Kiki Iriafen and 2 potential standouts Seattle Storm could draft at No. 2

The Seattle Storm are one of the most intriguing teams entering the 2025 WNBA Draft. As owners of the No. 2 pick, the Storm will have their pick of any non-Paige Bueckers player — a pick they acquired for the Los Angeles Sparks in the three-team trade that landed Jewell Loyd in Las Vegas.

The Storm is in an interesting position as an organization. On one hand, they have a veteran core primed to contend now, headlined by Nneka Ogwumike, who is 37 years old, and Skylar Diggins-Smith, who is 34.

On the other hand, Gabby Williams is 28, and Ezi Magbegor is just 25. Li Yueru, who they also landed in the three-team trade, is 26. There’s a young core in Seattle that also includes two players who are projected to miss next season with ACL tears, Nika Muhl and Jordan Horston.

Assuming the Storm keep the No. 2 pick — and there’s still a few weeks between now and the Draft — here’s who they could select.

Kiki Iriafen (USC)

USC forward Kiki Iriafen averaged 18.4 points (on 49.9% shooting) and 8.4 rebounds per game in her senior season.

While she had a slightly better season the previous year at Stanford — when she averaged 19.4 points on 54.6% shooting alongside 11 rebounds per game — Iriafen has now showcased at multiple elite programs that she can dominate the game.

Iriafen struggled in her last game of college — she was held just 10 points with Watkins out of the lineup — but she nonetheless demonstrated throughout her career what she can bring to a WNBA program. Her performance after USC star JuJu Watkins tore her ACL showed what she can do at her best — the 6’3 forward exploded for 36 points on 16-22 FG in a big-time Sweet 16 win.

Dominique Malonga is one of the most intriguing prospects in the WNBA Draft. The 6’6 French center is as versatile as they come — she can dunk, she can shoot, she can drive.

And, perhaps most strikingly, she’s only 19 years old. Malonga played a limited role for the French team in the Olympics, but she’s shown flashes of greatness overseas.

Right now, playing for the French professional club Asvel, she’s averaging 14.9 points on 50.2% shooting and 10.4 rebounds. While she’s still a few years away from her prime, imagine a frontcourt with Magbegor and Malonga in a few years. It has the potential of being one of the most potent frontcourt in the NBA.

With Olivia Miles deciding to forego the draft and instead enter the transfer portal, Sonia Citron becomes one of the top guards available — and is someone the Seattle Storm could select as a strong backcourt option. At 6’1, Citron is an elite defender who averaged 14.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in her senior season. Miles was named to the All-ACC First Team, and is one of the league’s best defenders. Right away, she would form a formidable defensive duo with Skylar Diggins-Smith, or serve as a potentially effective weapon off the bench.

Outside of Paige Bueckers, there’s no surefire star in the 2025 WNBA Draft. But, Iriafen, Malonga, and Citron are all high-ceiling players that could positively impact the Seattle Storm for years to come.