A night Dallas Wings fans have eagerly been waiting for is now almost 24 hours away. The brightest prospect, Paige Bueckers, will be officially in the market, and the Wings will have the first say. Paige is sure to be Dallas’ new basketball sensation. But while the talk is majorly around UConn’ star guard, we hope no one’s forgetting about Aneesah Morrow, Kiki Iriafen, Hailey Van Lith and other NCAA stars in the mix. Also, yes, do not overlook the new incoming batch of foreign players! Theirs are names to remember.
And this is not something new in the WNBA. The league has had many international players in the past. Some notable foreign players include Australian Lauren Jackson, Suzy Batkovic, Mexican-born Lou Lopez Senechal, Belgian Ann Wauters, and Polish star Margo Dydek. Few international players like Brazilian star Kamilla Cardoso, Croatian player Nika Muhl, and Japanese guard Rui Machida even played in the NCAA before making it to the WNBA. Each player brought flair to the game and opened new avenues to the league.
The numbers have been increasing in every draft, but is there something special about this year’s foreign players? We would say yes. In fact, this batch is a lot different and elite in a few cases. First of all, not many of the international WBB athletes entering the draft drew comparisons with NBA superstars well before taking a step into the WNBA universe. And this season we have a potential Rookie of the Year candidate, a new long-range sharpshooter, and an FIBA MVP challenging the WNBA stars.
Top International Prospects In The 2025 WNBA Draft
1. Dominique Malonga: A lot has been said and written about the French superstar. Such has been her draw. Compared to Victor Wembanyama, Malonga also operates in the post region and has been a dominant force in the French League. The Lyon star averages 15.4 points and 10.2 rebounds in the competitive French league; many mock drafts project her as a second overall pick, and she poses a significant challenge to Paige Bueckers for the Rookie of the Year title.
169 schools have sent talent to the league and the list keeps growing
The legacy continues in 4 days at the 2025 #WNBADraft presented by @StateFarm
April 14 | 7:30pm/ET | LIVE on @espn pic.twitter.com/P52G3vl8wB
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 12, 2025
She made her international debut in the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championships in 2021 at the age of 15 and was also instrumental in France’s silver medal-winning side in the 2024 Paris Olympics Games. The French government later knighted Malonga, the team’s youngest member, for her exceptional three-year international career. The 6-ft-6 Malonga is very versatile, agile, and defensively strong, making her a perfect all-around player on the court.
The 19-year-old star was born to athlete parents Thalance Malonga and Agathe N’Nindjem-Yolemp, who also played basketball professionally, and knows aspects to work on impacting games. Before entering the WNBA, the star had worked on her physical strength and gained 10 kg. And even before making her WNBA debut, she will look to help her Lyon side win playoffs – as the loyal star said, “I really want to give back to them, like give everything I have till the last second.”
Even former Mystics GM Mike Thibault believes she is intriguing, so that settles it. “She is a unbelievably intriguing player because she has size, athleticism and range,” he said.
2. Juste Jocyte: If you are impressed by Dominique Malonga, hold your horses. There is an equally talented, if not dominant, international star looking to make her name in the WBB landscape. While Malonga was a pro at the age of 16, the Lithuanian star made her first professional debut at the age of 14.
Youngest modern era woman player of the EuroLeague, she was guarding DeWanna Bonner then. “It was a crazy experience,” Jocytė said of that time. “I know I was scared; I was shaking before the game. Seeing a 14-year-old running around on the court against WNBA stars is not an everyday thing.” That fearlessness defines her. She’s projected as a first-round pick, maybe as high as No. 5 to the Valkyries.
Here’s an interesting fact, as shared by The Next. Juste was born in the United States since her parents were working at the Lithuanian Embassy in Washington. So, that technically makes her a domestic player and also ineligible for the draft until 2027. But she spent her growing years overseas and has played majorly there as well, making her eligible for the 2025 draft.
While Rokas, her brother, chose to improve his skills in Italy and thus lost his chance on the national team, Juste was fortunate enough to play for Lithuania. She led the side to the country’s first-ever U16 European final and a place in the U17 World Championship for the first time. The lefty-crafty is famous for her exceptional shooting accuracy, 75% from the field, but what separates her from the athletes of her age is her maturity and calmness under pressure. Her looks and long-range shooting accuracy earned her the ‘baby-faced assassin’ name, and we all know who that is.
3. Ajsa Sivka: If we are already overwhelmed with the first two names, there is one more star who has a proven record and won an MVP title on the international stage. The 2005-born Slovenian prospect landed on the wider women’s basketball radar 12 months ago, showcasing her talent at the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup.
The 6 Ft 4 small forward led her nation to the U18 Women’s European Championship in 2023. Averaging 15.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.4 steals per game, she grabbed the MVP award. Sivka’s multiple skills and tenacious attitude will make her a valuable asset to any WNBA team. However, Sivka’s draft stock is trickier. Some mocks have her in the late first round, others in the second.
Even though there are a few more international stars who are in the 2025 WNBA Draft, the above three are standout performers and could make a massive statement in the league. Irrespective of their draft pick number, these three superstars will be happy to live their dream of playing in the WNBA. Who impressed you more? Dominique? Ajsa? Or Juste?
The post Unknown Facts About Top International Prospects in the 2025 WNBA Draft: A Knighthood, Steph Curry’s Nickname & More appeared first on EssentiallySports.