March Madness is where legends are born, unforgettable performances are on display and players who are hoping to continue to play professionally can boost their stock in advance of the WNBA Draft on April 14.
While UConn’s Paige Bueckers is almost certain to be the No. 1 overall pick, many other players have caught the eyes of scouts and coaches with their play during the tournament. Here are five players whose stock is on the rise.
Hailey Van Lith, 5-foot-9 senior guard, TCU
Van Lith, the only player in history to make the Elite Eight with three different teams, knew she had one final run in her college career and made the most out of it. Against Notre Dame, a team that was headlined by a trio of star guards Hannah Hidalgo, Sonia Citron and Olivia Miles, Van Lith stole the show as she erupted for 26 points. Even in her season-ending loss to Texas, Van Lith tallied 17 points and 8 rebounds.
Van Lith was an elite guard during her time at Louisville, but she had to rebuild her game and confidence after a transfer to LSU did not pan out. At TCU, she averaged 17.9 points and 5.5 assists and led the team to its first-ever Elite Eight appearance.
While she may not have the size or lights-out shooting that other guards in the draft do, and her defense is a concern, Van Lith is a player who will do whatever it takes to find the basket and can score in many ways. She will need to also work on her three-point shooting, but she has that “clutch gene” when it comes to making big plays happen.
Aneesah Morrow, 6-foot-1 senior guard, LSU
Morrow averaged 18.8 points and 13.7 rebounds per game this season on 49.4 percent shooting from the field. She showed her two-way skills by recording 26 points and 11 rebounds in the Round of 32 against Florida State.
Against NC State, Morrow had another monster performance of 30 points, 19 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. She struggled against UCLA’s Lauren Betts in the Elite Eight, but still managed to put up 15 points on 7 of 9 shooting against the Defensive Player of the Year.
Morrow has made a name for herself on the glass as she’s grabbed the fifth-most rebounds in NCAA history, but her tournament run also showed off her ability to score as well as her defensive strengths that any WNBA team would love to have.
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TCU’s Hailey Van Lith and Kansas State’s Serena Sundell may not go in the first round, but they are among the top sleepers in the 2025 WNBA Draft who could go on to have solid careers
Sarah Ashlee Barker, 6-foot senior guard, Alabama
Ashlee Barker was not on many mock drafts before the NCAA tournament, despite being a two-time First Team All-SEC player and averaging 18.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2 steals per game this year, shooting 51.4 percent from the field and a career-best 37.5 percent from three.
But she made a name for herself against Maryland when she exploded for 45 points — the fourth most in an NCAA tournament game ever — to go along with eight rebounds and three assists in the double-overtime loss. Her historic performance was also the most points ever by an SEC player in March Madness.
Ashlee Barker’s ability to play on both ends of the floor, as well as her length, give her the tools to be a quality WNBA guard. She has athleticism, can create her own shot and get to the basket and bring defensive pressure. While she may not crack the first round, she certainly will be a player teams look at in the second round.
Shyanne Sellers, 6-foot-2 senior guard, Maryland
Sellers was already likely going to be a first-round pick in the WNBA draft, but the combination of her tournament performance along with the news that Olivia Miles will not be declaring for the draft has raised her stock significantly.
Sellers shot 40.8 percent from beyond the arc this season and could be a team’s primary ball handler or give depth to a backcourt. She averaged 14.5 points and 4.1 assists per game. During that double-overtime win over Alabama, when Maryland needed someone to pull them to victory, Sellers scored 28 points.
With versatility at the guard spot and good size, Sellers can not only control a game from the point guard position but also has the basketball IQ to play on the wing. Her ability to play multiple positions would be a major asset to a WNBA team.
Serena Sundell, 6-foot-2 senior guard, Kansas State
Sundell, the nation’s leader in assists, is looked at as a “unicorn” type of player because of her her ability to play and defend any position on the floor. At 6-foot-2 she has size, but she also has a well-rounded game.
Averaging 14.1 points, 7.3 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game this season, Sundell can not only create scoring opportunities for those around her but also can score herself. In her final game as a Wildcat against USC, she recorded 22 points, six assists and six rebounds.
Her defense against USC stood out, applying pressure to any player she guarded, and Sundell showed she has an excellent midrange game as well. Even if she isn’t a point guard at the next level, she can be a solid passing wing or small forward. She will need to develop her three-point shot a bit more, but still shot 33.6 percent for her college career.
