After a record-breaking 2024 season, the WNBA is gearing up for another exciting year with a new crop of talented rookies. The 2025-26 season kicked off on May 16, and these six freshly drafted women are sure to take the league by storm.

The Rookies to Watch

• Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 draft pick, is set to make her debut for the Dallas Wings. With a national title under her belt, all eyes are on her. "I want to give everything I have to the organization, to the city," Bueckers said. "I know Dallas is a sports city. I'm walking in there wanting to be a great leader, a great teammate, wanting to be a winner at all levels, wearing that jersey and representing that city with pride and a passion and joy for the game of basketball."

  

• Kiki Iriafen, the No. 4 pick in the draft, is on her way to play forward for the Washington Mystics. Iriafen transferred from Stanford to USC to play with Juju Watkins, the Trojans' star player. Though USC didn't progress past the Elite Eight due to an injury, Iriafen's future in the WNBA looks bright.

  

• Aneesah Morrow's star is on the rise. After not receiving many offers to play in college, she played at DePaul before transferring to LSU two years later. Morrow said she was "overlooked" in conversations for national titles. She was passed over for SEC Player of the Year despite winning Defensive Player of the Year.

  

• Hailey Van Lith has generated plenty of buzz — and not just for being the No. 11 draft pick. Her cult social media following and Sports Illustrated swimsuit shoot have fans already enamored with the rookie Chicago Sky guard.

  

• Dominique Malonga, the No. 2 pick, is a dynamic player hailing from France. Malonga played for France in the 2024 Summer Olympics and won a silver medal after losing a nail-biter game to the U.S. She says playing on an international level has strengthened her game.

  

• Sonia Citron, the No. 3 pick, was drafted to the Washington Mystics. The guard has the best record in Notre Dame history, her alma mater. Along with fellow Mystics rookie Iriafen, Citron is feeling the heat to get the team into fighting shape for the season.

  

These rookies are sure to bring excitement and talent to the WNBA this season. With their impressive skills and dedication to the game, they're expected to make a big impact in their rookie year.

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Stay tuned for more news and updates on the WNBA season!