Kiki Iriafen or ultra-hyped Justė Jocytė? The 2025 Valkyries draft update, pre-March Madness

Conventional wisdom: GSV will draft Kiki Iriafen of USC, with Justė Jocytė a sleeper possibility

Don’t miss the index for the entire 2025 Valkyries Draft Prospects series.

Kiki Iriafen now projected as GSV #5 pick

It’s time for another update of the analysts’s WNBA Mock Drafts. The main players have stayed the same since our original piece in December — with the notable exception of Justė Jocytė discussed below — but the order has shuffled a bit. At the time, Paige Bueckers, Kiki Iriafen, and Olivia Miles were regarded as locks for the top 3 spots, and therefore unavailable to the Golden State Valkyries.

Since then, the conventional wisdom has Bueckers and Miles as locks for #1 & #2 and then Citron or Malonga as #3 or #4, leaving Kiki Iriafen now the consensus choice for GSV at #5. After #5 there is a lot of disagreement on order, but for now, GSV has the 5th pick in a 5 player draft.

• Kiki Iriafen scouting report

We expect the NCAA WBB Tournament to further shuffle the conventional wisdom, so we’ll update things again right before the draft. But — in contrast to the NBA Draft which happens in June well after March Madness fades and after prospects get to work out for teams — the WNBA Draft (Apr 14) happens an astonishing one week after the NCAA WBB Tournament Finals (Apr 6, noon Pacific). And then the regular season begins May 16. So it will be a sprint from here through the draft.

Below is a table collecting many of the reputable mock draft analysts, along with links to mini scouting reports. Notice how the table lists the college teams of the players. This can help guide your viewing of the NCAA WBB Tournament.

• First Four: March 19-20

• First round: March 21-22

• Second round: March 23-24

• Sweet 16: March 28-29

• Elite Eight: March 30-31

• Final Four: Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m. with the second semifinal starting 30 minutes after the first game ends. Both will be at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida

• NCAA championship game: Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC, hosted at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida

The skyrocketing case of Justė Jocytė

When we did our first draft analysis in December, Justé was not eligible for the 2025 WNBA Draft because she was born in the USA and under domestic player rules, she’s not eligible until 2027. But since she grew up in Lithuania and has played overseas, under international player rules, she is now eligible for the 2025 Draft. The 2 mock drafts that include her have her ranked at #6. We’ll see how her draft stock changes as more analysts catch on that she’s available.

The Next Hoops:

On Feb. 6, in the EuroBasket qualifying tournament, she had 14 points, four rebounds, and five assists in a win against Poland, helping Lithuania qualify for EuroBasket for the first time in a decade.

Two days later, Jocytė was the best player on the court against Emma Meesseman and Belgium, recording a game-high 22 points, six rebounds, and six assists in a 70-69 loss.

She is not an explosive athlete, so she uses her creativity, pacing, and court-mapping to get to her spots out of ball screens. Jocytė grew up playing the point guard position but has settled into a secondary ball-handler role with ASVEL.

CBS Sports:

6. Washington Mystics: Justė Joyctė -- G, Lithuania

12.7 points, 3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.4 steals | 44.5% FG, 38.3% 3FG, 75.7% FT

Will the Mystics be willing to take two European teenagers in the top six? The answer to that question will determine how the second half of the first round goes. Historically, teams have not been willing to take such a risk, but Joyctė is a unique talent and the Mystics are in a unique situation. This is going to be a years-long rebuild and Joyctė's ceiling might be too high to pass on her.

Sportskeeda:

6. Washington Mystics (via ATL) - Juste Joctye, G, ASVEL

Washington doubles up on ASVEL prospects with their third pick of the top six, adding another draft-and-stash prospect. Joctye is a crafty, high-skill guard, capable of running pick and rolls and scoring with touch. She’s been a high-level player for years now with plenty of pro and national experience.

The Mystics are doubling and tripling down on the future, so it makes sense for them to focus on potential throughout this draft. Whenever Joctye is ready to come over to the WNBA, she could develop into a valuable starting guard with the skills to slot in next to a wide number of different players.

To be fair, these drafts are sending her to WAS who will be rebuilding and also presumed to be drafting Juste’s ASVEL teammate Malonga. Nonetheless, GSV is (re)building too so all the same considerations come into play.

And not to leave Kiki out:

Updated Draft Overview, Mar 17 2025

Whom should GSV select at #5?

Prospect Reviews

• GSV draft prospects 1, 2 & 3: Paige Bueckers, Kiki Iriafen, Olivia Miles. Probably out of reach.

• GSV draft prospects 4 & 5:

  Lauren Betts and Aneesah Morrow

• GSV draft prospects 6 & 7: Azzi Fudd and Sedona Prince

• GSV draft prospects 8 & 9: Dominique Malonga and Sonia Citron

• GSV draft prospects 10 & 11: Georgia Amoore and Shyanne Sellers

• GSV draft prospects 12 & 13: Te-Hina Paopao and Ajsa Sivka

Below is a (sortable, searchable) roundup of WNBA Mock Drafts. GSV have the #5 and #17 draft picks.