

When it comes to draft eligibility, you won’t see college favorites like injured USC superstar JuJu Watkins on stage tomorrow. Domestic WNBA hopefuls must be 22 years old during the year of the draft, have completed their college eligibility, or be set to graduate within three months. No one-and-done here.

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Paige Bueckers, UConn: Just over one week after closing out her up-and-down collegiate career in storybook fashion, Bueckers is poised to make the move from Storrs to the Big D, joining a team on the rise in the Wings. From her on-court presence and vision to her staggering off-court impact, we can’t wait to watch her continue soaring in the pros.

Dominique Malonga, France: NCAA hoops fans might not be as familiar with the international talent, but that’ll change quickly with 6-foot-6 Malonga’s propensity for throwing down dunks. And although she’s only 19, Malonga is already battle tested, having competed for France in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Remember the name.

Sonia Citron, Notre Dame: Citron was central to a Fighting Irish squad that spent the early parts of the season atop the NCAA rankings, largely impacting the game with her stellar defense. Current WNBA star and ND alum Skylar Diggins-Smith deemed her “Steady Betty” — you can call her a likely top-three pick.

Kiki Iriafen, USC: Though her production dipped slightly after transferring to USC from Stanford for her senior season, Iriafen showed she can shine with the pressure on, dropping a 36-point masterpiece after her teammate JuJu Watkins suffered an ACL injury. If she can find her consistency, she’ll be an exciting addition for any WNBA squad.

Aneesah Morrow, LSU: Morrow stacked the stat sheet across her college career, averaging a double-double in her first two seasons with DePaul and the last two years with the Tigers. Plus, she only raised her draft stock during the tourney, notching a massive 30-point game in the Sweet 16. She may be an undersized forward at 6-foot-1, but she sure is mighty.

There’s no rest for the drafted after the orange carpet is rolled up tomorrow — WNBA Training camp begins on April 27th and the regular season tips off on May 16th. Here are two key storylines to keep an eye on as the fun begins:

💜 Expansion team Golden State Valkyries join the fold. The league’s 13th team will make their debut this season (after making the No. 5 overall section tomorrow), marking the first time the WNBA has expanded since 2008.

• And that’s not all — the league will grow to 15 teams when the Toronto Tempo (Canada’s first-ever team) and a still-to-be-named Portland, Oregon, squad hit the floor in 2026.

• With a deep talent pool and limited roster spots, expansion has been a hot-button issue, especially around draft time as some picks sadly won’t make the cut. Now the league has eyes on reaching 16 teams by 2028 — the more the merrier.

💸 WNBA collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations loom large. A handful of anticipated draftees chose to forego this year’s festivities and opt for an extra year of college hoops, with some speculating those decisions are connected to ongoing CBA negotiations between the league and its players’ association.

• The current agreement expires at the end of the 2025 season, and players have even floated a potential lockout if their terms (like increased salaries and improved working conditions) aren’t met. Change is coming.

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