6 WNBA prospects to watch in Friday’s Final Four matchups
Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images Paige Bueckers, Madison Booker, Azzi Fudd, and Lauren Betts are just a few of the future WNBA players to watch in Friday’s March Madness games. The Women’s Final Four tips off on Friday night in Tampa, and a long list of WNBA prospects will compete in the match-ups, both in the incoming 2025 WNBA Draft class, and in future years. Texas and South Carolina face off at 7 pm ET, with UConn and UCLA following them at 9 pm. Here are (some of the) top WNBA prospects to watch in this one. Paige Beuckers, UConn Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images Expected draft year: 2025 Paige Bueckers has been putting on a show this entire tournament — and reminding people why there was never really a question about whether she’d be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft. In her last three games, she’s posted: 34 points on 14-21 shooting, 4 assists, and 4 steals against South Dakota State 40 points on 16-27 shooting, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks against Oklahoma 31 points on 9-18 shooting, 6 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocks She’s the first player in UConn history to score 40+ points in the NCAA tournament, which also set a new career high. UConn has a tall task in UCLA, and Bueckers will likely need to continue her strong play for her team to advance. Azzi Fudd, UConn Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images Expected draft year: 2026 Azzi Fudd decided to forego the 2025 WNBA Draft and use her final year of NCAA eligibility, but she’s still one of the tournament’s most exciting prospects. Fudd, who has had several major knee surgeries in college, averaged 13.1 points this past season on a career-best 46.8% shooting and a career-best 44.1% from three. Fudd’s best game of the tournament was the opening one; she exploded for 27 points on 10-13 shooting. She’s since averaged just under 12 points per game, but has the ability to get hot for UConn at any time. Madison Booker, Texas Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images Expected draft year: 2027 Madison Booker, Texas’s high-scoring sophomore, is a star. She’s still a few years away from the WNBA, but she’s a must-watch in the NCAA tournament. Booker averaged 16.5 points per game this season on 46.5% shooting. Booker has scored at least 17 points in each of Texas’s tournament games so far, and will probably need a big performance to carry Texas over South Carolina into the national championship. Lauren Betts, UCLA Photo by Tyler McFarland/NCAA Photos via Getty Images Expected draft year: 2026 Lauren Betts, UCLA’s 6’7 center, has been one of the tournament’s most dominant players. The Defensive Player of the Year has also been an offensive machine — averaging 20 points and 9.6 rebounds per game this season while shooting 64.9% from the field. Betts had back-to-back 30-point performances in the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, shooting 14-17 in the former and 15-16 in the latter. Few have found an answer to contain Bets in the post, and while she’s not in this year’s draft class, she’ll almost definitely be a WNBA standout for years to come. Sarah Strong, UConn Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images Expected draft year: 2028 Sarah Strong is only a freshman, but it’s already quite evident she’s a future WNBA star. Strong, the daughter of former WNBA standout Allison Feaster, has had a hugely impactful first season at UConn, averaging 14.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Strong was pivotal in Connecticut’s Final Four win over USC, tallying 22 points on 8-13 FG alongside 17 rebounds. Strong will have her hands full with Betts on both ends, but if she can hold her own, the freshman phenom will put UConn in good position to advance.
Paige Bueckers, Madison Booker, Azzi Fudd, and Lauren Betts are just a few of the future WNBA players to watch in Friday’s March Madness games.
The Women’s Final Four tips off on Friday night in Tampa, and a long list of WNBA prospects will compete in the match-ups, both in the incoming 2025 WNBA Draft class, and in future years.
Texas and South Carolina face off at 7 pm ET, with UConn and UCLA following them at 9 pm.
Here are (some of the) top WNBA prospects to watch in this one.
Paige Beuckers, UConn
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Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Expected draft year: 2025
Paige Bueckers has been putting on a show this entire tournament — and reminding people why there was never really a question about whether she’d be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft.
In her last three games, she’s posted:
- 34 points on 14-21 shooting, 4 assists, and 4 steals against South Dakota State
- 40 points on 16-27 shooting, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks against Oklahoma
- 31 points on 9-18 shooting, 6 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocks
She’s the first player in UConn history to score 40+ points in the NCAA tournament, which also set a new career high. UConn has a tall task in UCLA, and Bueckers will likely need to continue her strong play for her team to advance.
Azzi Fudd, UConn
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Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images
Expected draft year: 2026
Azzi Fudd decided to forego the 2025 WNBA Draft and use her final year of NCAA eligibility, but she’s still one of the tournament’s most exciting prospects. Fudd, who has had several major knee surgeries in college, averaged 13.1 points this past season on a career-best 46.8% shooting and a career-best 44.1% from three.
Fudd’s best game of the tournament was the opening one; she exploded for 27 points on 10-13 shooting. She’s since averaged just under 12 points per game, but has the ability to get hot for UConn at any time.
Madison Booker, Texas
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Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Expected draft year: 2027
Madison Booker, Texas’s high-scoring sophomore, is a star. She’s still a few years away from the WNBA, but she’s a must-watch in the NCAA tournament. Booker averaged 16.5 points per game this season on 46.5% shooting. Booker has scored at least 17 points in each of Texas’s tournament games so far, and will probably need a big performance to carry Texas over South Carolina into the national championship.
Lauren Betts, UCLA
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Photo by Tyler McFarland/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Expected draft year: 2026
Lauren Betts, UCLA’s 6’7 center, has been one of the tournament’s most dominant players. The Defensive Player of the Year has also been an offensive machine — averaging 20 points and 9.6 rebounds per game this season while shooting 64.9% from the field.
Betts had back-to-back 30-point performances in the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight, shooting 14-17 in the former and 15-16 in the latter. Few have found an answer to contain Bets in the post, and while she’s not in this year’s draft class, she’ll almost definitely be a WNBA standout for years to come.
Sarah Strong, UConn
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Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Expected draft year: 2028
Sarah Strong is only a freshman, but it’s already quite evident she’s a future WNBA star. Strong, the daughter of former WNBA standout Allison Feaster, has had a hugely impactful first season at UConn, averaging 14.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Strong was pivotal in Connecticut’s Final Four win over USC, tallying 22 points on 8-13 FG alongside 17 rebounds. Strong will have her hands full with Betts on both ends, but if she can hold her own, the freshman phenom will put UConn in good position to advance.
