Sara Ashlee Barker and 2 other WNBA prospects drafted higher than expected

New York City – Prior to the WNBA design of 2025, the most expected Paige Bueckers, Dominique Malonga and Sonia Citron to complete the top three picks.

But then Mock designs conflict. The newest fake design from ESPN was projected that USC Vooruit Kiki Iriafen, LSU Forward Anesah Morrow and Maryland Point Guard Shyanne Sellers would be selected on the fourth, fifth and sixth general. The fake design of SB Nation also let Iriafen go fourth and sellers who finished sixth, but made the Saniya rivers of the NC State fifth.

MOCK concepts always get subject projections wrong, and the design of Monday evening was no exception.

Here are three WNBA proPs whose names on the street were well before the most predicted.

Joze Jocyte, Golden State Valkyries

Photo by Borja B. Leaves/Getty images

Juste Joctye was not in the building on the Tapnacht, but she became the first pick of the Valkyries’ first turn when she was selected as fifth in general. Jocyte, a Lithuanian combo guard, is Jus 19 years old, but has been playing professional basketball in France since 2019.

Jocyt was expected to be picked 22nd In ESPN’s false design, so it was shocking to hear her name street so early. Jocyte has a high ceiling – Scouts has compared her game with that of Luka Dancic – but it is not certain when she had come to the US and many people predicted to fall into the second round. And there are questions about her ability to defend and her potential sustainability.

Georgia Amore, Washington Mystics

Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Georgia Amore was expected to be a pick in the first round, but few predicted that she ended up to the top-six pick. ESPN’s Mock Draft had Herding 9th, while the athletics predicted that she would be chosen 11th.

The Australian Point Guard, who spent most of her career at Virginia Tech before a fifth year in Kentucky, was selected in 6th place by the Washington Mystics.

She is fresh from a career year in which she assists on average career heights in points (19.6) (6.9), Steels (1.0) and assistant gymnast ratio (2.2). And Amore is one of only three players in the history of Ladies Division I with 2,300 points and 800 AST.

The others? Caitlin Clark and Sabrina Ionescu.

Sarah Ashlee Barker, Los Angeles Sparks

Sarah Ashlee Barker, on dual all-c first team selection, on average 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.0 steals for Alabama in the last season, an efficient 51.4% of the floor and 37.5 of deep. And the fake design of ESPN was projected that it would be selected 22nd in general.

Barker ended up as the No. 9 Draft Pick from Los Angeles Spark, a movement that seemed almost impossible only a few mouths Aug, but I reality after her 45-point version against Maryland in the NCAA tournament.

Barker was picked up before many others projected was first projected

Sparks General Manager Raegan Pebley who claims the selection in an official statement.

“Sarah Ashlee is an elite competitive,” said Peblery. “Her mental makeup, the ability to stretch the floor beyond the arc, dedication to defense, willingness to recover and pass instincts, make her the total package. We are very happy to add her balance and leadership.

It was not completely shocking to hear the name of Barker Called because they wax One of only 16 players who were invited to attend the design night personally. Nevertheless, it ensured a special moment with her family that few could have foreseen before the start of the NCAA tournament.