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The Dallas Wings own next year's No. 1 overall pick after winning the WNBA Draft Lottery.The first few picks should be pretty straightforward, but the remainder of the round could go all kinds of ways.Here, theScore projects the first 12 picks for the 2025 WNBA Draft.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rPaige Bueckers, G, UConnIt could be a quick turnaround in the Lone Star State following an injury-ravaged 9-31 campaign. Bueckers is a generational talent who will make an impact from Day 1. The 2021 Wooden Award winner is an efficient three-level scorer with the shot-creation ability to manufacture her own offense. Her playmaking ability will allow Arike Ogunbowale to play off the ball and should provide an incentive for Natasha Howard and Satou Sabally to stay put in Dallas. She's an intelligent help defender as well, often recognizing what opposing teams are running and blowing up plays before they can be executed.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rKiki Iriafen, F/C, USCLos Angeles will be understandably disappointed not to land its point guard for the future, especially after having the top lottery odds. However, adding Iriafen solidifies a young frontcourt trio that the club can build around for years to come. The USC product is coming off a breakout junior year, averaging 19.4 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.3 assists en route to earning the Katrina McClain Award as the nation's top power forward. Iriafen already has chemistry with Cameron Brink, having previously played alongside the Sparks forward at Stanford for three seasons.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rOlivia Miles, G, Notre DameThis is where the draft could get interesting. The Sky are set in the frontcourt after investing last year's first-round picks on Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, so look for them to target a guard. Miles' talent would be difficult to pass up. The New Jersey native was one of the NCAA's top facilitators before tearing her ACL in Notre Dame's 2022-23 regular-season finale. Miles appears to be back in All-American form early in her return and has shown a much improved 3-point stroke.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rAneesah Morrow, F, LSUWashington finished 11th in points in the paint and dead last in rebounding last season. Morrow is a force in the post and has consistently been among the country's best on the glass from her time at DePaul to her current stop at LSU. There are concerns about the 6-foot-1 forward's size and lack of shooting range. But the same worries existed about Reese last season, and she was just fine.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rSonia Citron, G, Notre DameIt's tough to pinpoint which player would fit best in Golden State without knowing the results of the expansion draft. Citron is a versatile player who could fill all sorts of roles depending on the Valkyries' roster construction. The 6-foot-1 guard can finish through contact in the paint, defends one through three, and is an elite rebounder for her position. You can never have enough floor spacing, and Citron fits the bill as a career 36.2% 3-point shooter.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rAzzi Fudd, G, UConnFudd is the ultimate wild card in this year's class. The 5-foot-11 guard arrived in Storrs with much fanfare as a top-ranked recruit and McDonald's All-American. She's flashed her shooting prowess as a pull-up threat in the midrange and knocks down threes off the catch. The biggest question surrounding Fudd is health. She missed all but two games in 2023-24 after tearing her right ACL for the second time. A solid year would go a long way for Fudd's draft stock.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rDominique Malonga, C, ASVEL (France)New York acquired the right to swap first-rounders with the Mercury in a 2023 trade that also netted them Sixth Player of the Year runner-up Leonie Fiebich. The Liberty have the luxury of taking a swing on Malonga's upside without needing her to play an immediate role. The 6-foot-6 center was the youngest member of France's silver-medal squad at the Paris Olympics. She averaged 11.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks last season as a teenager in France's top domestic professional basketball league.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rJaniah Barker, F, UCLABarker's ability to run the floor in transition is an ideal complement to Caitlin Clark's preferred up-tempo style of play. The 6-foot-4 forward provides an additional post presence, too, with NaLyssa Smith's future uncertain and veteran Temi Fagbenle entering restricted free agency. Barker boasts the athleticism to guard multiple positions, which should bolster a Fever unit that finished second-last in defensive efficiency last season.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rGeorgia Amoore, G, KentuckySeattle's most glaring need entering the offseason was outside shooting. The Storm ranked ninth in threes (6.1 per game) and last in 3-point percentage (28.8%). Amoore is one of the better floor-spacing prospects available, having finished second in the NCAA in triples (118) during the 2022-23 campaign. The Kentucky floor general currently leads all players in assists (41). Amoore could give Skylar Diggins-Smith the freedom to play off the ball, and she provides depth at the point following Nika Muhl's recent ACL injury.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rTe-Hina Paopao, G, South CarolinaChicago will take all the spacing it can get around Reese and Cardoso. New Sky head coach Tyler Marsh wasn't shy about his desire for more shooting at his introductory press conference. Paopao drained a nation-leading 46.8% of her attempts from beyond the arc in 2023-24 and played alongside Cardoso that season during South Carolina's national championship run.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rRori Harmon, G, TexasThe Lynx could benefit from adding a natural point guard, even though Courtney Williams did an admirable job handling playmaking duties. Harmon was averaging a career-high 7.8 dimes and leading all players in assist-to-turnover ratio when she sustained a season-ending ACL injury just 12 games into her junior year. The Texas product has picked up where she left off, showcasing her court vision, quickness, and disruptive defensive play in the early stages of the 2024-25 campaign.!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;rAjsa Sivka, F, Tarbes (France)Sivka might need a few years of seasoning before she's ready to make an impact. However, the 6-foot-4 teenager from Slovenia may be worth the wait, as she has the shooting touch and playmaking skills desired in a modern big. Sivka averaged 15.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, three assists, and 2.4 steals at the 2023 FIBA U18 Women's European Championship, earning tournament MVP honors and leading her country to a historic title.

Geno Auriemma continues to rewrite the record books.UConn's 85-41 rout of Fairleigh Dickinson gave the Huskies icon his 1,217th career victory, surpassing Tara VanDerveer as college basketball's all-time winningest coach.Auriemma's journey to the summit has been 40 years in the making. UConn had only one winning season in 11 years when the future Hall of Famer took the job. He's since built the program into the gold standard of women's college hoops.Here are some of Auriemma's most memorable wins - in chronological order - over the past four decades in Storrs.March 16, 1991: UConn's 1st NCAA tourney win Robert W Stowell Jr / Archive Photos / GettyUConn was steadily ascending with a pair of Big East regular-season titles and a conference tournament crown in Auriemma's first five seasons. However, the program had yet to win a single contest in two previous trips to the Big Dance.The Huskies finally broke through on the national stage in the 1991 NCAA Tournament, escaping their opening tilt against Toledo with a narrow 81-80 victory at Gampel Pavilion. All-American forward Kerry Bascom - Auriemma's first major coup on the recruiting trail - delivered with a tourney single-game school-record 39 points, including a go-ahead 3-point play with 19 seconds remaining.Auriemma's squad went on to reach its maiden Final Four, where UConn would lose 61-55 to No. 1 seed Virginia. While the Huskies fell short of the ultimate prize, their deep March run established belief in Auriemma's vision and opened the door to a whole wave of highly touted recruits."That night here against Toledo changed Connecticut basketball forever," Auriemma told reporters in 2013, including Rich Elliott of The Connecticut Post. "That's the night that we became the kind of program that can go to the Final Four. I'll never forget that night for as long as I live."Jan. 16, 1995: UConn, Tennessee begin storied rivalry Robert W Stowell Jr / Archive Photos / GettyUConn hadn't returned to the Final Four in the three years that followed its first national semifinal appearance, even with the addition of local star Rebecca Lobo. Still, the Huskies were poised to contend for the 1995 title as Nykesha Sales joined a talented roster that featured Lobo, Jennifer Rizzotti, and Kara Wolters.UConn was a perfect 12-0 heading into its inaugural meeting with powerhouse Tennessee. Their showdown would determine the No. 1 spot in the AP poll and was broadcast on national television, which was a rarity for women's basketball at the time. The Huskies defeated the Lady Vols 77-66 in front of a sold-out home crowd and seized the top spot in the polls for the first time in school history.The hotly contested matchup sparked arguably the greatest rivalry in women's basketball and elevated the sport's profile. UConn and Tennessee squared off a few months later in the national championship game, with the Huskies capturing their first-ever Division I crown to cap off their first of six undefeated campaigns.Dec. 21, 2010: UConn breaks UCLA's win-streak record Damian Strohmeyer / Sports Illustrated / GettyUConn set numerous records over Auriemma's tenure, but none may be more impressive than the win streaks the program produced.Maya Moore tallied a career-high 41 points against 20th-ranked Florida State to lead the Huskies to an 89th consecutive victory, topping the benchmark set by John Wooden's legendary UCLA teams between 1971-74.It was the perfect way to sum up the program's dominance under Auriemma. UConn was hardly threatened during its 93-62 victory over the Seminoles, just like virtually every other game during its unprecedented win streak. The Huskies had only two contests decided by single digits despite facing 16 top-10 opponents along the way.UConn's win streak ended shortly after at 90, yet it stood for only seven more years as the school reset its own NCAA record with a separate 111-game win streak.April 5, 2016: Geno surpasses the Wizard of Westwood again NCAA Photos / NCAA Photos / GettyThe Huskies' most recent national championship was significant for a myriad of reasons. Their lopsided 82-51 victory over Syracuse in the title game made UConn the first Division I women's basketball team to win four straight national championships. Not even Pat Summitt's storied Tennessee teams accomplished the feat.Breanna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson, and Morgan Tuck also became the only players in college hoops history to four-peat. The star trio ended its decorated run with a 151-5 mark, which is the most victories by any group of college basketball players.Auriemma claimed his 11th national championship to break a tie with Wooden for the all-time lead. He went undefeated in the title game until losing to Dawn Staley's South Carolina program in the 2022 national final.April 1, 2024: UConn's unlikely Final Four run Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyUConn is no stranger to the Final Four, having made 14 consecutive national semifinal appearances before falling to Ohio State in the Sweet 16 of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.That shocking defeat is partly why last season's unlikely Final Four run was so special. The Huskies had to turn the page on their earliest tourney exit in nearly 20 years and navigate through a litany of injuries in perhaps the most challenging campaign of Auriemma's career.UConn lost six players to season-ending ailments - including former No. 1 recruit Azzi Fudd - and was forced to operate with a seven-player rotation for most of the season. Auriemma adjusted on the fly with a four-guard lineup to maximize the offensive strengths of the available players. It was unconventional and unlike his preferred way of playing, but it got the job done.UConn entered its Elite Eight encounter against JuJu Watkins and 1-seed USC in an unfamiliar position as the underdog. That didn't matter once the game tipped off as Auriemma's defensive game plan against the Trojans star reaffirmed why he remains one of the best in the business.The eight-time Naismith Coach of the Year had Watkins constantly under pressure. Auriemma deployed defensive ace Nika Muhl and Paige Bueckers as Watkins' primary defenders. He sent double teams whenever Watkins caught the ball atop the key, limiting the freshman phenom's opportunities to attack the paint and expose the Huskies' lack of interior size. Auriemma's schemes resulted in a 9-of-25 shooting performance and four turnovers from Watkins. By the time she got going in the fourth quarter, it was too late for USC to mount a comeback.

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Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl checked in early against the Miami Heat after being pulled from the starting lineup moments before Thursday's contest due to back spasms.Poeltl was officially listed as doubtful by the team and appeared to be a late scratch, according to TSN's Josh Lewenberg.The 7-footer is having a strong campaign as the Raptors' starting center. He's averaging 15.9 points, 11.6 boards, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks across 24 appearances.

Iowa announced Wednesday it will retire Caitlin Clark's jersey Feb. 2 in a nationally televised matchup against USC. To the rafters.2.2.25@CaitlinClark22 x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter/Qjq1Y1VfrZ— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) December 18, 2024 Clark's the third player in program history to receive the honor. The Indiana Fever star led the Hawkeyes to a pair of national championship game appearances in four seasons. Iowa hadn't advanced past the Final Four prior to Clark's arrival."I'm forever proud to be a Hawkeye and Iowa holds a special place in my heart that is bigger than just basketball," Clark said in a statement. "It means the world to me to receive this honor and to celebrate it with my family, friends and alumni. It will be a great feeling to look up in the rafters and see my jersey alongside those that I've admired for so long."Clark quickly rose to stardom in Iowa City, becoming a two-time National Player of the Year and breaking Pete Maravich's long-standing mark as the all-time leading scorer in Division I history.Clark averaged 28.4 points, 8.2 assists, 7.1 boards, and 1.5 steals across 139 appearances. She led the NCAA in points and assists on three occasions.The Fever selected Clark first overall earlier this year following her decorated career with the Hawkeyes.

Cleveland Cavaliers wing Isaac Okoro will miss at least two weeks with a right shoulder acromioclavicular joint sprain, the team announced Thursday.Okoro was injured in the third quarter of Monday's blowout win over the Brooklyn Nets.An MRI taken Wednesday confirmed the injury.Okoro is averaging 6.6 points and shooting a career-high 49.2% from beyond the arc. He began the year coming off the bench, but moved into the starting lineup with Max Strus sidelined.Okoro's been a key part of the club's ninth-ranked defense. He's tied for fourth on the team in contested shots (76) and trails only Sam Merrill in charges drawn.Cleveland selected Okoro with the fifth overall pick in 2020.

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JuJu Watkins and USC will make the cross-country trip to Hartford for a top-10 showdown against Paige Bueckers and UConn.The highly anticipated prime-time tilt is part of a two-game series between the schools and features a pair of leading Wooden Award candidates.The Trojans and Huskies met in last season's Elite Eight, with the latter prevailing 80-73 to reach their 23rd Final Four.Watkins and Bueckers remain at the center of their respective school's national championship hopes. Saturday's blockbuster affair will serve as a litmus test for the pair of 10-1 squads.Here are the key matchups to follow when UConn and USC take the floor.JuJu vs. Paige Catherine Steenkeste / Getty Images Sport / GettyWatkins is one of the NCAA's most lethal scorers, averaging 24.7 points through her first 11 appearances this season. The 6-foot-2 guard already has a 40-point showing under her belt and set a new USC record in that same contest with nine makes from downtown. Only Caitlin Clark has produced more 30-point outings than Watkins through a sophomore year.Watkins' shot selection was an area of emphasis during the offseason, and it's shown on the court. The Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year is shooting 5.3% better from the field on 4.6 fewer field goals per game. She's also been a more efficient 3-point shooter on virtually the same volume of shots. The Huskies no longer have a perimeter stopper like Nika Muhl, so expect a committee approach to guarding Watkins.Don't be surprised if Bueckers takes some of the defensive responsibilities against the Trojans phenom as she did down the stretch last April. It's part of what makes the two-time All-American guard such a special player. Bueckers is always thinking one step ahead of her opponents, which allows her to force turnovers and spark UConn's transition attack.But you don't earn the nickname "Paige Buckets" without lighting up the scoreboard. Bueckers can shoot off movement, post up opposing guards, and finish through contact in the paint, and she has consistently been among the nation's leaders in effective field-goal percentage. USC will likely turn to Watkins - a solid defender herself - to take the challenge of stifling Bueckers.Iriafen vs. Strong Joe Buglewicz / Getty Images Sport / GettyMany expect Kiki Iriafen to follow Bueckers at second overall in next year's WNBA draft. The Stanford transfer is proving that her breakout junior season was no fluke, averaging 18.7 points, 9.2 boards, and 1.4 assists over 11 appearances. She's sixth in the NCAA in offensive rebounds (54) and attempting a career-high 6.1 free throws per contest.Iriafen operates with patience in the post, consistently draws fouls, plays with a high motor on the glass, and has the lateral mobility to defend on the perimeter. While her range has yet to extend beyond the arc, she has the ability to knock down face-up jumpers from the elbow.Sarah Strong could find herself matched up against the reigning power forward of the year. Strong has made an instant impact with the Huskies, trailing only Bueckers in scoring and pacing the team in rebounds, steals, and blocks. The prized No. 1 overall recruit recently became the only UConn freshman in the past 25 years to tally at least 15 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a single game.Strong has the versatility of a modern big. The 6-foot-2 forward runs the floor in transition and isn't afraid to let it fly from distance. She can pull up in transition, shoot off the catch, and pick-and-pop to the 3-point line. Whenever opponents close out too aggressively, she's more than capable of putting the ball on the floor and driving all the way to the basket. The Huskies have found success using Strong as a playmaking hub at the elbow and in dribble-handoff actions. Her quick hands and instincts have resulted in a pair of six-steal performances."I don't know that anyone has had the offensive skill set that Sarah has since (Breanna Stewart) was here," UConn head coach Geno Auriemma said following his school's win over Louisville earlier this month, according to CT Insider's Maggie Vanoni.Supporting casts Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyBoth schools have a dynamic one-two punch, but who'll rise to the occasion alongside the star duos?USC needed to replenish its talent after losing three starters from last year's squad. They did just that with the additions in the transfer portal and a top-ranked recruiting class featuring three McDonald's All-Americans: Kennedy Smith, Kayleigh Heckel, and Avery Howell.Each have shown promise in their first campaign with the Women of Troy. Smith was settling in as the Trojans' third offensive option prior to being sidelined. Heckel replaced Smith in the starting lineup, energizing Lindsay Gottlieb's squad with her pace and on-ball pressure. Meanwhile, Howell stepped into Heckel's role as the lead guard off the bench, registering 7.2 points per contest and shooting 35.7% from deep during USC's current six-game winning streak.A similar situation has played out at UConn where Azzi Fudd is back on the mend with a minor knee sprain. The former No. 1 recruit is the only player outside Bueckers and Strong averaging double digits in points, and her floor-spacing was badly missed during the Huskies' lone defeat of the campaign to Notre Dame.UConn needs more from its supporting cast, regardless if Fudd suits up Saturday. Second-year guard Ashlynn Shade gave the Huskies exactly what they were looking for during Tuesday's victory over Iowa State, draining seven triples en route to a career-high 27 points. Granted, she won't be setting a new personal best every time out, but consistent scoring from Shade would keep defenses honest and ease the offensive load on Bueckers and Strong.