Seven Big Ten Women’s Basketball Players Selected in 2025 WNBA Draft

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference had seven student-athletes chosen in the 2025 Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Draft that took place Monday night at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York City. It was the second year in a row that seven players were drafted.

The Big Ten has now had multiple student-athletes from current member schools chosen in the WNBA Draft in every one of the league’s 29 seasons of existence.

USC’s Kiki Iriafen was the first Big Ten player selected this year as the No. 4 overall pick in the first round by the Washington Mystics. Iriafen is the highest pick for the Trojans since 1997 when Tina Thompson (No. 1) and Pam McGee (No. 2) were chosen*.

Maryland’s Shyanne Sellers heard her name called in the second round as the No. 17 pick by the Golden State Valkyries. Sellers is the 23rd Terrapin to be drafted and the first Big Ten player selected by the Valkyries organization, the first WNBA expansion team since 2008.

Iowa’s Lucy Olsen was the next Big Ten player off the board at No. 23 in the second round by the Washington Mystics. Olsen became the 20th Hawkeye to be drafted or signed to a WNBA team.

Washington’s Dalayah Daniels was up next in the second round after being selected by the Minnesota Lynx with the No. 24 pick. Daniels is the first Husky taken in the WNBA Draft since 2017 when Kelsey Plum (No. 1) and Chantel Osahor (No. 21) were drafted*.

USC’s Rayah Marshall closed out the second round as the No. 25 pick by the Connecticut Sun. The selections of Iriafen and Marshall marked the third consecutive year that USC had a pair of teammates taken in the same draft.

Michigan’s Jordan Hobbs kept things going as the 34th pick in the third round by the Seattle Storm. Hobbs is the first-ever Wolverine taken by the Storm and the sixth Big Ten player overall.

Ohio State’s Taylor Thierry rounded out the Big Ten contingent after being picked 36th by the Atlanta Dream. Thierry extended Ohio State’s streak to three straight years with a draftee and became the first Buckeye to be selected by the Dream franchise.

Iriafen and Olsen are the 16th and 17th Big Ten student-athletes to be drafted by the Washington Mystics. Prior to their selection, the Mystics last drafted a Big Ten player in 2017.

2025 WNBA Draft – Big Ten Selections
Round 1
No. 4    Kiki Iriafen (USC) – Washington Mystics

Round 2
No. 17  Shyanne Sellers (MD) – Golden State Valkyries
No. 23  Lucy Olsen (IOWA) – Washington Mystics
No. 24  Dalayah Daniels (WASH) – Minnesota Lynx
No. 25  Rayah Marshall (USC) – Connecticut Sun

Round 3
No. 34  Jordan Hobbs (MICH) – Seattle Storm
No. 36  Taylor Thierry (OSU) – Atlanta Dream

* - prior to USC and Washington becoming Big Ten Conference members