Redrafting the 2024 and 2025 WNBA Draft

Both classes were loaded, but who would go where if you combined them? Plus, Kyle Stowers and Trevor Rogers is a win-win, a great Valkyries piece, more.

We've been pretty spoiled over the last two years when it comes to rookies in the WNBA.

Don't get it twisted – the talent in the league has never been an issue. It's always been filled with high-level players, but they just never got the love and attention that they've deserved.

But that said, the 2024 and 2025 draft classes were both highly rated for good reason.

I had the idea about a week and a half ago to do a redraft of the last two draft classes combined, and this was going to run Friday, but then Paige Bueckers' historic night happened.

So instead, you all get this now.

Let's set some ground rules, shall we?

• We are looking just at basketball and not the marketing side of things (that's a whole other conversation if we are being honest, and it's one that needs a good hard look at since it's a very White conversation).
• We are not drafting for specific teams, rather building a full big board ranking the players as if you were a team without a need, looking to grab the best player available.
• I went 30 deep for this draft, which is kind of crazy given how hard it is to make the league and succeed as a rookie in your first couple of years.
• Lastly, this is for fun. I do not dislike any of these players. I like all of these players.

1.Paige Bueckers - Bueckers is one of the most complete basketball players to come out of college into the league in the last decade let alone the last two years. The way that she's able to operate at all three levels, run an offense, set up her teammates, play defense, and look like a veteran instead of a rookie on the court gives her the No. 1 spot.

2.Caitlin Clark - A clear No. 2 option, and if you have her No. 1, I fully get it. She's exciting as hell, has the best court vision in the league, and her long-shooting is the chef's kiss. She needs to clean up her turnovers and improve her defense, as well as her reactionary tendencies that she has when a call doesn't go her way. She's a clear star and those weaknesses can be improved.

3.Dominique Malonga - We're seeing Seattle take the kid gloves off of her, and she's been a double-double machine. I have her third just because of the potential. She has a chance to be a generational player.

4.Rickea Jackson - There are maybe five players in the league that I would pick over Jackson if I needed a bucket. She's the total package and one of the purest scorers in the entire league. Her game was so pro-ready out of Tennessee.

5.Sonia Citron - She was billed as the No. 3 option at Notre Dame, but it just speaks to her selflessness. Her game has translated to the league incredibly well, giving her the chance to be one of the elite 3-and-D players.

6.Kiki Iriafen - Iriafen is even better than we imagined, and we are starting to see her work on her outside shot. She plays like a third-year player instead of a rookie.

7.Angel Reese - She's the best rebounder in the entire league. She's working on her outside game and her offense in the paint. The sky (no pun intended) is the limit.

8.Cameron Brink - I'm treating Brink like she's totally healthy, and she looks to be after her ACL injury. She's the best defensive player on this list, but she needs to cut back on the fouls to truly unlock her full potential.

9.Kamilla Cardoso - If she's not the best passing big in the league, the list ahead of her is pretty small. She needs to develop some kind of offense from the mid-range, though, to keep the defense honest.

10.Aneesah Morrow - Undersized player with the heart to rival any player in the league. Fantastic anticipation and leaping ability. Development of an outside shot will determine her ultimate ceiling.

11.Georgia Amoore - Recovering from an ACL injury, but I'm treating her as healthy for this exercise. A fantastic floor general who has been practicing lightly three weeks after tearing her ACL.

12.Saniya Rivers - Trying to show that she has an outside shot, and she's definitely putting the work in. A fantastic slasher made to be a No. 3 option on a team.

13.Te-Hina Paopao - Fell to Atlanta in the second round in the real draft. Elite three-point shooter. Finding her way defensively.

14.Aaliyah Edwards - I wanted to have her higher. Year 3 is going to be a big bounce-back year for Edwards. Need to see the willingness to stretch the floor.

15.Carle Leite - One of the highest ceilings on this list. So young but has been playing professionally since she was 13.

16.Leila Lacan - We've seen it in spurts with Connecticut. Nice ceiling here, but likely a Sixth Player.

17.Justė Jocytė - Trades athleticism for basketball IQ. Smart, intentional player on offense with needed improvement on defense.

18.Aziaha James - Perfect heater to bring off the bench for instant offense. Excels off the dribble.

19.Kate Martin - Hype will always outweigh her actual talent. Perfect bench player in the role of someone like Alysha Clark.

20.Jacy Sheldon - I'm trying not to let the three teams in two years thing bother me. I'm not sure where the offense will land, but can be an elite perimeter defense. Jumpy with her anticipation leaving her susceptible at times to back-cuts.

21.JJ Quinerly - I'm treating her as healthy for this exercise. Undersized, but higher than I thought she'd be. A pure scorer.

22.Anastasiia Olairi Kosu - I trust the defense given her size and anticipation skills, and the rebounding gives her advantage offensively. But I'm not sure what the finished offense product will look like.

23.KK Timpson - A backup big whose offense is raw. Great anticipation skills but always looks for the block on defense.

24.Aaliyah Nye - Underrated offensive player who played a big role for Vegas earlier this year. Not sure how long she'll stick around.

25.Nyadiew Puoch - Still young and developing overseas. Can create on her own offensively. Excels in open space. Defense a question mark.

26.Nike Mühl - The reputation is better than the player in this instance, respectfully. Can be a solid late-game defensive stopper.

27.Kaitlyn Chen - Great story. A fine second-to-last player on the bench long term.

28.Ajša Sivka - A sniper from three, but can she be more than that?

29.Hailey Van Lith - Prior to the NCAA Tournament, she was thought to be a third-round pick. The Tournament changed her draft stock, but it shouldn't have.

30.Sarah Ashlee Barker - Can be a bucket, but finds herself challenged against elite defenders. Can be a heater off the bench long term.

Article to Read

Meghan Hall has been working her ass off on this Golden State Valkyries piece for months now. Phone interviews. In-person interviews. Pushing other projects.

She was locked in on it.

And, well, she delivered.

Few do it better in the W space. Give it a read.

A Win-Win Trade?

Not too long ago, we praised the job that both the Miami Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks did with the Zac Gallen and Jazz Chisholm trade. The Marlins traded away from their strength in starting pitcher to acquire a bat in Chisholm.

Well, we're seeing it again ... kind of.

Last year, we all (yes, you did, too) made fun of the Baltimore Orioles when they traded Kyle Stowers and Conor Norby for Trevor Rogers.

It was stupid. It was an overpay. It made no sense.

Rogers was a bad pitcher! He was outstanding in 2021, but in 2022, 2023, and 2024 (the first half), he wasn't that guy anymore.

And early on this year, he looked to be much of the same, struggling in Triple-A and looking like a lost cause.

But then, something happened.

And I don't know what that something is, exactly, but through 13 starts, Rogers has a 1.40 ERA for the Orioles.

The stuff isn't exactly outstanding (his 23 K% is improved, though), but he's excelling despite living in the zone with average stuff.

The big change he's made is swapping the usage with his changeup and sinker this year, locating the changeup lower in the zone, resulting in a boost in grounders.

He's not a 1.40 ERA pitcher, but even if (when) he levels out to a 3.00 ERA guy, he's been one of the better success stories in the league this year – especially considering that Baltimore is a mess and changed their stadium back again to a more hitter-friendly venue.

On the flip side is Stowers, who is on the injured list, has been an offensive force for Miami this year. Stowers' 52 percent hard-hit rate puts him in the 93rd percentile in the league, while increasing his bat speed to 75 miles per hour (up from 73.7 last year) while shortening his stroke. Stowers has also changed his stance, opening up at 10 degrees compared to 3 degrees last year.

The difference is an increased Barrel rate up to 19 percent from 10.3 percent last year. Stowers has turned into a legit All-Star power hitter in Miami.

The trade looks a lot different today for both teams than it did last year, aging a lot better than we initially thought.

Until Next Time

The Aces are in town this week, followed by the Wings on Friday. I'm working on a couple of ideas for Friday's newsletter depending on how the chips fall. I'm also working on a couple of interviews with some really cool musicians that I hope to finalize soon.

Until then, I love you awesome nerds.