WNBA mock draft 3.0: Paige Bueckers goes No. 1 to Dallas and Seattle selects French star Malonga 2nd

NEW YORK — There's no doubt who's going first in the WNBA draft on Monday with UConn's Paige Bueckers the consensus top pick. After that it gets interesting with Olivia Miles' decision to leave Notre Dame and enter the NCAA transfer portal instead of the draft. The Washington Mystics, with a new coach and general manager, control the direction of the draft with the third, fourth and sixth pick. Six teams don't have picks in the opening round as New York, Indiana, Minnesota, Phoenix and Atlanta all traded away their picks. Las Vegas forfeited its pick following an investigation by the league in 2023 that found the franchise violated league rules regarding impermissible player benefits and workplace policies.

Here's a look at how the first round could look:

1. Dallas Wings: Paige Bueckers, UConn

A generational player who averaged 20.0 points and shot 42.4% from behind the 3-point line this season. Bueckers is one of the most efficient players in college basketball and will pair with Arike Ogunbowale in the Wings' backcourt.

2. Seattle Storm: Dominique Malonga, France

The 6-foot-6 center played for the French Olympic team last year and has a bright future in the WNBA. She averaged 15.0 points and 10.3 rebounds so far this season while playing for Lyon. While Seattle has a solid frontcourt with Ezi Magbegor and Nneka Ogwumike, it's hard to pass up on this talented 19-year-old.

3. Washington Mystics: Kiki Iriafen, Southern California

4. Washington Mystics: Sonia Citron, Notre Dame

She averaged 14.3 points and 5.8 rebounds during her career at Notre Dame and also improved her defense to become one of the top defenders on the team. She would be another good pick for a rebuilding Washington team in need of a solid wing. Citron has shot over 90% from the free-throw line the past two seasons, one of the best percentages in the country.

5. Golden State Valkyries: Aneesah Morrow, LSU

Morrow led the nation in double-doubles, averaging 18.7 points and 13.5 rebounds a game. She is second in that category for a career, behind only Oklahoma great Courtney Paris, having more than 100 in her career at LSU and DePaul. The 6-foot-1 Morrow has a toughness and nose for the basketball.

6. Washington Mystics: Shyanne Sellers, Maryland

7. Connecticut Sun: Juste Jocyte, Lithuania

Jocyte showcased her scoring skills with a 22-point effort against Belgium in the EuroBasket qualifiers. She's a versatile player who can play any of the guard positions and is really effective on the pick and roll. Has a toughness about her and is fundamentally sound. Sun coach Rachid Meziane, who has spent time coaching in the French league, is well aware of her talents.

8. Connecticut Sun: Georgia Amoore, Kentucky

The Sun could use a solid young guard to lead the offense. Amoore averaged 19.6 points and 6.9 assists for Kentucky this season after transferring from Virginia Tech to play for Kenny Brooks, her former Hokies coach before he took the job in Lexington.

9. Los Angeles Sparks: Saniya Rivers, N.C. State

10. Chicago Sky: Hailey Van Lith, TCU

Van Lith became the first player to play on three different teams in the Elite Eight after seeing her college career revitalized at TCU. Going to Chicago would reunite her with her former LSU teammate Angel Reese. She averaged 17.7 points and 5.5 assists to help the Horned Frogs reach the Elite Eight for the first time in school history. She also has some pro experience helping the U.S. win a bronze medal in 3-on-3 at last year's Paris Olympics.

11. Chicago Sky: Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame

The Sky acquired the pick from Minnesota on Sunday night and could use it on Westbeld. She missed the first half of this season while recovering from a foot injury, and with Miles and Hannah Hidalgo getting the majority of the shots, it was difficult for the 6-3 forward to get back to the numbers she put up the year before. Westbeld averaged 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 2023-24.

12. Dallas Wings: Ajsa Sivka, Slovenia

Other players to watch out for who could be taken in the first round or early in the second include: Sania Feagan and Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina; Sedona Prince, TCU; JJ Quinerly, West Virginia; Aziaha James, N.C. State and Makayla Timpson, Florida State.

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