The 2025 WNBA Draft is now underway, and the Golden State Valkyries have made a surprising move by selecting Lithuania’s Justė Jocytė with the No. 5 overall pick. The move has left many WNBA analysts stunned, as they had expected the team to select LSU’s Aneesah Morrow, a more established player. Who is Justė Jocytė? Like Luka Dončić, Jocytė is from Slovenia, and she’s 19 years old. She has been playing professional basketball since she was 14 years old. While this may make her appear more experienced than her American counterparts, the fact remains that she is still a relatively unknown player in the WNBA. This pick is considered a high-risk, high-reward move. The Valkyries have always stated that they want to focus on international players, but by passing on Morrow, they have taken a gamble on a player who may not be as well-known in the WNBA.
- UConn superstar and new National Champion Paige Bueckers went at No. 1 to the Dallas Wings, the Seattle Storm selected France’s Dominique Malonga (known as the woman who can slam-dunk) with the No. 2 pick, and the Washington Mystics had both the No. 3 and No. 4 picks, selecting Notre Dame forward Sonia Citron and one-time Stanford Cardinal Kiki Iriafen.
- The Valkyries still have two more picks tonight, as all three rounds of the WNBA Draft happen on the same night.
The Valkyries’ roster currently lacks recognizable names, but this pick may change that. **A Look at the Current WNBA Season**
The defending champions are the New York Liberty, with a star-stacked roster including Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu. They knocked off the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, who are co-owned by Tom Brady, and were going for a three-peat after their mini-dynasty had notched two consecutive championships. Big star Caitlin Clark plays for the Indiana Fever, a barely-.500 team that only made the playoffs last year by the skin of their teeth.
| Team | Defending Champion | Star Player |
|---|---|---|
| New York Liberty | Yes | Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu |
| Las Vegas Aces | No | None |
| Indiana Fever | No | Caitlin Clark |
The Valkyries are expected to be an even crappier team in their inaugural season. However, they have already achieved a significant milestone – selling 10,000 season tickets, making them the first WNBA team ever to do so.
The team’s financial success may be part of the calculation behind their pick. The Valkyries will likely suck this season, but once this season is over, 21 of the current 24 WNBA All-Star players will be free agents.
This move may be a calculated risk, but it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
The Valuation of Risk and Reward
The Valkyries’ decision to select Jocytė may be seen as a gamble, but it also has the potential to pay off in the long run. The team may be taking a chance on a player who will grow into a star, but this could also mean that they will struggle in the short term. The fact remains that the WNBA is a league where experience and talent are crucial, and the fact that Jocytė is relatively unknown in the league may make her pick a risk. However, the Valkyries are not alone in taking risks in the WNBA. Teams have made unexpected moves in the past, and this pick may be a sign of that.
The Impact on the League
The pick by the Valkyries has sent shockwaves through the WNBA community, and it will be interesting to see how other teams react to this move. The league is known for its competitive nature, and this pick may have an impact on the standings. The fact that the Valkyries are expected to struggle this season may also make them a team to watch in the coming years. If they can find a way to turn their fortunes around, they may be able to make a push for the playoffs.
The Next Steps
The Valkyries still have two more picks tonight, as all three rounds of the WNBA Draft happen on the same night. They will select with the No. 5 pick in both the second round and the third round (with the 17th overall and 30th overall picks). The draft is being aired on ESPN, and fans can tune in to see how the rest of the draft unfolds.
The End of an Era
The 2025 WNBA Draft is a significant milestone in the league’s history, and this pick may be a sign of things to come. The Valkyries’ decision to select Jocytė may be a calculated risk, but it also has the potential to pay off in the long run. The pick by the Valkyries has sent shockwaves through the WNBA community, and it will be interesting to see how other teams react to this move. The Valkyries’ decision to select Jocytė may be a sign of things to come in the WNBA. The league is evolving, and teams are taking risks to find the next big thing.
news is a contributor at BasketBallNinja. We are committed to providing well-researched, accurate, and valuable content to our readers.
