Hold onto your foam fingers, WNBA fans! The league’s popularity is soaring higher than an Arike Ogunbowale buzzer-beater, and guess what? It’s about to get even spicier. With the Golden State Valkyries set to debut in 2025, the upcoming draft is shaping up to be a talent feast unlike any other. And at the top of every GM’s Christmas list? UConn’s Paige Bueckers, a walking bucket, and USC’s Kiki Iriafen, a paint-dominating powerhouse.
But the million-dollar question remains: Which team gets to unwrap these generational gifts? The answer lies in the whimsical whirl of ping pong balls during the WNBA Draft Lottery. Four hopeful teams—the Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Sparks, and Washington Mystics—are gearing up for what might be their most nerve-wracking 30 minutes of the year. Meanwhile, the Golden State Valkyries sit smugly at fifth, because, well, expansion teams don’t get to join the lottery fun.
Mark Your Calendars: WNBA Lottery Time!
Set your reminders, folks! The WNBA Lottery, presented by State Farm, hits the airwaves on Sunday, November 17, at 5 p.m.—smack dab after the NCAA Women’s showdown between North Carolina and TCU. ESPN, the official hype machine, is hosting the event for the 13th year running. Given the star power in this draft class, expect this year’s ratings to shatter records faster than a Dearica Hamby fast break.
This 30-minute spectacle will reveal the draft order and feature interviews with teary-eyed team reps. Pro tip: Watch out for the poker-faced reactions from GMs who get stuck with the fourth pick. It’s pure entertainment gold.
Odds, Ends, and Oh No’s: Lottery Breakdown
Lottery odds in the WNBA are as unpredictable as a Dallas Wings defensive rotation. Here’s how the ping pong balls stack up:
Los Angeles Sparks: 442 Combinations Out of 1,000
The Sparks are throwing their entire season’s hope behind a 44.2% chance of landing the top pick. After a dismal 8-32 record, the Sparks desperately need a spark (pun fully intended). Their defense last year was more porous than a pasta strainer, giving up 85.6 points per game. But hey, good news! Cameron Brink will return in 2025, and leading scorer Dearica Hamby still has plenty of buckets left in her at 31.
Dallas Wings: 227 Combinations Out of 1,000
The Wings, bless their hearts, are a high-octane offensive juggernaut (84.2 PPG) but also had a defense that made opponents feel like Steph Curry at a shootaround. With a 9-31 record, their odds are decent, but here’s the twist: They’ve got a pick swap deal with Chicago. If the Sky somehow strike gold, the Wings will happily snatch their spot. Classic Dallas—always finding a loophole.
Chicago Sky: 227 Combinations Out of 1,000
The Sky’s frontcourt of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso was a rebounding machine last season, yet even 21 boards per game couldn’t save them from a 13-27 record. If Chicago lands a top-two pick, Wings fans will have mixed emotions—happy for the pick swap but heartbroken for the loss of lottery glory. Drama, drama, drama.
Washington Mystics: 108 Combinations Out of 1,000
Washington may have the slimmest odds, but don’t count them out just yet. With a respectable 14-26 record last season, the Mystics are no strangers to adversity. They’ve battled injuries, including Brittney Sykes’ ankle issues and Elena Delle Donne’s mysterious absence. If they win the lottery, expect a parade on Constitution Avenue.
Beyond the Lottery: The Real Fun Begins
Once the lottery dust settles, it’s all eyes on the Golden State Valkyries, who’ll host their Expansion Draft on Friday, December 6. Will they build a contender or just a meme-worthy Twitter account? Time will tell. The grand finale? The WNBA Draft on April 4th. Mark it down, folks—it’s going to be a wild ride.
The WNBA’s future is brighter than a freshly polished championship trophy, and with stars like Bueckers and Iriafen incoming, the league is ready to take over your screens and hearts. Buckle up, basketball fans—it’s ping pong season!
