5 Draft prospects Valkyries should target with 5th overall pick

The WNBA’s newest expansion franchise, the Golden State Valkyries, is months away from its first WNBA Draft, but the excitement couldn’t be higher.

Golden State will select at No. 5 in the 2025 WNBA Draft, so we’re under the assumption that UConn’s Paige Bueckers, USC’s Kiki Iriafen, and Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles will be off the board before the Valkyries make its selection.

Still, there are several intriguing prospects Golden State should consider targeting in the first round, with long-term upside and positional versatility as key priorities.

1. Aneesah Morrow, LSU

Aneesah Morrow has been one of the best players in college basketball since her freshman season at DePaul in 2021. The 6-foot-1 forward plays above her height on both ends, powered by her athleticism and relentless activity.

In fact, Morrow is one of three players in the country to record a 3% steal rate and 3% block rate in each of the past three seasons, according to Her Hoop Stats.

The LSU forward leverages her quick hands and 6-foot-4 wingspan to disrupt passing lanes, provide secondary rim protection, and switch onto wings. Morrow isn’t a wing but also doesn’t fit the mold of a traditional big, making her most effective in an aggressive ball screen defensive scheme. 

On the offensive end, she is a very good scorer but has largely remained the same player since her freshman season. Morrow is an elite finisher and an aggressive driver but has made little strides as a mid-range and 3-point shooter – possibly regressing from her time at DePaul.

For Golden State, if you feel confident in your player development system to get her jump shot to an average level, Morrow is a player with All-Star upside and possibly higher.

2. Dominique Malonga, France

Dominique Malonga has the highest ceiling of any prospect not named Bueckers in this year’s draft. She is among the best 6-foot-6 athletes we’ve ever seen in a WNBA prospect, with her special foot speed, hip flexibility, and vertical athleticism.

On Oct. 31, Malonga, who plays for ASVEL in France’s first division, became the first French player to dunk in a game. Keep in mind she just turned 19 years old.

Offensively, Malonga is a dynamic driver, showcasing an impressive handle and quick first step for her size. She also displays fluidity as a mid-post shot creator and spot-up shooter from beyond the arc.

The next steps for her offensively are to improve her screening angles and hand-eye coordination as a roller, along with her feel for the game as a passer.

On the defensive end, Malonga’s untapped defensive upside depends on if she can refine her positioning in drop coverage and improve her decision-making in help rotations. Her athleticism can often bail her out, which won’t be as easy to do consistently against WNBA-caliber bigs.

As a teenager, Malonga has been the most productive player in the French league, showing the kind of potential that could be franchise-altering for a team like the Valkyries. 

However, the main question remains: Does she have an interest in playing in the WNBA, and if she does, how consistently will she come over? 

It’s tough for French league players to come to the WNBA due to an overlapping schedule and national team obligations, so this uncertainty could dictate whether drafting her at No. 5 is too high. 

3. Ajša Sivka, Slovenia

Another international prospect, Ajša Sivka is on track to be the first Slovenian-born player to play in a WNBA game. The 19-year-old, 6-foot-3 wing has a similar skillset to Leonie Fiebich, who played a key role on the New York Liberty’s championship team in 2024.

Sivka is a mind-boggling shooter for her size. She can run off a pindown screen and shoot on the move, spot up on the wing, or pull up off a pick-and-roll (PnR).

Sivka also has a case for being the best non-point guard passer in the class. She can manipulate defenders with her eyes and throw one-handed passes on the move with velocity. Just watch this possession above. 

For her improvement areas, Sivka is a solid off-ball defender but often struggles to get around and over screens at the point of attack. She is also not a confident driver due to her thin frame, making it challenging to finish through contact or draw fouls.

6-foot-3 players with her shooting, passing, and fluidity as an athlete don’t grow on trees, making her a worthy selection as high as the top five if she has a legitimate interest in the WNBA.

4. Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina

Te-Hina Paopao is one of the best shooters on the planet, and there’s not really any debate. She shot 48.1% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers and 42.1% on pull-up 3-pointers last season. Paopao was the only player in Division 1 to reach those statistical marks, per Synergy Sports.

The 5-foot-9 guard is also not just a shooter. Paopao is a steady PnR ball-handler, thanks to her superb vision and processing speed. She makes the defender play at her speed, often using a hostage dribble (a move where the ball-handler keeps the defender on their back) to set up her consistent floater or make a pass.

On the other hand, Paopao’s weaknesses are tough to improve on. She doesn’t grade out as an average finisher or on-ball defender because of her subpar athleticism for WNBA standards.

While Paopao may not have the highest upside of any prospect in this range, Golden State could land a reliable decade-long starter in the sharpshooting guard.

5. Janiah Barker, UCLA

Texas A&M transfer Janiah Barker has flashes of a future WNBA superstar. At other times, she looks like a second-round pick.

Barker told The Next’s Gabriella Lewis in 2023 that she planned to declare for the WNBA Draft after her third collegiate season. Now a junior, could her plans have changed? It’s possible. However, if Barker does turn pro, it’s hard to imagine many teams passing on a player with her potential.

She is a fluid shot creator at 6-foot-4 with a great handle and unreal flexibility to create separate in the mid-range. Barker can also knock down spot-up 3-pointers, cut, and drive.

Barker’s vertical and lateral athleticism allows her to defend in any ball screen coverage. She profiles more as a forward than a center, but UCLA has experienced with her at the five and even slid her up to the three for stretches in the early season.

Barker’s biggest challenge is consistency: She is a career 60.4% free-throw shooter, her aggression as a driver fluctuates, and she tends to commit unnecessary turnovers. Barker also frequently finds herself in foul trouble, which limited her to just 26.5 minutes per game as a sophomore at Texas A&M.

If she puts together a consistent junior season and declares, Barker could be an intriguing pick for the Valkyries as a versatile, athletic forward with upside.