NEW YORK — The WNBA draft has increasingly become a platform for more than just athleticism — it is a celebration of identity, heritage, culture, and self-expression.
Southern California's Kiki Iriafen poses before the WNBA basketball draft, April 14, in New York.
People are also reading…
Southern California's Kiki Iriafen, right, poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected fourth overall by the Washington Mystics during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft, April 14, in New York.
Dominique Malonga, left, poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected second overall by the Seattle Storm during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft, April 14, in New York.
Photos: Scenes from the 2025 WNBA draft
Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, left, poses beside daughter Amaya before the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
UConn's Paige Bueckers poses before the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Notre Dame's Sonia Citron, left, poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected third overall by the Washington Mystics during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Kentucky's Georgia Amoore poses before the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
NC State's Saniya Rivers poses before the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Notre Dame's Sonia Citron poses before the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Mississippi's Madison Scott poses before the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Alabama's Sarah Ashlee Barker poses before the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Alabama's Sarah Ashlee Barker poses before the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Ajsa Sivka poses before the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Ajsa Sivka, left, poses for a photo with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected 10th overall by the Chicago Sky during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Alabama's Sarah Ashlee Barker, left, poses for a photo with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected ninth overall by the Los Angeles Sparks during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Alabama's Aaliyah Nye, right, poses for a photo with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected 13th overall by the Las Vegas Aces during the second round of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Maryland's Shyanne Sellers, right, poses for a photo with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected 17th overall by the Golden State Valkyries during the second round of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
South Carolina's Sania Feagin, right, poses for a photo with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected 21st overall by the Los Angeles Sparks during the second round of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
LSU's Aneesah Morrow, left, poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected seventh overall by the Connecticut Sun.
North Carolina State's Saniya Rivers, right, poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected eighth overall by the Connecticut Sun during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
North Carolina State's Saniya Rivers, right, embraces WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected eighth overall by the Connecticut Sun during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
North Carolina State's Saniya Rivers, right, celebrates after being selected eighth overall by the Connecticut Sun during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Notre Dame's Sonia Citron, left, poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected third overall by the Washington Mystics during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Kentucky's Georgia Amoore, left, poses for a photo with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected sixth overall by the Washington Mystics during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Kentucky's Georgia Amoore reacts after being selected sixth overall by the Washington Mystics during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Southern California's Kiki Iriafen, right, poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected fourth overall by the Washington Mystics during the first round of the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
Dominique Malonga poses before the WNBA basketball draft, Monday, April 14, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
