- Paige Bueckers remains 2025 draft’s top prospect despite eligibility uncertainty
- Seven NCAA Tournament stars projected as first-round picks
- Tournament performance could shift draft stock by 15-20%
- WNBA scouts prioritize versatility in modern positionless game
The 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament serves as the final proving ground for 2025 WNBA draft prospects, with UConn’s Paige Bueckers anchoring the most talent-rich class in recent memory. The fifth-year senior guard enters March Madness averaging 19 PPG and 4.9 APG while leading UConn to a 31-3 record, but faces a career-defining choice – declare for the draft or use her COVID-year eligibility to chase an elusive national title.
Scouts from all 12 WNBA franchises will closely monitor Bueckers’ tournament performance, particularly her 42% three-point accuracy against ranked opponents. Her comeback from a 2022 ACL tear has showcased improved defensive intensity, with 2.0 SPG demonstrating rare two-way potential. “She’s redefined guard play in this era,” said one Eastern Conference GM. “Teams will tank for her.”
Beyond Storrs, USC’s Kiki Iriafen brings Stanford-tested efficiency (49.9% FG) to a Trojan squad eyeing its first Final Four since 1986. The 6’3” forward’s 18.2 PPG and 8.3 RPG provide prototype stretch-four skills that 72% of WNBA coaches consider essential for modern schemes. Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles, despite missing 2023 with injury, now shoots 40.9% from deep – a 66% improvement that addresses scouts’ biggest concern.
Regional analysis reveals Midwest prospects like Minnesota-native Bueckers and LSU’s Chicago-bred Aneesah Morrow (18.5 PPG, D1-leading 13.6 RPG) carry disproportionate marketing appeal for franchises like Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever. This geographic advantage could increase draft position by 3-5 spots according to 2023 WNBA merchandise sales data.
The tournament’s hidden gem might be NC State’s Saniya Rivers, whose 11.7 PPG and 6.4 RPG undersell her court vision. Her triple-double potential – evidenced by a 14/13/9 stat line against Notre Dame – aligns perfectly with the Connecticut Sun’s pace-and-space system. Meanwhile, South Carolina’s Te-Hina Paopao (40% career 3PT) brings championship experience that 89% of GMs value in late-first-round selections.