When the Sun Sets, Your Bike Light Takes the Lead 
The 2024-25 women’s college basketball season might have just ended on Sunday, but it’s already time to turn our attention to the 2025 WNBA Draft.
We all know about the headliner of the class, newly minted NCAA champion UConn guard Paige Bueckers, but what about those who might be flying under the radar?
Here are five hidden gems in this year’s draft, scheduled for Monday, April 14.
Iowa shooting guard Sydney Affolter
As Iowa adjusted to life after Caitlin Clark, it stayed afloat in the Big Ten thanks to contributions from players like Affolter, who has muted WNBA Draft stock. The four-year senior ranks No. 50 in ESPN’s list of best available players in the 2025 class, so it’s possible her name isn’t one of the 38 called on Monday.
But Affolter, 5-foot-11, does several things that make her a potential asset in a winning culture. She can rebound and shoot from distance. In 2024, Affolter averaged 7.8 rebounds and was 46.3 percent from beyond the arc, with 42.1 percent of her field goal attempts coming from deep.
Norfolk State point guard Diamond Johnson
Don’t let Johnson’s small 5-foot-5 frame fool you. She plays a lot bigger than her height. The 2024-25 MEAC Player of the Year shone brightly during the recent women’s college basketball All-Star Game, earning the game’s MVP Award after leading all scorers with 21 points.
Johnson showed off her smooth mid-range game in the exhibition and hit the winning three in transition for Team Miller, coached by the legendary Cheryl Miller.