Iowa’s Lucy Olsen projected as a second- or third-round pick in Monday’s WNBA Draft

IOWA CITY — This year, there’s an air of mystery in these parts concerning the WNBA Draft.

For Lucy Olsen, it’s which round? And which team?

It could be any time in the second (or maybe third) round. And it could be anybody.

The Draft begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday from The Shed in New York City; it will be televised by ESPN.

“I think there’s a pretty good chance (Olsen) will be a second-round pick,” ESPN women’s basketball writer Michael Voepel said Friday.

“What really stands out is that she is a true scorer. She has proven that throughout the course of her college career.”

That’s what brought her here, albeit briefly.

A 5-foot-10 guard from Collegeville, Pa., Olsen was the third-leading scorer as a junior at Villanova, putting up 23.3 points per game.

In her lone season at Iowa, she averaged 17.9 points and 5.1 assists per game as the Hawkeyes assembled a 23-11 record and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament.

She finished her career with 2,077 points, all under the mantra that “Basketball Is Fun.”

Olsen owns a unique offensive arsenal. While most guards hunt 3-pointers or drives to the basket, Olsen thrives in the midrange game, opting for 12- to 15-foot jumpers.

“She is very creative, very confident as a scorer,” Voepel said. “She has a really good scorer’s mentality, some real moxie as a scorer. And there are a lot of teams looking for people that can put the ball through the net.”

Olsen is likely to be the fourth Hawkeye drafted in the last three years, and the 20th overall.

Caitlin Clark was the No. 1 pick (by the Indiana Fever) last year, and went on the earn WNBA rookie-of-the-year honors. Kate Martin went in the second round to the Las Vegas Aces.

Monika Czinano was a third-round selection by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2023.

Paige Bueckers of national-champion Connecticut is the likely No. 1 pick in Monday’s Draft.

2025 WNBA Draft

WHERE: The Shed, New York City

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Monday

TV: ESPN

DRAFT ORDER

Round 1

1. Dallas, 2. Seattle, 3. Washington, 4. Washington, 5. Golden State, 6. Washington, 7. Connecticut, 8. Connecticut, 9. Los Angeles, 10. Chicago, 11. Minnesota, 12. Dallas.

Round 2

13. Las Vegas, 14. Dallas, 15. Minnesota, 16. Chicago, 17. Golden State, 18. Atlanta, 19. Indiana, 20. Indiana, 21. Los Angeles, 22. Chicago, 23. Washington, 24. Minnesota, 25. Connecticut.

Round 3

26. Seattle, 27. Dallas, 28. Los Angeles, 29. Seattle, 30. Golden State, 31. Dallas, 32. Washington, 33. Indiana, 34. Seattle, 35. Las Vegas, 36. Atlanta, 37. Minnesota, 38. New York.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com