What a Week for Paige Bueckers

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What to Know About Women’s Basketball Today

1. Paige Bueckers Goes No. 1 in 2025 WNBA Draft 🌟

As expected, UConn superstar and national champion Paige Bueckers was selected No. 1 overall in Monday night’s WNBA Draft, joining the Dallas Wings.

Here’s how the first round shaped up:

👉 See the full list of all 38 WNBA Draft picks here

WHY IT MATTERS: This rookie class enters the WNBA at a pivotal time: fan interest is booming, media coverage is growing, and the talent pool is deeper than ever. With only 156 total roster spots and a deep list of returning veteran talent, even first-round picks aren’t guaranteed a spot. These young stars will need to prove themselves fast, and adapt to the pros just as quickly.

🛍️ Paige Bueckers' official Dallas Wings jersey (and more Wings gear) is already available to order — grab yours before they sell out.*

2. Golden State Valkyries Make Surprising First-Round Pick 😮

The WNBA’s newest franchise is already shaking things up. With the first draft pick in franchise history, the Golden State Valkyries bypassed highly touted names like Aneesah Morrow and Hailey Van Lith — and instead selected 19-year-old Lithuanian guard Justė Jocytė. (San Francisco Chronicle)

WHY IT MATTERS: Jocytė, who turns 20 later this year, becomes one of nine international players currently on the Valkyries' roster. But there’s a catch: many of those players — including Jocytė — have yet to commit to playing in the WNBA this season.

Under the league’s strict prioritization rule, players must report by a certain deadline or face suspension. For international stars who often prioritize national teams, this has created major conflicts — and Jocytė has already hinted that she may follow that route. In a video message to Valkyries fans, she said she was excited about the opportunity, but whether she joins the Bay in 2025 remains unclear.

Golden State also added Maryland’s Shyanne Sellers (No. 17 overall) and UConn’s Kaitlyn Chen (No. 30 overall) in rounds two and three.

3. Sa’Myah Smith Is Headed to Virginia 👀

The University of Virginia just added a national champion to its roster. On Monday, the school announced that forward Sa’Myah Smith is transferring from LSU, where she spent the past three seasons. (Virginia Sports)

WHY IT MATTERS: Smith brings both athleticism and championship experience to the Cavaliers. She helped LSU win a national title as a freshman in 2023 and returned to the Elite Eight in 2025 as a redshirt sophomore. Virginia has been active in the transfer portal this offseason, adding four new players—and Smith adds battle-tested experience that could be crucial if the team hopes to make a deeper postseason push.

Editor’s Note: Oops! We accidentally listed Kiki Iriafen twice in the poll—once alongside Sonia Citron, and once on her own. Please consider the second mention ("Kiki Iriafen – Mystics") as the intended voting option. Thanks for your understanding!